The Bubble Effect: Curve Appeal Takes Over

Gallery at Sketch, London, Designed by India Mahdav, 2015

Curves, bubbles, squiggles, and blobs—these are the design elements we need right now. What do all these things have in common? They are all amorphous shapes inspired by Bubble Mania and Curve Appeal.

This isn’t the first time soft shapes have been in demand. In the social turbulence of the 1970s, designers offered comfort with a range of lounge-worthy sofas. The 1980s, curved forms recalled the luxury of Hollywood’s Golden Age, celebrating an economic boom that pronounced “Greed is Good.” But by the late 1990s, however, these rounded forms were largely usurped by the sharper, minimalist lines of modernism, a style that would remain the dominant trend for the next 20+ years.

Today, our cultural appetite for rounded forms has returned. Part of the reason lies in the resurgence of Art Deco. Prior to the pandemic, designers and manufacturers anticipated the coming decade as the new “Roaring Twenties,” and began planning for it as early as 2011. Softer shapes and colors began appearing in home décor, epitomized by the 2015 interior of London’s redesigned Gallery at Sketch. The restaurant’s monochrome pink palette, further softened by the round, fluted backs of the velvet seating, quickly became an Instagram sensation.

While Art Deco is certainly one reason for Curve Appeal, it’s not the only one. It’s important to remember that, in addition to curved forms, traditional Art Deco style relied heavily on geometric elements taken from ziggurats and Cubism—a fact not overlooked by many of today’s designers as they reinterpret the style. Clearly, today’s bent for the bend relies on more than just the calendar year.

Vivant Paris Apartment by LUXXU, 2021

Curved elements make a statement in a luxury apartment design by LUXXU. Products include the Senzu Sofa and the emerald green Empire Set I center table. Courtesy of LUXXU.

Mawj chair by MEAN, 2021

The 3D printed chair features undulating curves and a rhythmic moire pattern that soothes the senses.

Newton Console by Boca do Lobo

Cast metal makes a bubbly console sure to lift spirits.

Turner Lamps by Delightfull

Concentric curves recall the glamour of Art Deco.

Venus Power by Patricia Urquiola for CC Tapis, 2021

Cloud-like swirls symbolize life while subtly composing the phrase “We all come from Venus.”

Furniture by Arflex

Soft layers of pastels accent the repeated curved patterns seen in pieces by Arflex. Products shown include the Jules armchair, Papillon sconce lamp, and Vela screens.

Ruff chair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, 2020

A contemporary take on a modernist lounge chair, the Ruff features a cantilevered back rest that seems to float over the rouned seat.

Bubble Light Bulb by NUD

Voluptuous curves and an iridescent sheen bubble to the surface in this wonderful LED bulb.

All this brings us back to the comfort provided by the protective bubble. Curves soften a space both visually as well as haptically by tempering the hard angles of mid-century modernism. They cradle us, comfort us, and bring us joy. As I have written previously, blobby shapes engage with our sense of self in their soft, squishy, and human-like imperfection. Like blobs, undulating squiggles do not need to be perfect to enthrall—in fact, the less perfect they are, the more calming they seem.

Recent design fairs had Curve Appeal to spare, indicating this trend isn’t going away soon. And why should it? While the pandemic has reaffirmed our need for comfort, our society has been transitioning toward a more casual lifestyle over the past century. Curve Appeal celebrates this attitude, as well as provides solace from world events outside of our control.

As the New Year often brings with it new hopes, as well as new worries, the comfort of the curve will a staple we can count on. Let’s resolve to let Bubble Mania and Curve Appeal continue to create a home sanctuary through 2022.