The Impulse are an inspiring basis for Sonae Arauco's customers when it comes to updating their collections in the kitchen, cabinet and semi-finished furniture industries. The global event takes place simultaneously in Germany, Portugal and Spain.

"We present and discuss global market topics here to provide our industry partners with exciting design and industry insights for their upcoming product strategy," says Rainer Zumholte, Managing Director Sonae Arauco Deutschland GmbH. "Special highlights of the new decor developments on show will ultimately also make it into the global Innovus collection," adds Zumholte.

This year, Impulse will take place for the first time under the motto "Ready, Steady, Go!" at the Hotel-Residence Klosterpforte in Harsewinkel, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ready for a new start

The motto of this year's event stands for a new start: "Now is the time to stand together, show solidarity and find creative solutions together. We can overcome these challenges if we support each other and look to the future with positive energy. It is an opportunity that encourages us to give our best and establish new approaches together," says Dirk Eiynck, Global Design Manager at Sonae Arauco.

The current Impulse workshop is divided into three topics: ready to reboot, ready to redesign and ready to digitize. The emerging questions in the industry will be discussed and answers formulated which, not least thanks to the decorative Innovus new developments, will characterise the image of the coming interior.

Ready to reboot

The future understanding of home will not only focus on a physical place, but also on emotional connections, perhaps also in virtual space, which will have a significant influence on interior design. Safety and well-being will become central aspects of living, with a focus on tranquillity. Natural materials, organic shapes, soft textiles, restrained colours, atmospheric lighting, subdued ambient sound and pleasant fragrances create this cosy ambience.

Ready to redesign

The future understanding of home will not only focus on a physical place, but also on emotional connections, perhaps also in virtual space, which will have a significant influence on interior design. Safety and well-being are becoming central aspects of living, with a focus on tranquillity. Natural materials, organic shapes, soft textiles, restrained colours, atmospheric lighting, subdued ambient sound and pleasant fragrances create this cosy ambience.

Ready to redesign

Consumers today value versatility, durability and the origin of materials. Brands need to adapt to this and not only design products that meet these standards, but also consider sustainable use after use, such as recyclability, reparability, rental or sale options. This environmentally conscious consumer behaviour also promotes the circular economy. Biomaterials, developed with the support of artificial intelligence, will determine the aesthetics and construction of products in the future, right through to supply chains and marketing. The increase in global Google searches and start-up financing for regenerative materials shows the growing interest and economic potential of "biomaterials".

Ready to digitize

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects everyday objects with the internet and is now part of "normality". The possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI), on the other hand, are currently revolutionising digital solutions, including in interior product development. Digital tools are accelerating design and development processes. And the metaverse - the virtual parallel world - is becoming a showroom for new products - digital first! This augmented reality sustainably improves design processes by saving resources. However, AI-controlled software also changes the perspective on design and can thus contribute to a completely new aesthetic. The challenge here will be to bring the digital and physical worlds together as authentically as possible.

The Impulse event is an inspiring source of new ideas and product concepts, according to customers who have visited the Klosterpforte in recent weeks. "The feedback on the Impulse Workshop 2024 was extremely positive. Not only the new decorative product developments, but also the joint exchange of ideas was very much appreciated by our guests," summarises Thomas Duhme, Sales Manager Industry DACH Benelux.

(Dirk Eiynck, Thomas Duhme and Rainer Zumholte present the Impulse)

Impulse 2024 innovations - Developed for the industry.

In total, Sonae Arauco presents 33 inspiring new products for the decorative surfaces of tomorrow, in harmonious combination with already established themes from the current Innovus collection "Matching our nature".

The oak, coming from the pointed rusticity, over the pure naturalness, is now very elegant, striped, clean and is still the measure of all things. It is therefore not surprising that almost half of the surface designs on show are centred on this theme. They are joined by wood types such as ash, acacia, elm, pine, walnut and olive, sometimes with a striking strength of character and sometimes in a more understated manner. What they all have in common is that the focus was placed on a sustainable design approach. Mainstream in the positive sense of the word, with a claim to longevity.

In addition to the natural wood interpretations, Sonae Arauco also showcases textile themes, rattan, stone and abstract creations. Last but not least, it is the diverse plain colours that complete the overall picture and currently come from the pastel, earthy, natural and restrained range of the colour world. Nothing is over-accentuated.