Uncovering Wallcoverings Trends

I DON’T KNOW about you, but I love a reason to go to the beach in the dead of winter. I get to put up my puffy parka and relish in the turquoise waters and white sand beaches of Florida’s Emerald Coast. So, I was more than thrilled to have been invited to the Wallcoverings Association annual meeting in Clearwater this January.

There, I met manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers of all kinds of media and products for awe-inspiring wallcoverings while learning about 2024 trends. It was a blend of educational sessions and networking as I listened to the presentations in earnest and hob-knobbed with new friends in this sector of the wide-format digital printing market. One of the most insightful discussions was about the intersection of vinyl and sustainability. During the presentation, industry news regarding regulatory updates and sustainability were shared, alongside an update from the Vinyl Institute.

Expanding on the topic, this issue’s feature, “Creating an Artful Room,” by contributing writer Patrick Donigain looks at the production side of wallcoverings. “This marketplace is transitioning from classic analog wallpaper technologies to highly capable wide-format digital printing technology that excels at short and customized runs” he says.

Is your shop creating beautiful wallcoverings? Shoot me an email. I’d love to hear from you and see some examples. Also, consider joining our Brain Squad, a group of your printer peers who we survey to get insights into what’s going on in your world. We often publish results of specific questions in the magazine so this is your chance to be heard. Sign up at bigpicturemag.com/brainsquad.