“People are reaching for work with a little dirt under its nails. Designers are rediscovering soul,” Spencer continues. “You can feel it — this hunger to make things that breathe, that feel lived in. This isn't about rejecting digital — it's about bringing humanity back into it.”

James Turrell took inspiration from astronomy and perceptual psychology. Coco Chanel was most influenced by nuns and religious symbols. David Adjaye drew from Yoruban sculpture, and Steve Jobs from Zen Buddhism and calligraphy. We could continue this list forever, but that’s not the point. The point is to look outside the confines of our industry... See more

Sottsass developed a series of iconic objects that transcended their physical characteristics: They were full of symbolism, global and historical references, and had the ability to appeal to their users’ emotions.