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These insights shared at the panel reveal a design landscape deeply engaged with emotional resonance, material integrity, inclusive systems, and responsible use of technology. As the boundaries between disciplines dissolve and the digital and physical worlds converge, the conversation pointed toward a future where collaboration, care, and intentionality take center stage.

Amy Frearson – Journalist and Editor-at-Large, Selma Lamai – Creative Lead for Brand at Muuto, Malene Hvidt – Founding Partner at Spacon & X, Seetal Solanki – Materials Translator and Founder of Ma-tt-er, and Francesc Gasch – Designer and Muuto Design Contest 001 winner, gathered to reflect on the shifts shaping contemporary design practice.

We've highlighted key moments with timestamps from the panel talk, which you can find below. You can catch all the insights by listening to the full discussion.

Listen here

Reclaiming meaning through design

Designers are increasingly moving away from aesthetics alone, instead focusing on emotional value and deeper human connections. This shift reflects a broader cultural desire for spaces and objects that foster belonging and care. The conversation opened with reflections on how design can evoke feeling, not just function.

00:14:20

Selma: “It’s not just about an object being pretty or made from expensive material. It’s about the emotions it evokes in the people interacting with it. We’re always curious to explore how spaces, colors, light, and materials affect people.”

00:15:25

Malene: “If you feel emotionally connected to an object, that’s when you really start to care for it. It’s the same with people. That emotional connection matters, it makes you want to take care of it.”

Muuto panel talk with speakers and audience, seated in a modern courtyard.

Speakers and audience captured during Muuto’s panel talk, seated in a courtyard setting with soft tones and modern design.

Designing from the material outward

Designing with materials in mind from the beginning allows for more grounded, emotionally resonant outcomes. Panelists explored how materials can become the starting point for design—both through storytelling and function—and how that shift changes the entire process.

00:20:18

Seetal: “Materials have emotional qualities, not just functional ones. I encourage people to start by understanding those aspects first—because anything we design has to work and feel a certain way. That understanding changes the process entirely.”

00:33:34
Seetal: “I think maybe it's not a material, but maybe it's the outlook or the perspective, which I really enjoy—where every material has many different purposes. Much like us, I always think materials and people are multifaceted. One material can serve many purposes. Algae, for example—it’s fibre, dye, insulation, even food. We need to embrace that kind of material flexibility instead of boxing materials into one use or trying to scale them unnaturally.”

00:22:27

Francesc: “We’re working with materials that, on their own, won’t save the world. But the point is: if we can make those materials appealing, if we can design projects that are attractive, then we start shifting perceptions (…) That’s where we as designers come in. It’s up to us to create projects that resonate with the general public, with visual and emotional appeal. That’s our responsibility.”

Close-up of speaker during Muuto’s panel talk, captured in a modern outdoor setting

Close view of speakers sharing insights during Muuto’s panel talk, seated in a modern outdoor setting.

The future of process and practice

How we design is just as important as what we design. The panel touched on the importance of craftsmanship, storytelling, and slowing down to build more meaningful relationships with the objects and spaces around us. Design becomes a long-term relationship, not a short-lived trend.

00:57:02

Selma: “When people understand how something is made—how much time and thought went into it—they connect with it more. That storytelling and attention to detail helps it stay with them, emotionally and physically.”

00:26:55

Malene: “I do believe we’re seeing a trend in furniture design that resembles fashion—especially in its fast pace and the focus on trends. The pace is different, but there’s a similar urgency and turnover. I remember when high street shops were all about clothing—now many of them are centered around interiors. So there’s definitely been a shift. At the same time, I also believe there’s a growing desire for objects that people truly care for, that they maintain and cherish over time. That longing is something really interesting to observe.”

Outdoor courtyard talk hosted by Muuto, featuring speakers and audience seated in a sunlit courtyard with modern Muuto furniture.

Speakers participating in a Muuto panel talk, seated on modern furniture in a modern outdoor setting.

Technology as tool—not replacement

As emerging tools like AI enter design studios, the conversation shifted to how we balance technological possibilities with human intuition. Technology can enhance and support design—but should not replace the emotional intelligence, care, and cultural awareness that give design its depth.

00:36:25

Selma: “There’s so much innovation happening, especially with technology and AI—it can feel hard to keep up. But what’s exciting is exploring how we can use these tools while still holding onto intuition and the human touch. That balance between forward-thinking design and traditional, analogue techniques, like working with artisans who’ve known their materials for generations, is something we’re constantly exploring. It’s where heritage meets new possibilities.”

00:38:26

Francesc: “As long as we treat AI as a tool—not a replacement—we’re in a good place. The most important thing we have is human consciousness, and that can’t be replaced.”

00:40:04

Seetal: “Nature is technology. Materials have intelligence, some are even antimicrobial by nature. AI can help us trace where materials come from, but it should be a research partner, not something we copy blindly.”

Audience gathered in a sunlit courtyard during Muuto’s panel talk, seated on modern Muuto furniture in a thoughtfully designed outdoor setting.

Looking forward with intention

The panel closed with reflections on what’s next—not just in terms of trends or aesthetics, but in the values and mindsets shaping future design. The vision was hopeful: one grounded in collaboration, care, and connection.

00:51:12

Francesc: “For me, the next chapter in design isn’t about what we create, but how and why we do it. It’s about focusing on the meaning behind the object—the materials, the context, the full lifecycle. We’re moving away from a mindset where designers focused only on form or function, and toward one where every element and its impact matters.”

00:52:13

Seetal: “I want a future where everyone wins. Where people, places, the land, and the materials we use are all considered. It takes time and effort, but the impact is deep and lasting.”

00:53:40

Malene: “I see design as a tool for collaboration. It helps build bridges—between perspectives, between cultures, between people.”

00:54:18

Selma: “I once read a quote: ‘A home is like a garden—things grow there.’ That’s how I see the future of design. It’s about creating intentional spaces that support people, where they can feel at home.”

The panel concluded with a celebration of the Muuto Design Contest winners—each selected for their thoughtful, materials-led designs that brought emotion, context, and craft into everyday objects. Discover the stories behind their creations and explore the winning designs in full here.

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