ICFF Talks Audio Series

Presented in partnership with Dezeen, Pavilions - Between Architecture and Design unpacks how fleeting pavilions become vessels for research, myth, and erased histories. This talk was moderated by Ben Dreith, featuring speakers Jen Wood, and Emmanuel Admassu.

This session discusses what happens when we stop treating African artistry as museum artifacts and instead recognize it as a vital force in contemporary spaces. African Artistry in Contemporary Design was moderated by Lani Adeoye, featuring speakers Paul Jeffrey, Shirley Rafina, and Kwadwo Som-Pimpong.

Designing for Dignity explored how prioritizing the needs and dignity of end users over aesthetics alone can redefine what it means to create meaningful, human-centered spaces. This talk was moderated by Diana Budds, featuring speakers Sara Caples, Treger Strasberg, and Sabrina Lippman.

Can There Ever Be an Affordable House Again? was presented in partnership with Dwell, and asks the question: What happens to home design when no one can afford a home? As housing becomes increasingly out of reach, these designers explore how good design can help make housing more accessible to everyone.

This session, presented in partnership with METROPOLIS and Healthy Materials Lab, examines discusses how design can reduce toxic exposure while addressing industry challenges and social well-being, through applied research and integrated design. Designing Out Toxicity, Toward Healthier Material Futures was moderated by Francisco Brown, featuring speakers Jonsara Ruth and Lara Kaufman.

The Future is Original: Design Leadership in an Age of Dupes was presented in partnership with Be Original Americas, and examines originality in an era when design is being frequently echoed and instantly reproduced. As copy culture intensifies, these design leaders confront the impact on value, innovation and trust.

This session examines how designers and architects can integrate emerging technologies thoughtfully, using them to expand creative potential while preserving taste, craft, authorship, and meaning. Human x Machine. The New Design Workflow was moderated by Jaime Derringer, featuring speakers Nicholas Baker, Gabriel Benroth, and Erick Calderon.

In Chillspace: Exploring Holistic Retail and Hospitality Interiors, the speakers on stage focused on how interior programs are merging to become more flexible and multipurpose. Experts discussed how the once-distinct categories of home, office, hotel, retail, and hospitality are blended. This talk was moderated by Jack Murphy, featuring speakers Ed Bakos, Jonathan Garnett, and Madelynn Ringo.

The future of design media isn't simply digital or print... it's increasingly personal. At ICFF 2026, moderator Tiffany Jow joined editors Dan Rubinstein, Jill Singer, and Jack Murphy for one of the week's most candid conversations, exploring how design journalism is adapting as traditional publishing models give way to independent platforms, newsletters, podcasts, and new editorial...

As social media continues to reshape how designers connect with audiences, Beyond Beautiful: Storytelling Strategies on Social Media for Design Brands offered attendees practical advice for standing out in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. Moderated by Alex Corda, the conversation featured Zoe Glade, Melissa Lee, Clive Lonstein, and Nina Takesh, who shared their perspectives on creating c...

Sponsored by L’Acoustics , Sound as a Design Material: Crafting Story and Brand Identity was among the thought-provoking conversations featured on ICFF 2026’s Main Stage. The session explored how immersive audio is transforming the way designers shape experiences. Moderated by Grace Xu of L-Acoustics, the discussion brought together Tiffany Aprile, Tana Hovland, and Nathan Adkisson to examine soun...