Global Scans · Design · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Design thinking will increasingly play a key role in improving systems and customer experiences. Companies will re-learn their approach to innovation and embrace human-centred design principles. Designers will begin to apply knowledge of human interaction, specifically in the area of how we earn trust and respect, to AI systems.

• [New] One of the most meaningful roles of design in the coming years will be creating spaces that restore attention, presence, and humanity. officeinsight
• [New] Design will be less romantic and more about risk management, future proofing and building scalable systems instead of products. dezeen
• [New] Rough-around-the-edges design could emerge as a key trend in 2026. dezeen
• [New] In 2026, the push for ethically designed, emotionally aware tech will gain momentum. University Business
• [New] We will see progressive brands invest more deeply in impactful design, colour, decoration and storytelling - using the power of print to forge genuine emotional connections with consumers across global markets. Packaging World Insights | Packaging World Insights
• [New] The fashion industry of 2026 will not be defined by flashy innovations, but by quiet intelligence-systems that work efficiently, ethically, and in harmony with creativity. Fashion & Lifestyle digital magazine that covers many t
• [New] In 2026, enterprise AI initiatives will increasingly rely on agent-based systems designed to execute defined tasks across business processes. Verinext
• [New] In 2026, art tokenization represents a compelling tokenization business opportunity for the creative economy. Inoru
• [New] In 2026, successful institutions will invest in instructional design capacity, not as an optional support function but as essential academic infrastructure. Campus Technology
• [New] In 2026, homes will probably have modular design plans that include movable walls and furniture that can be used for more than one purpose. The Times Of India
• [New] Resilience will be the benchmark in 2026, and companies will need to design their environments so core services continue running even under active attack. TechRound
• [New] In 2026, AI's influence in design will expand both vertically and horizontally. Semiconductor Engineering
• [New] Consumers are more sensible and knowledgeable towards sustainable living and will demand accountable design decisions in the year 2026. The Times Of India
• [New] Experience-driven design vs. decorative designDesign in 2026 will transcend decoration-centric design. The Times Of India
• [New] In 2026, teams will design their generative stack for modularity, enabling new capabilities, context layers, and agents to plug in seamlessly and scale efficiently. Contentful, GmbH
• [New] The technical architecture of Android XR showcases several strategic choices that could provide Google with significant competitive advantages in spatial computing. Next Reality
• [New] Volkswagen Group will integrate the SDV architecture in the Western hemisphere into the ID.EVERY 1 and all future electric vehicles built on the Scalable Systems Platform. WebWire
• [New] Many creators agree, with searches for liminal and uncanny aesthetics up 220% year over year, drawing more than 2 million views, and almost a quarter of creators we surveyed saying they predict Reality Warp will be the defining trend of 2026. Newsroom - Latest Canva news announcements, brand guide
• [New] Generative AI will enable the design of more complex molecules faster, while RWE gathered from digital health technologies will streamline clinical trials and help prove product value in real-world settings. Pharmaceutical Technology
• [New] In 2026, the primary drivers will be the advancement of generative AI for de novo drug design and the use of real-world evidence (RWE) in regulatory submissions. Pharmaceutical Technology

Last updated: 19 January 2026