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User-Centered Product Design for Social Justice: Honoring the Legacy of MLK

In honor of Black History Month, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the intersection of design and social justice, inspired by the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His fight for equality, dignity, and inclusion reminds us that the choices we make—whether in activism, policy, or design—have the power to shape a more just world. Design is not just about aesthetics or functionality; it’s a tool for empowerment and systemic change. At Interwoven, we pride ourselves on having a diverse team from all over the world, and we know it makes our work stronger. In this Insight article, we explore how designers can honor Dr. King’s vision through design for social justice; creating solutions that dismantle barriers, amplify underrepresented voices, and foster equity in every corner of society.

Embodying MLK’s Vision Through Design

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned a society where justice and equality weren’t just ideals but tangible realities. He spoke of the “fierce urgency of now,” urging people to take action against injustice wherever it exists. Designers, too, have a responsibility to act with urgency and purpose, using their skills to tackle issues like poverty, racism, and discrimination. Design that embodies MLK’s vision isn’t just about creating something functional; it’s about fostering dignity and inclusion.

While the challenges of inequality may feel overwhelming, design provides a pathway to bridge gaps between communities and create systemic change. By designing with empathy and inclusivity, we can address issues such as unequal access to education, the digital divide, or the lack of representation in media and technology. Designers hold the power to influence not just products or spaces but also perceptions, behaviors, and policies. By embedding the principles of justice and equality into their work, designers can help dismantle the systems that perpetuate exclusion and create a world that reflects the ideals Dr. King fought for—a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Strategies for Designers to Address Social Inequality

By tapping into the following resources and strategies, designers can begin to dismantle systemic barriers and build more inclusive, equitable futures.

Empathy-Driven Research

The first step in designing for social justice is understanding the lived experiences of marginalized communities. Empathy-driven research involves going beyond assumptions and engaging directly with those who are most affected by systemic inequalities. This might mean conducting ethnographic research, hosting co-creation workshops, or working alongside community leaders to identify the specific needs of a group. At Interwoven, we find ethnographic research to be incredibly powerful. Witnessing a community firsthand can provide deep insights into how they interact with their environment and with each other, leading to innovative insights that become the core of a design solution.

Resources to Explore:
- IDEO Design Kit (Free toolkit for human-centered design practices).
- The Field Guide to Human-Centered Design by IDEO.org (Practical exercises for empathy-building).

Inclusivity in Design Processes

To create equitable solutions, it’s essential to involve diverse voices throughout the design process. A more inclusive team ensures that a variety of perspectives, cultural contexts, and lived experiences inform the final product. Here are some key practices for inclusive design:

Partner with organizations that represent underrepresented groups.
Hire diverse design teams that reflect the communities you aim to serve.
Use participatory design methods to empower marginalized communities as co-creators.
Resources to Explore:
- Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit (Guidance on designing for a spectrum of human abilities).
- Equity-Centered Community Design Framework by Creative Reaction Lab (Focuses on designing with, not for, communities).
- The Inclusive Design Research Centre (A hub for tools and case studies on inclusive design).

Focus on Universal and Accessible Design

Universal design goes beyond meeting the needs of a specific group and aims to create products, spaces, and systems that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability, age, or socioeconomic status. Accessible design focuses specifically on ensuring that people with disabilities are not excluded. We believe that all design must be universal and accessible, and we bake it into our process from the start. Here are some practical steps for universal design:

Integrate accessibility guidelines into your design process (e.g., WCAG for digital products).
Consider physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities in product development.
Prototype and test with diverse user groups to identify barriers early.
Resources to Explore:
- The Center for Universal Design (Guidelines and principles for universal design).
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) (Standards for digital accessibility).

Sustainability and Justice

Social and environmental justice are deeply interconnected. Designers can address both by creating sustainable products and systems that benefit underserved communities. For example, affordable solar-powered devices can bring electricity to off-grid areas, and circular design principles can reduce waste in low-income neighborhoods. Here are some key sustainable design principles:

Source materials ethically and sustainably.
Consider the entire lifecycle of a product, including its disposal and reuse.
Prioritize affordability and accessibility in sustainable solutions.
Resources to Explore:
- The Circular Design Guide by Ellen MacArthur Foundation (A guide to designing for a circular economy).
- Sustainable Design Handbook by Morrama (Insights into designing with sustainability in mind).

Building Your Knowledge and Network

To create meaningful change, designers must continuously educate themselves about social justice issues and connect with others doing this important work. Attend conferences, read books, and follow organizations at the forefront of inclusive and equity-focused design.

Books to Read:
- Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need by Sasha Costanza-Chock.
- Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design by Kat Holmes.
- Ruined by Design: How Designers Destroyed the World, and What We Can Do to Fix It by Mike Monteiro.
Organizations to Follow:
- Design Justice Network (Advocating for design as a tool for equity).
- Inclusive Design Research Centre (Promoting inclusion in digital technologies).
- Creative Reaction Lab (Focused on equity-centered community design).

Case Studies: 4 Design Solutions that Advance Social Justice

The following case studies illustrate the transformative power of design to address social injustices and inequities. Each project, while addressing a specific need, contributes to the larger goal of creating a more just and inclusive world. By learning from these examples, designers can reimagine their own work to honor the values of equity and inclusion.

1. Accessible Packaging: Kellogg’s NaviLens Codes

Kellogg’s introduced packaging with NaviLens codes to make grocery shopping more inclusive for visually impaired consumers. These QR-style codes can be scanned from a distance using a smartphone, providing information such as product name, ingredients, and preparation instructions through audio. This innovation not only enhances accessibility but also promotes independence and dignity for individuals with visual impairments.

2. Universal Design in Public Spaces: Curb Cuts and Tactile Paving

Curb cuts, initially designed to help wheelchair users, have become a universal design feature in urban landscapes, benefiting people with strollers, delivery carts, and bicycles. Tactile paving, which uses textured ground surfaces, guides visually impaired individuals through public spaces like sidewalks and train stations. These simple yet powerful designs ensure public spaces are accessible to people of all abilities.

3. Community-Centered Initiatives: Brightmoor Maker Space

The Brightmoor Maker Space in Detroit empowers local residents, particularly youth, to develop skills in woodworking, digital fabrication, and entrepreneurship. By providing tools, training, and mentorship, this community space fosters economic opportunities and builds confidence among participants while addressing systemic inequities in education and employment.

4. Technology for Representation: Adobe’s Diverse Voices Initiative

Adobe launched the Diverse Voices campaign to promote inclusivity in digital design by showcasing creatives from underrepresented backgrounds. This initiative provides a platform for minority artists, highlighting their work while offering educational resources to help other designers create culturally sensitive and representative content.

Inspiring Designers to Take Action

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” This question challenges designers to think critically about their work and the impact it has on society. To truly honor Dr. King’s legacy, designers must go beyond aesthetics or functionality and consider how their designs can address inequality, amplify underrepresented voices, and create opportunities for all.

Guiding Questions for Designers

To begin incorporating social justice into your work, ask yourself:

Who are the most vulnerable or underserved stakeholders in my project?
How can my design solutions empower and uplift these individuals or communities?
Am I collaborating with the people I’m designing for, or imposing solutions from the outside?
Is my design equitable and inclusive in practice, not just intent?

These questions serve as a starting point to critically evaluate your design processes and outcomes, ensuring that justice and equity are central to your work.

Practical Ideas for Social Justice Projects

Designers can make a tangible impact by tackling projects that address systemic inequities. Here are a few ideas to inspire action:

Redesign Public Signage for Accessibility:
Create multilingual, easily readable, and universally understood public signs to better serve diverse populations, consider incorporating icons or pictograms instead of or in addition to language.
Affordable Assistive Devices:
Develop low-cost tools like prosthetics, mobility aids, or sensory devices for individuals with disabilities, especially in low-income communities.
Educational Kits for Underserved Youth:
Design creative learning kits or online platforms to teach STEM and design skills to students in underrepresented areas, helping bridge educational gaps.
Combat Food Deserts:
Reimagine urban spaces by designing community gardens, mobile food markets, or apps that connect people in food deserts with affordable, healthy options.
Improve Voting Accessibility:
Design systems or tools that make voting more accessible for individuals with disabilities, non-native speakers, and those without reliable transportation.
Amplify Underrepresented Voices:
Build platforms that spotlight creatives and innovators from marginalized backgrounds, ensuring their work reaches a broader audience.
Human-Centered Homeless Shelters:
Reimagine the design of shelters to prioritize dignity, safety, and a sense of community for unhoused individuals.

Start Small, but Start Now

You don’t need to redesign the entire world to make a difference. Everyone can design for social justice. Start with a small, justice-driven project in your own community or within your current workplace. Even a single product, policy, or initiative that prioritizes inclusion and equity can spark meaningful change. Our projects always involve an element of keeping material and construction costs down as well as sourcing materials ethically, even if those projects aren’t explicitly social justice projects. Dr. King believed that every person has the power to contribute to justice and equality, and we believe that there is always a way to incorporate the principles of social justice into our practice. As a designer, your unique skills allow you to influence systems, spaces, and tools that touch millions of lives. Use this power wisely and intentionally to honor his vision and help create a world where equity isn’t just a goal—it’s a reality.

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Decoding Color Forecasting: The Art and Science of Predicting Color Trends

We use color forecasts for nearly every project at Interwoven because we know that product designers ignore them at their own peril. Color is a powerful aspect of product design, and we’ve all had the experience of making a purchase (or deciding not to make a purchase) based on color. While easy to dismiss for those who don’t know the research and analytics behind these forecasts, color trends are big, big business, and they are important commercial tools precisely because they successfully anticipate the desires, especially the future desires, of consumers. Research conducted by yarn and textile manufacturers, fiber producers, retail groups, and trade fairs consistently demonstrates that the first response from customers, whether textile buyers or retail shoppers, is to color. This Insight article will dig into what color forecasting is, what goes into generating a color forecast, the value color forecasts have to offer, and how we can use them in the design process.

What is a Color Forecast?

Color is a potent language of expression and emotion, and the best designers learn to speak this language to elevate their work. Color forecasting is a multifaceted process that blends artistry and analytics to anticipate the hues that will shape the future of fashion and design. Anchored in strategic research and cultural insight, color forecasting is indispensable for designers and retailers seeking to stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly dynamic commercial landscape.

Color forecasting involves predicting which colors will be popular in the future, enabling proactive decision-making in creating collections that resonate with consumer preferences. The process involves delving into current trends, cultural influences, and the psychology of color, all while considering the seasonal and environmental dynamics that shape color preferences. A forecast typically reflects a specific area of the market, and has a time horizon that aligns with that market. For example, a women’s athletic wear color forecast might look a year ahead while a forecast for sport utility vehicles might look 2-3 years ahead to accommodate a longer production schedule. Prominent color forecasting services include Worth Global Style Network [WGSN], the International Color Institute [ICA], and the Pantone Color Institute. Access to the forecasts requires a membership and fees, reflecting the value of such services.

designer points to color on swatch card — image via iStock

More Than a Sales Pitch

Skeptics of color forecasting argue that it primarily serves as a mechanism to reignite consumer interest in fashion and products on a seasonal basis, ultimately increasing sales. While color forecasting definitely holds significance in retail and manufacturing, the rationale behind the selection of specific colors often transcends commercial motivations.

Long before the formalization of color forecasting as a discipline, individuals selected and created colors for various applications, ranging from clothing to décor. Early color trends emerged as a result of innovative dyeing techniques and societal preferences rather than strategic marketing. For instance, in the post-War era, Americans gravitated towards cheerful pastel tones as a departure from the somber hues prevalent during wartime. These soft colors symbolized a renewed sense of optimism and vitality, reflecting broader societal sentiments of the time.

Developments in Technicolor in the 1930s revolutionized color trends, popularizing vibrant and vivid hues in cinema and beyond. This technological innovation allowed luminous costumes worn by iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly to captivate audiences in full color for the first time, sparking a cultural fascination with bold and dynamic palettes.

Currently, color trends increasingly serve as reflections of broader societal, cultural, and even political movements. During the pandemic, consumers exhibited a preference for earthy and calming colors over the previously favored ultra-bright and neon hues, reflecting a collective desire for solace and grounding in uncertain times.

As the influence of color on consumer behavior continues to evolve, the color forecasting industry integrates insights from history, psychology, and societal dynamics to anticipate future trends. Color forecasters offer retailers strategic guidance on selecting colors that resonate with consumers’ emotional and cultural sensibilities.

Navigating the Color Forecasting Process

As with so many skills in the realm of design, color forecasting is as much a technical skill as it is an art. The journey begins with thorough research into the current color landscape, identifying patterns and trends that serve as the foundation for future predictions. The process unfolds in a systematic manner, guided by research, analysis, and intuition:

Research: The process begins with an exploration of current color trends across fashion, art, and design landscapes. By dissecting the prevailing hues and identifying emerging patterns, forecasters lay the groundwork for informed predictions.
Analysis: Armed with a wealth of data, forecasters analyze current trends, seeking patterns and shifts in color preferences. By discerning the nuances of consumer behavior and cultural influences, forecasters gain insights into the evolving color landscape.
Forecast: Drawing upon their research and analysis, forecasters venture into the realm of prediction, envisioning the colors that will dominate future seasons. By considering seasonal dynamics, historical trends, and emerging influences, forecasters craft palettes that reflect what’s to come.
Test and Adjust: The predictions undergo scrutiny as forecasters test them against real-world applications, from fashion shows to editorial spreads. Any necessary adjustments are made based on feedback and emerging trends, ensuring the accuracy and relevance of the forecasts.

The Value of Color Forecasting

The scope of color forecasting extends beyond clothing to encompass accessories, footwear, jewelry, cosmetics, and beyond. Each category presents unique trends and color palettes, requiring tailored forecasts to meet consumer demands. By accurately predicting future color trends, designers and retailers can create collections that resonate across diverse product categories, driving consumer engagement and market success. Here are a few reasons designers and retailers find color forecasts so valuable.

Staying Ahead of Trends: By anticipating future color trends, designers and retailers can stay ahead of the curve, creating collections that resonate with consumers’ evolving preferences.
Enhancing Brand Identity: Strategic alignment with forecasted colors strengthens brand identity and fosters consumer engagement, distinguishing brands in a competitive market landscape.
Optimizing Production Processes: Accurate forecasting streamlines production processes, minimizing waste and optimizing resource allocation, enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability.
Driving Economic Growth: As a driver of consumer demand and market trends, color forecasting fuels innovation and economic growth, shaping the trajectory of the fashion industry.

Using a Color Forecast

Color forecasting involves selecting ranges of colors predicted for a particular product or market at a specific time in the future. Many color forecasts are tailored to specific product ranges (men’s knitwear, sport utility vehicles), but most will display three color groupings — lights, mediums, and darks. These groups typically include several colors known as classics (colors accepted over a long period, such as camel, navy, bottle green, and black). As consumers don’t constantly replace everything, color ranges for a specific season must consider previous season’s colors as well as new ‘fashion’ colors. Any color palette typically includes some of the previous season’s fashion colors, the new season’s fashion colors, and some classics within its lights, mediums, and darks.

Designers take the same approach, reviewing the color forecasts that are relevant for their product category and that have a timeline that aligns with their desired product launch date. Often, a designer will review their product category as well as tangential or related product categories to get a broader sense of the trends across an industry. These color candidates are assessed for relevance and suitability to the project, and a selection of them become part of a shortlist for the final palette, typically with a selection of light, medium, and dark tones, just like the forecast itself. Building a color palette is like putting together a puzzle, finding just the right combination of tones for the project at hand. The shortlist is rearranged and tweaked in various combinations as many times as needed to reach a final palette, often with mockups and material selection influencing the decision.

A Colorful Horizon

Numerous factors influence a consumer’s color choices. With increasing consumer awareness regarding color use, it is crucial for companies to comprehend these factors and their impact on their specific market. Marketers must understand how color affects consumers and color forecasting to provide appropriate colors for their market. Even a slight difference in shade from what the consumer expects can be disastrous for the manufacturer. Color forecasting is an indispensable tool in the arsenal of designers and retailers, guiding them through the dynamic landscape of design. By deciphering the language of color, forecasters illuminate the path forward, enabling proactive decision-making and creative innovation.

Crafting Comfort: Exploring the Footwear Design Process

The footwear design industry stands out for its blend of creativity and technical precision. Unlike many other design fields, it requires a deep understanding of both aesthetic appeal and functional considerations. Footwear designers are up against unique challenges, needing to meet ergonomic and visual needs while creating a product with a notoriously hard (and, consequently, often short) life ahead. As consumers, we want shoes that look great, speak to our personal style, serve our needs, and feel comfortable. Ideally, we want shoes that do all of this regardless of the category or use case, and we’ve all encountered shoes that don’t quite hit the mark. In this Insight article we will share some key considerations of footwear design and outline the footwear design process from concept to creation.

Top view of shoemaker making shoe on the table in workshop. — A designer adds design details to a footwear prototype. Photo via iStock.

Key Considerations in Footwear Design

Footwear design encompasses various essential factors that merge both artistic and technical elements. Like clothing design, it involves shaping, texturing, coloring, and balancing proportions. However, it also delves into intricate engineering aspects. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of good footwear design:

Functionality and Comfort: Achieving the right balance between function and comfort is paramount. This involves tailoring the design to suit different occasions—be it formal, casual, or athletic wear—while ensuring ergonomic support and wearability.
Fit and Anatomy: Central to footwear design is considering diverse foot sizes, shapes, arch support needs, and biomechanics. Utilizing tools like 3D molds helps designers to craft designs that accommodate varied anatomical features and movement patterns.
Material Selection: Choosing suitable materials for different parts of the shoe is crucial for both aesthetics and durability. This includes decisions regarding the lining, insole, outsole, padding, and upper portions, with options ranging from leather and fabric to mesh and suede. The material selection also plays a large part in the sustainability of a footwear design.
Construction Techniques: Determining the appropriate construction methods—such as stitching, bonding, and molding—is vital for ensuring structural integrity and longevity based on the design’s requirements. As the construction techniques available are constantly evolving as new technologies are developed, this is an exciting area for innovation in footwear design.
Aesthetic Appeal and Style: Crafting visually appealing designs that resonate with fashion trends and brand identity is a core aspect of footwear design. This involves conceptualizing and refining sketches, prototypes, and design elements such as color, texture, shape, and detailing.
Ethical and Sustainable Practices: With increasing emphasis on environmental consciousness, integrating ethical and sustainable practices into footwear design is critical. This includes using eco-friendly and recycled materials, adhering to ethical labor and manufacturing standards, and exploring cruelty-free options like vegan materials.

The Footwear Design Process

Designing footwear is a multifaceted process that merges creativity with technical expertise. A team of specialists come together to bring the concept to life. Drawing from the insights of seasoned designers, let’s explore the journey of a shoe design from concept to creation.

A designer marks a last. Photo via iStock.

Step 1. Inspiration and Research: Before diving into the design process, it’s crucial to draw inspiration from various sources and conduct thorough research. Whether it’s personal experiences, emerging materials, or market trends, this stage sets the foundation for unique and innovative designs. We like to look for inspiration on Pinterest, Instagram, and Directive Collective. As shoes are tightly aligned with fashion, we also review WGSN for trends and forecasting in fashion, determining the desired launch date for the shoe and confirming the most promising trend directions for our project. It is also common to review trends in car design to inform footwear.

Step 2. Conceptualization and Definition: Once inspired, designers define the concept that will guide the entire design process. This concept serves as a reference point for every aspect of the footwear collection, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic and mood. This typically involves narrowing down the major category of footwear. On the spectrum of lifestyle to performance, where does it land? Is it for men, women, children, or is it unisex? Does it target a niche user, like being designed for a specific sport? All of these questions help to determine the purpose of the shoe and where it will be situated in the market.

Step 3. Style and Selection: With the concept in place, designers identify the style and characteristics of the footwear, considering factors such as form, design details, and production techniques. Selections are made regarding shoe shapes, materials, and design elements to align with the defined concept. This part of the process likely involves narrowing down the potential directions discovered in the trends and forecasting research. While there are a broad range of style and color trends active at any moment, choosing a specific palette and style direction helps to keep a design or collection cohesive. Often this step involves creating a mood board that will unite the design team in the vision for the design.

Step 4. Design Development: Building upon the chosen style, designers translate conceptual ideas into tangible designs. Sketches and technical drawings are created to visualize every detail of the shoe, ensuring consistency and coherence within the collection. We generate an abundance of ideas and edit them to identify the concepts that most closely align with the goals outlined in steps 2 and 3.

Step 5. Pattern Making and Cutting: Highly skilled artisans meticulously create patterns based on design drawings, taking into account factors like material properties and measurements. Patterns are then cut from selected materials, with attention to detail to optimize material usage and quality. A last – a mechanical form shaped like a human foot – is finalized. This is the template of the foot that will be used for the design going forward, and the quality of the last used will make or break the success of the shoe.

Step 6. Assembly and Prototyping: Pattern pieces are assembled by skilled craftsmen, stitching them together to form the full upper of the shoe. This assembled upper is combined with components like toe and heel stiffeners, insoles, and outsoles to create the prototype shoe.

Step 7. Prototype Assessment and Adjustment: The prototype undergoes thorough assessment by designers and artisans to evaluate its visual and technical aspects. Adjustments are made as necessary to ensure the prototype aligns with the original concept and meets quality standards. Variations might be created to finalize decisions around design details and test color combinations.

Step 8. Iterative Refinement: If adjustments are required (and they often are), the prototype is remade to incorporate agreed-upon changes. This iterative refinement process continues until the shoe meets expectations in terms of aesthetics, comfort, and functionality.

Step 9. Finalization and Production: Once the prototype is approved, the shoe is ready for mass production. Patterns are scaled for each required size, ensuring consistency across the range. With the technicalities ironed out and designs finalized, the shoes are ready to be brought to market.

Step 10. Brand Identity and Storytelling: Throughout the design process, a strong concept and cohesive vision contribute to the development of a brand identity. The relationship between designer and artisan, as well as the technical expertise applied, imbues the final product with stories and conversations that resonate with consumers. While the concept defining in steps 2 and 3 is powerful for a consistent internal understanding of the design, the storytelling step is about translating that vision for the consumer.

Footwear designers must navigate a complex process that involves concept development, material selection, prototyping, and production, all while keeping abreast of market trends and technological advancements. The industry’s focus on sustainability and ethical practices is increasingly becoming a defining feature, influencing everything from material choices to production methods. Overall, the footwear design industry is characterized by its innovative spirit, attention to detail, and the ability to merge artistry with practicality to create products that not only look good but also perform well. The footwear design process involves a blend of creativity, research, technical skill, and iterative refinement. From initial inspiration to final production, designers navigate a complex journey to bring their vision to life, creating shoes that not only look beautiful but also tell compelling stories to those who wear them.

Art for All: Exploring the Vibrant World of Public Art Installations

Public art installations are not just sculptures or murals adorning public spaces; they’re expressions of community identity, cultural heritage, and societal values. They define social spaces in memorable ways that people will travel across the world to experience. They are landmarks, way finding devices, photo-ops, and they are art. Unlike street art, public art is often commissioned by local governments, shaping its themes and styles to resonate with community values and broader concepts that speak to the public at large.

What is public art? What forms can it take? How is a public art installation different from other forms of art? In this Insight article, we’ll define what a public art installation is, discuss the rise of art fairs that helped to enhance the awareness of public art installations, and share major global art fairs to follow to see superb examples for yourself.

*140 Broadway, NYC. Red Cube by Isamu Noguchi, 1968. Photo by teleterapia.fi via Unsplash.*

Types of Public Art

While the concept of public art has evolved over the centuries, from ancient monuments to modern site-specific artworks, as long as there has been a public, there has been public art. In the modern era, public art became intertwined with the concept of the “public sphere,” reflecting societal values and ideals. Public art comes in various forms, responding to the needs and priorities of each city or region. Cities known for public art installations, like New York and Chicago, make an effort to feature art from each category.

Ephemeral/Non-permanent: Ephemeral public art consists of temporary artworks that make statements about community art and sense of place. They are designed to degrade over time.
Installation: Public art installations are site-specific artworks integrated into public spaces like parks and transit stations, engaging commuters and passersby.
Applied: Applied public art includes murals and sculptures mounted on buildings or structures, often paying tribute to community members or cultural heritage.
Integrated: Integrated public art merges with pavements, building facades, and landscapes, utilizing existing surfaces to create immersive experiences.
Stand-alone: Stand-alone public art describes site-specific sculptures and structures, such as public sculpture gardens, that become landmarks within a community.

Cloud Gate, Millenium Park, Chicago — *Millenium Park, Chicago, IL. Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor, 2006. Photo by Michelle Raponi via Pixabay.*

Characteristics of Public Art Installations

Public art installations are some of the best known examples of public art, as they have the longevity needed to establish themselves as an iconic presence in an urban space. They share several defining characteristics that distinguish them from other forms of art:

Accessibility: Unlike the art museums, there is no gatekeeping around public art. It is typically free to experience and serves to create value in shared social spaces. Public art must be easily accessible to all members of the community.
Public Sanction: In contrast to guerilla or street art, public art has approval and support from government entities or nonprofit arts organizations, ensuring alignment with public interests.
Longevity: While some installations are temporary, public art is generally intended for long-term placement, often using durable materials resistant to the elements.
Interactivity: Many public art installations encourage interaction, fostering engagement and education within the community.

Les Deux Plateaux by Daniel Buren public art installation — *The courtyard of the Palais Royal in Paris France. Les Deux Plateaux by Daniel Buren, 1986. Photo via Unsplash by Chris Linnett.*

The Rise of the Contemporary Art Fair

The rise of contemporary art fairs traces back to the late 20th century, when cities outside major artistic hubs sought to develop and showcase their markets. Art Market Cologne, later Art Cologne, and Art Basel emerged as pioneers in 1967 and 1970, respectively, adopting formats reminiscent of traditional artisanal fairs. Initially regional, these fairs quickly expanded internationally, facilitating business in the art market and fostering dealer networks. The 1990s market crash prompted a restructuring of the existing fairs and the proliferation of new fairs, particularly local and hyper local fairs. Art Basel Miami 2002 marked a turning point, catalyzing explosive growth in the 21st century. This growth also led to the commercialization of the fair experience, like establishing VIP rooms and high costs for special exhibitions. Critics argue that the commercialization has overshadowed the fair’s original intent, neglecting smaller galleries and emerging artists while catering to larger ones. As a result, there’s debate over whether art fairs have become too commercial, leading to buyer fatigue and mixed feelings among artists about their representation.

Regardless of controversy, art fairs are here to stay. Around the world they attract art and design professionals and enthusiasts, showcasing the most impressive and lauded work of the day. They are covered thoroughly in general news as well as design news outlets, instigating and reflecting major trends in the art world. While many art fairs, regardless of their size, incorporate public art installations into their multi-media experience, a handful have made the exhibition of dramatic public art installations part of their DNA.

Major Art Fairs to Watch

Here are three important art and design fairs to follow as a lifelong student of design. All are prestigious events watched closely by the world of art and design, and to be a featured artist or creator is a major career achievement. Public art installations featured at these fairs serve as catalysts for discourse on pressing social, political, and environmental issues, amplifying their relevance and impact on a global scale.

la Biennale — Photo by Jen Schwan via Unsplash.

The Venice Biennale

The Venice Biennale, renowned as one of the most prestigious cultural events globally, is a biennial art exhibition that has been held in Venice, Italy, since 1895. The 2024 fair, which is the 60th exhibition, will run from April to November. Serving as a celebration of contemporary art and culture, the Biennale attracts artists, curators, and art enthusiasts from around the world to explore a diverse range of artistic expressions across various disciplines, including visual arts, architecture, cinema, dance, and music. Among the myriad of exhibitions and pavilions, public art installations play a pivotal role in shaping the Biennale’s identity and impact. These installations transform Venice into a vibrant open-air gallery, activating public spaces and engaging audiences in unique and immersive artistic experiences. By integrating public art into the fabric of the city, the Venice Biennale blurs the boundaries between art and everyday life, fostering dialogue, reflection, and connection among participants and the broader public. The inclusion of public art installations not only enhances the cultural significance of the Venice Biennale but also reinforces its role as a dynamic platform for artistic innovation, collaboration, and dialogue.

The Milan Furniture Fair

The Milan Furniture Fair, also known as Salone del Mobile, stands as a pinnacle event in the world of design and furniture. It is held at the end of April. Since its inception in 1961, it has evolved into a global platform where designers, manufacturers, and enthusiasts converge to explore the latest trends and innovations in interior design. Alongside the myriad exhibitions of furniture, lighting, and decor, the fair also recognizes the importance of integrating public art into its offerings. Public art installations at the Milan Furniture Fair serve as focal points, not only enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the event but also enriching the overall experience for attendees. These installations, often site-specific and interactive, contribute to the ambiance of the fair, fostering creativity, dialogue, and inspiration among visitors. Moreover, public art at the fair reflects the evolving relationship between design and public spaces, showcasing how art can seamlessly integrate into our everyday environments. By incorporating public art, the Milan Furniture Fair underscores the significance of artistic expression in shaping contemporary design trends and enriching our built environment.

Art Cologne

Art Cologne is an annual art fair showcasing contemporary and modern art, attracting collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals from around the globe. Established in 1967 in Cologne, Germany, it has solidified its position as one of the world’s leading art fairs. It serves as a vibrant hub for galleries, artists, and art lovers to converge and engage with groundbreaking works across various mediums such as painting, sculpture, photography, and multimedia installations. While professionals flock to the city for the fair in November, Cologne features public art installations all year round as well as having a separate urban art fair for street art specifically.

Looking Ahead

The future of public art is unpredictable, but its significance as a reflection of community identity and shared values remains constant. As long as public art continues to thrive, it will serve as an ongoing project in shaping the modern consciousness of the “public sphere.” Public art installations are not just decorations; they’re integral components of our shared public spaces, enriching our lives and fostering a sense of belonging within our communities.

Illuminating Design: Creating Dynamic and Inviting Environments

Light is a fundamental element in the realm of architecture and design, serving as both a practical necessity and a powerful tool for creating transformative spaces. Light has a powerful influence on our perception and experience of space, affecting our emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being. In this Insight article we discuss the role of light in design: how light can conjure a mood, how it can define a space, and how the diverse array of light sources and their characteristics can be dynamic tools for designers. By learning about the landscape of light, designers can unlock its transformative potential to create environments that energize, comfort, and communicate.

Light and Design

Throughout history, light has played a central role in architectural design, with civilizations across the globe harnessing its power to create awe-inspiring spaces. The manipulation of light has always been integral to shaping the atmosphere of architectural spaces, and, as an ever expanding array of lighting options becomes increasingly accessible and affordable, the consideration of that light has become accordingly nuanced.

Light profoundly impacts human perception, influencing our emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being. The various wavelengths of light stimulate our retinas, triggering physiological responses that affect our mood and cognition. Exposure to natural daylight can enhance productivity and mood, while harsh artificial lighting may induce feelings of discomfort and fatigue. As designers, we can’t think about space without thinking about light.

Different types of light sources can have wildly different characteristics and applications, so broad is the range of options in the lighting market today. Natural light sources, such as sunlight and moonlight, offer dynamic and ever-changing illumination, while artificial sources like incandescent, fluorescent, and LED lights provide consistency and control over intensity and color temperature. Understanding the qualities of each light source is essential for designers to create spaces that cater to specific functional and aesthetic requirements.

Clay house living room in the evening sun shadows

Light and Mood

Light and mood share a dynamic relationship that routinely impacts our daily lives. Whether it’s the natural radiance of the sun or the subdued glow of artificial sources, every lightwave affects our bodies and emotions. This connection is down to our circadian system, which regulates bodily processes in response to lighting cues. While natural daylight once synchronized our internal clocks, the prevalence of artificial light has introduced both positive and negative impacts on our circadian rhythms.

In our homes, lighting serves as more than just illumination; it shapes the atmosphere and is an essential part of our routines. Bright lighting encourages activity and alertness, while dim lighting promotes relaxation and rest. Exposure to artificial light, especially during nighttime hours, can interfere with our circadian rhythms, leading to sleep disturbances and related health issues. Bright light therapy has proven an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

In our workplaces, lighting can significantly influence employee productivity and mood. Inadequate lighting can diminish performance, though excessively bright or harsh lighting can also have detrimental effects. Optimal workplace lighting involves a balance of intensity, softness, temperature, and color to create an environment conducive to concentration and well-being. Different sets of parameters are optimal for the innumerable environments we inhabit.

Warm lighting, with yellow and orange tones, can promote feelings of psychological warmth, comfort, and relaxation. These tones are often found in residential and hospitality lighting. Cool, blue-toned lighting is associated with productivity and alertness. These tones are often found in office and industrial settings. The significance of specific colors in lighting varies widely across cultures and from one person to another.

Light and Space

Light serves as a powerful tool in shaping our perception of space and depth within environments. By strategically manipulating light levels, characteristics, and directionality, designers can create a sense of expansiveness or intimacy, coziness or efficiency. Through techniques like accent lighting and shadow play, architectural and interior design features can be accentuated, drawing attention to key elements and adding visual interest to a space. The interplay of light and shadow can evoke a sense of texture and dimensionality, enriching the spatial experience for occupants. Light can be employed to delineate zones, establish hierarchy, and imbue spaces with a distinct sense of identity.

3D image of an environmentally friendly coworking office space.

Integrating Light into Design Processes

In any given environment, we typically want a strategic balance of natural light, general or ambient artificial light, and task artificial light. This allows us to adjust the lighting in order to successfully (and, we hope, pleasantly) navigate and use the space regardless of the time of day. Designers can use a wide range of strategies to harness these lighting types to create compelling, functional spaces. Here is a look at a handful of these techniques to get you started.

Optimize Natural Light

Our emotional well-being is directly correlated to the amount of natural light we are exposed to. Maximizing the availability of natural light is a high priority in many environments, especially residential environments. It creates a sense of warmth, openness, and connection to the outdoors. Leaving the largest surface area of windows unblocked by interior elements (heavy window treatments, furniture) and leaving clear lines of sight to those windows from key zones in the space will keep the space bright and inviting. Where window treatments are desired or required, consider sheer options that allow privacy while filtering rather than blocking natural light.

Install Dimmers

While ambient lighting should be proportional and well-suited to a space, and task lighting proportional and well-suited to its designated task(s), dimmers offer the user a range of customization that can make a space much more flexible. These are particularly desirable in residential spaces, which need to facilitate a range of activities and host a range of atmospheres. Allowing the user to adjust the intensity and the quality of the light ensures that the lighting can meet their varying needs, regardless of the time of day, the task at hand, or the desired mood.

Vary Color

Customize not only the intensity of the lightbulb but the color of the lightbulb to the task at hand. A lightbulb’s intensity is measured in lumens, and its color temperature is measured in Kelvin. Warm-toned light (2,700K to 3,000K) ranges from red to yellow on the color spectrum and most often has a golden tone. This is often used to create a cozy atmosphere, similar to firelight or the light at sunrise or sunset. These tones are common in bedrooms and living room or lounge areas where the aim is relaxation. Cool-toned light (5,000K and up) ranges from green to violet on the color spectrum and most often has a blue tone. This blue tint is similar to daylight and these tones are commonly used in task lighting, as in a kitchen or office. Cool color temperatures are often used to create an alert, sterile, or industrial atmosphere, as in a hospital or office building. They are ideal for encouraging concentration and attentiveness.

Vary Task Lighting

Poor or insufficient lighting can cause fatigue and inability to focus, as can overly harsh or bright lighting. Light is ideally tailored to the space and the needs of the user within that space, and it is often the case that a single light cannot meet all of the user’s needs within a space, especially in a multi-use space like a home. Including a variety of task lighting is a great way to create task-oriented stations that increase the versatility of a space, allowing the user to change or combine task lighting options as available daylight shifts and their needs change. This can include task lighting at a variety of color temperatures, light intensity, height, and directionality. For example, a living room might have a dim, diffuse, warm light for watching television and relaxing, and a relatively bright, directional, cool light for reading.

Spotlight/Uplight Features and Zones

Key architectural features, artwork, and decorative objects can be highlighted with strategic spotlights. A well-placed, directional light can add depth and character to a space, creating visual interest, a dramatic focal point, and more. Uplights can accomplish the same goal from below, calling out the importance of a feature of the room. Spotlights and uplights can also be used to delineate zones in the space, like a flood of light over a dining room table, or a soft glow around a bar area.

Wall Washing

Wall washing is a technique that involves placing a light source near a wall such that the light bathes the wall in a diffuse glow. This is often done with a warm light to create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. The light might highlight a special texture or feature of the wall, or delineate a seating area. A sconce is a classic option for creating this effect, though many types of lighting fixtures can accomplish it.

Layer Lighting

Layering lighting options is an essential tactic for creating depth and texture in a space. A single, central light source can be flat and relentless, and creates an effect that is the farthest away from the natural variation of daylight. Light sources that create pools of light and shadow offer dynamic contrast, and this is much more dynamic when the zone of influence of a light source strategically intersects with that of another light source, creating still more variation in the light levels of a space. Adding dimmers to such sources offers a custom level of contrast, allowing a user to dial in the atmosphere further still. All of these techniques can be layered to create compelling spaces that are well-suited to their purpose.

Light It Up

Light, and the quality of light, has a significant impact on our built environments as well as our well-being, and is a powerful tool in design. It can define the atmosphere of environments and create boundaries for spatial experiences. The integration of light into design processes involves strategic considerations, from optimizing natural light to implementing a custom blend of lighting techniques to best meet a user’s needs. In understanding the range of lighting possibilities, designers can create compelling and functional spaces that enhance our experiences and foster a sense of connection to our environments.