From 2018 on, DOMOTEX will have a stronger focus on interior trends and lifestyle that will frame floor coverings in the broader context of ideas and innovations from the worlds of interior design, furnishing and art. As part of this more contextualized approach, Hall 9 will house the "Framing Trends" display – a richly diverse and immersive world of experience that will serve as a central gathering point and "compass" for visitors. The new display area will comprise several artistically staged showcases dedicated to the keynote theme, " UNIQUE YOUNIVERSE ". Beautifully realized, they will be a major attraction and are sure to spark exciting new ideas and approaches. "Companies from the floor coverings industry have the opportunity to actively co-create this new special showcase in Hall 9 and present their interpretations of the individualization megatrend," explained Susanne Klaproth, the director in charge of DOMOTEX at Deutsche Messe. "We are delighted to be able to offer our exhibitors a new participation option that will give even greater expression to the creativity and innovative power of the floor coverings industry," she added.

In total, the "Framing Trends" display will be made up of four zones – or "modules" – each with its own distinct perspective on the keynote theme. In the "Flooring Spaces" zone, companies from the floor coverings industry will be able to shine as pioneers and trendsetters by staging highly creative product showcases. In the "Living Spaces" zone, exhibitors will team up with partners from the interior design sector to craft inspiring spaces and innovative lifestyle realms. The "NuThinkers" zone is an opportunity for students, young designers and startups to present their innovative projects catering to product and service individualization. And finally, the "Art and Interaction" zone will present the keynote theme of "UNIQUE UNIVERSE" in a sensory feast of exhibits from the worlds of art and design.

Featured concepts to be selected by expert panel

Only a limited number of slots are available in the "Flooring Spaces" zone, so an expert panel has been appointed to decide which of the submitting companies will be chosen to have their individualization-related ideas and designs featured. The panel is headed by internationally renowned architect Peter Ippolito of Ippolito Fleitz Group, Stuttgart, Germany. He will be ably assisted on the panel by Hendrik Müller, architect and founder of einszu33 (Munich), Susanne Schmidhuber, founder and partner at SCHMIDHUBER (Munich), and Dr. Susanne Kaufmann, a research associate at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart art museum.

Companies and manufacturers who would like to use the "Spaces" to stage individualization-related products have until 20 July to submit proposals. The panel will then convene at the end of July to evaluate all the submission and select the most creative from among them. For details and Conditions for Participation, please click here .

Exhibitor information Flooring Spaces

Peter Ippolito co-founded the Ippolito Fleitz Group design studio in 2002. Based in Stuttgart and serving clients worldwide, the firm designs buildings, interiors, landscapes, products and communication strategies.
Many of the studio's designs have won prestigious awards, including multiple IF gold, red dot, and ADC awards. In 2015, Ippolito and Fleitz became the first German interior designers to be inducted into Interior Design magazine's prestigious Hall of Fame. In addition to his creative work, Peter Ippolito is in keen demand as a speaker and as a member of competition juries. He is a member of the German Designers Club (Deutscher Designer Club).

Hendrik Müller is an architect and the founder of einszu33. Müller and his business partner Georg Thiersch have been co-principals of the firm since 2007. einszu33 is a Munich-based international studio specializing in corporate architecture, brand communication and interior design. It develops distinctive, highly original concepts for interiors and spaces.
Its string of award-winning projects includes showrooms, retail stores, exhibition stands, office environments and an array of high-end concepts in the dining and hospitality industry. The firm's current customers include big-name brands like Aesop, Beko, Gaggenau and Kuka. Hendrik Müller is a member of the Art Directors Club Germany.

Susanne Schmidhuber and Professor Klaus Schmidhuber founded Schmidhuber+Partner – now called SCHMIDHUBER – in 1984. The firm has been developing creative brand concepts for over 30 years. Based in Munich, SCHMIDHUBER employs over 70 experts from the fields of architecture, design and communication. Together, they develop uniquely powerful design concepts and engaging, immersive brand stories.
Over the years, the firm has won more than 260 international design prizes and is one of the world's leading specialists in the use of architecture to build brands. Susanne Schmidhuber holds a degree in interior architecture. In addition to her main duties for her firm, she is a regular on the lecture circuit and a valued contributor to many professional and expert juries.

Since April 2015, Ms. Kaufmann has worked as a research associate at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart art museum where she heads a research project on the Marcel Duchamp Collection. Before that, she was an assistant lecturer at the University of Stuttgart's Institute of Art History.
Susanne Kaufmann studied art history, history and literature in Munich and London. She wrote her PhD thesis on "Invention and Reproduction of Paul Klee's Print Works".