"What makes a moment memorable enough to shape the year ahead? For designers, inspiration doesn't arrive on a predictable schedule-it strikes in a 17th-century Parisian atelier, at a student art show, or standing before a monumental John Singer Sargent painting. We asked members of the AD100, AD PRO Directory, and other leading voices in the design community to reflect on the past year and share the single most inspiring thing they encountered. These moments of discovery are already shaping the spaces they're building for 2026 and beyond."
"I finally fulfilled a long-held wish to visit the home and studio of iconic California artist David Ireland in San Francisco this year. Ireland didn't merely decorate the house-he created a three-dimensional, immersive sculpture. This preservation of a disappeared bohemia makes me want to veer more towards historic narratives. In France, I had the privilege of meeting Guillaume Féau, third-generation owner of the storied who guided me through his amazing atelier of paneled interiors from the 17th through the 20th centuries. I left determined to one day work with his team of experts."
Inspiration arrives unpredictably in varied settings: historic ateliers, artist homes, student exhibitions, galleries, and retail spaces. Visits to David Ireland’s immersive San Francisco home-studio and to a paneled-atelier guided by Guillaume Féau prompted renewed interest in historic narratives and conservation. A student group show at the École des Beaux-Arts emphasized the enduring importance of creative education. Exhibitions and collaborations, such as work at Patrick McGrath’s gallery and crafted lighting by Silvia Prada and Paul Morehouse, reinforced the value of artisanal detail. These encounters are informing design choices and shaping projects planned for 2026 and beyond.
Read at Architectural Digest
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]