Thoughtful Design
Author Béatrice Lorans
Great design speaks to our senses. It takes complex technology and makes it feel approachable. It transforms conventional ideas into something fresh and exciting. And it balances beauty with purpose in a way that enhances our everyday experiences.
This month, I’m highlighting four innovations that do exactly that – from fabric that becomes light to medical robots with a human touch.
A-POC Able Issey Miyake x Atelier Oï
At Milan Design Week 2025, A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE and Swiss design studio atelier oï showed how a single piece of cloth and wire can transform into luminous, sculptural objects. Their groundbreaking collaboration redefines what fabric can be. As designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae puts it, “Clothing is just one aspect of what a piece of cloth can become.”
I’m particularly drawn to how they push textiles beyond conventional use, opening new realms of possibility where simple materials create extraordinary experiences.
Sentire Surgical Robot by LeapX
LeapX’s design for the Sentire Surgical Robot system reimagines medical experiences with its soft, rounded visual language. This thoughtful system considers both technical needs of professionals and emotional experiences of patients. With clear buttons, easy unlocking mechanisms and strategic indicator lights, it transforms potentially anxiety-inducing surgery into something more approachable.
I’m genuinely impressed by how they’ve managed to make cutting-edge medical tech feel less… well, clinical.
6pm in Paris
“Like Netflix meets Masterclass, but for learning French” – that’s the best way to describe 6pm in Paris, a new language app that takes a different approach than the menacing green owl most of us are hiding from! Each week, learners watch short films and explore language through informal video lessons. The cultural immersion makes learning feel like entertainment rather than homework and it’s just a lovely piece of experience design.
Enfin, quelque chose qui marche!
Vika Wall Lamp by Abstracta x Khodi Feiz
The Vika Wall Lamp, a collaboration between Abstracta and designer Khodi Feiz, addresses multiple senses simultaneously. This thoughtful design combines sound management and lighting in one elegant system. What I appreciate about this piece is how it transforms functional necessities into artistic statements that enhance our environments in subtle yet significant ways. The lamp represents a sophisticated solution to acoustic and lighting needs in contemporary spaces.