Design Debate

Oh I like these, very sophisticated, smart glasses that are colour-controlled by a stroke of your finger. In this modern world we swipe at everything. I have even seen babies trying to swipe an actual old-fashioned paper book, which is slightly disturbing! But with these specs I can see the appeal. An Austin, Texas-based brand, Sutyo, has come up with eyewear that is touch-controlled and moves your lenses from light to dark. They have eco credentials too: they are bio-based and made from renewable castor bean seeds grown on farms in India. They are even recyclable at the end of their life. They have won design awards galore, including the 2026 A’ Design Award and Competition, the iF Design Award and an IDA Design Award Gold in 2025. It’s through electrical signals that these glasses activate liquid crystals, altering the light and colour in layers. I like the silhouette too, simple, classic, very wearable. You just slide y...

The power-house of colour that is Pantone have released their colour of next year. It's a glowing, cosy shade of peach that feels almost out of reach - like a sunset that changes before your eyes. The intention though, rather than something elusive, was it seems to capture a feeling of the yearning we have for closeness and connection. With a world so in turmoil, next years colour feels like a much needed a warm embrace. Leatrice Eisman of Pantone describes Peach Fuzz as a colour that 'effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless', I can see that. It's the pulsing nature of the colour that hints at neon and encourages a pure but and youthful vibe. The hero images are tactile, otherworldly and fantastical. I do also love Vogue's response, especially the runway shot of a sheer striped dress from Missoni SS24. So I set about exploring what Peach Fuzz, Pantone 13-1023 would feel like, delve into the womb-like embrace with me with my moodboards below... 1   2   3...

I do like popping in every now and then to peruse Danish photographer Søren Jepsen's work. Famed for his street snaps and candid style, he travels fashion's finest towns capturing head-turning outfits and the people who sport them. Never more happy than when at home in Copenhagen. Jepsen's commercial work is note-worthy but I do gravitate towards those unsuspecting (or ever hopeful) souls he's found on the streets of London, Paris or Budapest.   It's all about the ensemble, or that killer accessory that livelies up an ordinary day. Check his work out at The Locals or on Instagram . 

Perusing Miss Moss I was reminded of a British design classic – that black sheep jumper! Miss Moss was actually featuring the wonderfully characterful dog paintings of Sally Muir, but it sent me straight back to the knitwear company she started with Joanna Osborne. The V&A has one of the sheep jumpers in its collection, which rather confirms its place in design history. Warm & Wonderful began in 1979, with Sally and Joanna selling their knitwear from a market stall in Covent Garden. Their sheep jumper in particular proved a hit: rows of little white sheep with one black sheep standing apart. A young Lady Diana Spencer wore the red version to a polo match in 1981 and it became inseparable from her image. David Bowie and Andy Warhol were amongst the other famous names who wore the design. I can see why it struck a chord. Joanna and Sally tapped into something many of us recognise – that feeling of being the odd one out ...

  Inspired by the camouflage capabilities of the squid, this jacket looks quite like a normal black jacket by day, but by night it reflects every known colour in the spectrum. Made from 2 billion tiny glass spheres embedded into the jacket, Vollebak co-founder Steve Tidball says  "when light hits the jacket, it travels through the curved surface of these black glass spheres and strikes the back of them, before being reflected back at the original light source and scattered away from it simultaneously, so that the fabric looks like it’s emitting light.’ The fabric resembles an oil slick and the fully waterproof jacket has a liquid aesthetic that looks quite alien. Pretty cool really, see more at Design Boom . 

Illustrator Ashley Seil Smith creates beautifully bold designs with blocky shapes. Her colour palette is full of late summer sunshine with earthy tones in abstracted compositions.  Based in New York, Ashley focusses on women in much of her work. The stylish outfits show that kind of effortless chic that feels natural. Her illustrations fill the space with confidence, just like the women she portrays.

Today is the first official day of Spring, and I can just about believe it. Yes we had snow only yesterday but today despite the cold breeze there is a real optimism in the air. The sun is vibrant and the birds are in fine voice. As such I thought I would bring some elements of Spring to Design Debate today, to get us in the mood. Above: Spring Vista, a poster for the   Long Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra , Valentino Spring/Summer 2018 Couture , Chanel Spring 2015 Couture - Animated 3D Paper Garden , Giambattista Valli Spring 2018 Couture . Above: Spring garden Alphabet by Sarah Walsh , Spring 2016 Haute Couture Ralph & Russo ,   Spring 1904 Russian Avant Garde artist Kazimir Malevitch , The Awakening of Spring a travel poster by A A Moore, 1926. Above: A refreshing way to display flowers , Vintage Japanese travel poster , The Arrival of Spring a blown glass sculpture by Peter Layton .