Of all the shapes to see in 2021, no form dominated quite like the wiggle. Across product categories, wiggles and squiggles found their way into our homes and brought forth a burst of whimsical energy. Though we’ve been noticing the shape for decades (in the work of everyone from Alvar Aalto to Frank Gehry), it was this year that the wiggle saw a wave of new appeal from a massive audience of design enthusiasts.
The Swedish designer Gustaf Westman is one of the many faces that has become associated with the wiggle trend, a pandemic phenomenon that provided a soft and soothing getaway from a most uncertain reality. “Trends are interesting since they very much reflect the time we are living in, but on the other hand, this is not the fashion industry,” Gustaf says. “I love that furniture design is much slower, and my plan is absolutely to keep on with my style for a long time.”
As we previously noted in our 2021 trend predictions, wiggles and squiggles have always been popular because of the “long-standing connection between organic, biophilic forms and the subtle use of natural shapes to enhance human connection to nature and creativity.” The New York designer Sophie Collé is guided by the fact that “humans are comforted by things that we know and see already.” This draw, she feels, is at the heart of a current design renaissance in which the widespread discourse is around the fun of styling a space.
“More than a singular shape like the wiggle, what I’ve noticed is that people are way more willing and excited to do new things with their homes,” she says. “I’m excited for this renaissance of giving the power back to the people and trying to put as much information on the internet as possible.”
When Jeanette Reza of Jiu Jie reflects on the wiggle trend, she is reminded of the late Alan Watts, a philosopher who once said that “the world is a marvelous system of wiggles.” Jeanette believes, “People are more emotional now toward the objects that they buy, especially when it’s something that you’re going to have in your house.” Bougie Woogie founders Jazmin Feige and Matias Gonzalez suggest that for many of us, the wiggle was the answer to the call to end the trend of “straight lines and neutral colors in a minimalistic decor style that’s been reigning for a long time.”
As they further explain, “We don’t think [the wiggle] trend is over, but that it’s evolving to be combined with different colors and textures to find its purpose in the interiors. More and more, the wiggly shapes are being placed as a centerpiece that creates a wow moment inside the home. These pieces are there to be the star of the show and to be highlighted by the not-so-charged environment that’s around them.”
Gustaf proposes that as we continue to be able to “personalize our feed and choose what we are exposed to via social media,” the compulsive urge to follow trends will fade for those of us that don’t want or need to conform our sense of style. He adds, “I don’t think a whole new style will move into these colorful homes. We will continue to add more and more expressive pieces as an extension of ourselves in the form of objects.”
As we approach a new year, we couldn’t help but wonder what could replace the wiggle. Obviously, it’s hard to top, but perhaps the next big design motif is already making its mark? Instead of spending way too much time pondering all the possibilities, we spoke to nine emerging designers that adopted the wiggle into their work to find out what they predict as the next form to take shape in 2022.
Complex and curvy shapes
Way before Wiggle Room tables ever adorned the homes of creatives like Susan Alexandra, many spaces were designed with wiggles and squiggles at the top of mind. Wiggle Room cofounder Levi Shaw often credits the landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx as one of his greatest sources of inspiration, noting that customers will soon be able to see his influence in even more of their products in 2022. “The wiggle is too simple of a form to ever go out of fashion, but I do think the wiggle has room to evolve into something more rigorous than a quick, hand-drawn doodle,” Levi says. “Many of the 20th-century modernist designers were masters of the perfect curve that felt organic while also being highly intentional.”
Okej Studio founders Emmie and Mitchell Brower also don’t see curvy shapes going anywhere anytime soon. “We can see a variety of interior design styles experimenting a little and becoming more eclectic,” Emmie says. “One might see more minimalist interiors embrace complex shapes and really add those standout pieces that you normally wouldn’t find in those environments. We’ll see a lot more classic and simple design that has been enhanced through interesting patterns and textures.”
Swirls and spirals
From the point of view of Bougie Woogie’s Jazmin and Matias, wiggly and squiggly shapes are expanding into two new directions—the “central piece,” which is an accent that “calms down the wiggle frenzy to clean the visual information and brings balance without losing the fun,” and the passage from 2D squiggle to 3D swirl. The couple cites Vivid Wu and Aden Wang’s home as a prime example of a space where “the balance between classic minimalism and retro-style wiggly shapes and colors make the space feel modern with a touch of nostalgia.” (They also point to the Home Union and Pieces collaboration as a reference.) On a similar note, the architectural designer Lula Galeano also thinks that spiral patterns will be huge in 2022. Perhaps it’s a sign that we are on our way toward the upward spiral?
Not enough knots
Jeanette Reza is a hopeless romantic at heart so when she was conceptualizing the shape of her Jiu Jie cushions back in 2018, she wanted them not only to provide squishy comfort, but also to be viewed as objects of desire. The Mexican designer sees her knotty creations as “a labyrinth that takes us into this alternative universe where all our fantasies and desires become true.” Cushions molded like this serve as transitional pieces that make you feel connected to something on a deeper emotional level.
Now that everything is happening within one space, Jeanette also thinks that modular multiuse products will be an even bigger design trend because more people want “things that you can play with that have multifunctionality.” She says, “It has to be something a little more special that has a story and meaning behind it, not just a decoration purpose.”
Organic silhouettes
Jenny Kaplan, cofounder of Pieces, has been gravitating toward new shapes that have never been shown before. As a brand that looks to “push the boundaries of modernizing our designs with innovative forms,” Pieces is constantly thinking about what areas have yet to be explored within the design landscape. “I am feeling lots of print and organic silhouettes for 2022,” Jenny says. “We are currently working on a new collection based on the study of patterns from the 20th century with a focus on the ’80s and ’90s.”
Raw materials with unexpected color combinations
Gustaf Westman is interested in what the wiggle will evolve into. Lately, the designer has noticed a shift in color palettes from pastels to deeper hues so he expects to see a new wave of color combinations in the mix. “I think we are going to see an increased mix in materials, colors, and shapes,” he says. “I think that the wiggly and bulky styles will be seen a lot in raw materials like wood and metal… The shapes [might] come after harder materials and straight lines.”
Bougie Wougie’s creators feel that organic shapes and curves channel feelings of excitement along with natural and retro vibes. “Today’s turned wood furniture and accessories add a modern touch on this ancient technique by combining wood with exciting colors,” Jazmin and Matias say. They also add that modern designers like Taxa, Emo Wood, Alfred Newall, Paradowski Studio, and Wilkinson & Rivera are at the forefront of reviving the concept with pieces that are helping us all “get away from a boring way of decoration.” They conclude that “when they are combined with interesting materials such as solid wood, marble, or rigs, the results are fabulous.”
Taking textiles to the walls
The basis of Sophie Collé’s work is rearranging familiar items, geometries, and colors in a way that people haven’t seen in a while. As an artist who is committed to building up a new generation of creators that are developing sustainably and ethically made products, she often finds herself experimenting with the functionality of pieces. So, it would make sense that the emerging designer doesn’t use textiles the same way as everyone else—instead of throwing rugs on the floor, she prefers to mount them on the wall. “I don’t like putting rugs on the floor because I don’t like getting them dirty,” Sophie says. “I can still get that ambience of having textiles in my home by hanging them up on the wall.”
