design with reason

Road to Product Authenticity

WHY SEMA?Motiv attends SEMA* annually to seek design insights and product innovation of

potential value to our clients.

This year’s SEMA show provided important market trend indicators with respect to:

Materials Colors Finishes Lifestyle

• We seek out “market fringe” forums that do not represent mainstream tastes, but instead provide meaningful direction into where mainstream tastes will likely be headed.

• Similar to clothing, automobiles represent a strong expression of personal values and taste.

• Trends in customized automobiles can provide insights into future design trends that apply to a broad range of consumer products.

*SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) hosts the largest for aftermarket automotive specialty products, a $350 billion industry, that represents nearly 3% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

AUTHENTICITYIt’s all about

Consumers are seeking higher quality, sustainability and greater performance from their products.

• Consumers are less interested in mass produced, plastic, disposable items, and are seeking product that are of higher quality.

• Consistent with greater market confidence and employment, following the recent financial crisis, consumers are able and willing to pay premium prices for items that reflect quality, will last longer, and perform well over time.

• The growing interest in sustainability and an eco-friendly mindset appears to be reflected in a greater application of earth tones and muted finishes on products.

• Insights from SEMA suggest that consumer product companies will be well served over the next 2-3 years by focusing on high quality materials, establishing high-end premium product persona, and leveraging earth tones and brushed finishes.

• Insights also suggest opportunities for new product development that address consumer lifestyle trends focused on “authentic” activities involving the outdoors, nature, and quasi-military activities and personal expression.

SEMA 2015 MATERIALS

MATERIALS: QUALITY REPLACES MASS PRODUCTION

• Consistent with the drive for authenticity, consumer preferences are moving towards genuine, tactile, natural materials including metals, wood, glass, leather, and high performance fibers.

• Conversely, consumer preferences are moving away from artificial, glossy materials including plastics and chrome plating.

• Overall, consumer products should reflect high quality materials, performance, and stability.

SEMA 2015 COLORS

COLORS: EARTH TONES REFLECT SUSTAINABILITY

• Consistent with the drive for authenticity, consumer preferences are moving towards muted, soft colors that reflect warmer earth tones, stability, and an understated level of self-confidence. These colors include French grays, dark reds, copper, brass, soft corals, and dark teals.

• Conversely, consumer preferences are moving away from bright, showy colors such as reds, pinks, and blues, and away from complex patterns.

• Overall, consumer products should reflect colors that play a secondary, rather than primary, role in visual appeal. The primary focus needs to be on the quality of materials and sense of permanence.

SEMA 2015 FINISHES

FINISHES: UNDERSTATED AND HIGH QUALITY

• Consistent with the drive for authenticity, consumer preferences are moving away from bright chrome accents towards more subtle brushed, satin, and matte metal finishes reflecting a more premium look.

• Conversely, consumer preferences are moving away from glossy metal finishes.

• In all cases, consumers now expect every aspect of product construction to be precise and consistent in terms of its appearance, assembly, and functionality. Sloppy or low quality design features will no longer be tolerated as consumers seek products that reflect their personal standards of excellence.

SEMA 2015 LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE: A RETURN TO NATURE

• Consistent with the drive for authenticity, consumer preferences are moving towards greater first-hand experience with activities outside of the home. These experience range from rugged, non-traditional activities such as technical mountaineering to more traditional pursuits such as hiking, backpacking, and RV camping.

• As consumer lifestyles change, they will be seeking products that are able to withstand outdoor conditions and can perform well in a broader range of application. Products may appear tough and rugged at the outset, regardless of whether they are actually put to the test.

• This trend towards the outdoor lifestyle will provide opportunities for consumer product companies to adapt existing products for new lifestyle applications, and for companies to develop new products and new product categories.

THERE’S MORE...We invite you to view a more complete analysis at our website: the-motiv.com

If you would like to have a more in-depth conversation with us regarding how these “authenticity” trends apply to your current or future product lines, we’d

welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Here is our contact information:

PHONE 617.263.2211

EMAILContact@the-motiv.com

ADDRESS803 Summer Street, 2nd Floor

Boston, MA 02127

www.the-motiv.com 617.263.2211 803 Summer Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02127