Trends are as transitory as time itself—fleeting fads that wait for none and expect all (who wish to stay ‘relevant’) to scramble and keep up. As these currents meander and change course by whims, the archetypes they yield become seemingly objective realities, even though volatile and often short-lived. That brings us vis-à-vis a vital question: what is the world looking for now? A sustainable future or virtual reality that transports them to a new one, reinterpretations of icons or quirky formulations on Midjourney, rekindling of humble crafts or technological strides that redefine the mundane—or perhaps all of them?

Although the ‘wants’ are ceaseless and the possibilities that the future holds, nearly unfathomable, some trends—encompassing product design, automobile design, watches and innovative technologies—made a profound mark on the global design fabric this year. Revisiting the 2023 archives, STIR enlists lifestyle trends that stood out, reinvented and delineated the new and the NEXT.

1. HM11 Architect by MB&F

Can you envision a house as a watch? Max Busser, the founder and creative director of Geneva-based MB&F, sets out to blur the boundaries between inhabitable spaces and wearable design with the MB&F Horological Machine N ̊11 Architect. Busser’s fascination with unconventional dwellings and their humanism nudged him to ponder if they could morph into watches—paving the way for his latest watch design. A central flying tourbillon extends skyward under a double-domed sapphire roof. The quatrefoil-shaped upper bridge recalls the clerestory windows found in grand temples or the fragile moment of conception. From this central hub, four symmetrical volumes reach outward, forging the parabolic rooms of the HM11 house. With a structure that smoothly pivots on its foundations, the house can be rotated to access each room—a dynamic play of aesthetics and functionality ensues.

2. KAORIUM by SCENTMATIC

The neural response that your favourite scent elicits is often ineffable. Selecting a fragrance for yourself can be equally burdensome and complicated, given the endless options and a long-winded, often banal, process of trial and error. SCENTMATIC reimagined this model with an exhibition titled KAORIUM. Guided by an expert host, participants embark into an immersive experience while interacting with a touchscreen—choosing a word that describes their mood or one that resonates with the fragrance they try. WIth each selection, they refine their preferences and dive deeper into the experiential journey unlike any typical perfume counter. Scent, language, and artificial intelligence unite to concoct an unparalleled retail experience where articulating connections to aromas leads the visitors to one that aligns—and arrives with an AI-written poem!

3. La Stanza dello Scirocco collection by Mario Trimarchi

This ensemble of jewellery designs and accessories captures a moment when a gust of wind spurs tiny pieces of paper into chaos. Bending creativity, technical know-how, craftsmanship and a thorough understanding of the movements of wind, Italian designer and architect Mario Trimarchi conceived Fiato sul collo Necklace for design brand Alessi. The airy sculptural designs are meticulous compositions of fragmented stainless steel chips. Partaking in Alessi’s La Stanza dello Scirocco collection, also crafted by Trimarchi, the jewellery conforms to the visual language of the rest of the product designs—light, akin to the wind, and unpredictable, much like its nature.

4. Lebond Siza by Álvaro Siza

Several acclaimed architects have time and again expressed an inclination towards timepieces, translating the essence of colossal human-made structures into the intricate art of designing watches. How do the distinct realms of architecture and horology intersect? And more importantly, what does it entail? This time around, Álvaro Siza participated in this trend of cross-pollination, breathing life into Lebond Siza, a mechanical automatic watch design. Architecture makes its appearance at a much smaller scale and in a nuanced way in a wearable design; clean lines and pure geometry look back at the Pritzker Prize-winning Portuguese architect’s ‘Leça’ Swimming Pools complex designed in 1966. The elegant motifs of the square pool inspire the watch’s case shape while the minimal restroom signs provide cues for the slim hands in lacquered matte black.

5. TELO Truck by TELO x fuseproject

The automobile design market has witnessed a noticeable surge in the demand for electric vehicles—representing a strong desire for alternative energy sources. Yet, despite the leaps in EV technology, limitations in size or capacity limit the configurations and render them inefficient. TELO—electric vehicle manufacturer founded by Jason Marks and Forrest North—and Swiss designer Yves Béhar’s multidisciplinary design studio fuseproject devised the TELO Truck to mark a shift in automotive design. The first-of-its-kind vehicle combines the space savings of smaller electric batteries and motors, and the functionality of an EV truck—an ideal solution for both urban environments and active lifestyles.

6. Vision Pro by Apple

The ‘phygital’ world awaits in the offing with extraordinary experiences and unprecedented advancements. This wave is contributed to by tech giants as well as emerging innovators who envision the real and digital melt into each other. This year, at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled its much anticipated virtual reality headset, Vision Pro. Greeting an era of ‘spatial computing,’ the innovative design transcends the boundaries of traditional display. It introduced a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by the most fundamental inputs possible—the user’s eyes, hands, and voice.

7. Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin by Hublot and Nespresso

Sustainability and climate consciousness has become an indispensable part of creative processes. Under the canopy of sustainable design is material research which encapsulates the evolution of new materials in tandem with reinstating value in what is discarded. The alliance between Hublot, a luxury watches and chronographs brand, and Nespresso, a premium coffee brand, culminated in Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin. This watch design, created using recycled Nespresso aluminium capsules and coffee grounds, is associated with an initiative by Nespresso dubbed Second Life—a series of collaborations that has yielded new products from used aluminium capsules.

8. Eyewear by Filippo Nassetti

UK-based architect, artist, and generative designer, Filippo Nassetti, developed a series of imaginative eyewear designs with nature as muse and AI as the tool. Using the Midjourney program, Nasetti generated biomorphic designs informed by natural elements from honeycombs and butterfly wings to textured rocks and caves. The eyewear, some of them rather esoteric, overwhelms the mind while cradling it with a vague familiarity. The designer envisions the conceptual designs to function either as everyday wear, as masks or as sculptures. The series amalgamates years of research on headwear, masks and eyewear, with unbridled experimentation that an AI tool allows.

9. Peso by Michela Panizza

Can one quantify the gigantic weight of toxins endured by the planet with the rampant mass consumerism, reckless disposal, and a subsequent climate crisis? Milan-based product designer Michela Panizza contrived a troupe of objects that not only represent (a tiny fraction of) the weight of the waste we create, but also urges the viewers to respond actively. Titled Peso, a word that translates to ‘weight’ in Italian, the collection is a configuration of recycled plastic surgical masks that otherwise end up in landfills, lakes and oceans in staggering amounts, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Peso comprises a series of gym accessories—a barbell, AB roller wheel, dumbbell, earth weight, and punching bag—that serve pragmatic purposes while the Italian designer informs the users about an invisible, yet enormous, weight that burdens the planet.

10. Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis by H. Moser & Cie.

Switzerland-based H. Moser & Cie., a brand behind several horology firsts, launched a hybrid design that voyages into the phygital world. Named the Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis, or 01100111 01100101 01101110 01100101 01110011 01101001 01110011 in binary code, the limited-edition pixelated watches enjoy both physical and virtual dimensions. Science fiction, digital technology and cinematic storytelling, all find their allusions in the intriguing silhouette. What stands out the most, is the watch’s round dial—with a 3D-printed titanium crown and bezel that appears pixelated—accompanied by its micro-blasted stainless steel case. Interweaving intricate techniques, fine artisanship and an expert eye, the brand positioned Genesis on the cutting edge of design and material science.

Gauging the (creative) pulse

When looked at closely, the independently desultory and capricious ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ draft a pattern that reveals a larger pulse that resonates across the globe—rhythms that fuel the cycles of innovation, change, and inevitably, obsolescence. These models become the drivers of the new and the NEXT, laying bare what people across the globe prioritise—subsequently moulding their lives with new creations. Barring exceptional aesthetics and unparalleled technology, a sense of care and sensitivity sets the tone for creation—care for experiences and wellness, and sensitivity towards the planet and all that surrounds us. What the next lifestyle trend would be, is perhaps something one cannot put a finger on, but what can be gauged is that in essence, they will embody a sense of responsibility replicated in users in makers alike—towards people, the planet and towards good design.

STIRred 2023 wraps up the year with compilations of the best in architecture, art, and design from STIR. Did your favourites make the list? Tell us in the comments!