The furniture design classics of the future

What is the process for discovering a future design classic, a piece of furniture, whether old or new, that will endure for years and potentially increase in value? In the current era of mass-produced goods, there is a growing consumer desire for products with provenance and longevity. As a result, finding furniture that is designed and crafted to withstand the test of time has become increasingly important.

While the mid-century Danish designs of Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl are still impressive, they have become prohibitively expensive, with many brands now producing replicas. Fashion cycles in furniture tend to shift every 20 years, so the key is to anticipate the curve and identify up-and-coming pieces from the 2000s/2010s.

To become a future hit, a piece must capture the essence of the time in which it was created. For instance, the iconic Eames lounge chair was a response to the machine-age of production, offering a more comfortable and inviting design that reflected the American middle-class's post-World War II moment of abundance and consumption.

Today's collectible design is a reaction to the overexposure of classic designs on social media platforms, with makers producing highly crafted, unique, or dramatic pieces that recall more refined modes of furniture production from history. Good design now encompasses not only form and function but also broader societal, economic, cultural, and environmental values that are increasingly important in the 21st century.

Pieces like Metis desk or Carousel sideboard will certainly become colectors itens in 10, 20 or 50 years, due to the durability of the construction, the quality of the materials and it's design that makes them so different from the items from most of the brands wich works as a stamp of approval for future generations that extends beyond the fleeting trends of social media.

These pieces are potential auction house treasures of tomorrow.