As we move towards a more interconnected world, our industry is at an exciting crossroads, where collaboration has the potential to transform the way we think about design. The international virtual desk has already changed the workspace, so why not design also?

I see this shift as a huge opportunity. When we actively integrate cultural diversity into the creative process, it can uncover fresh perspectives. New design approaches that wouldn’t be possible within a single cultural lens. From Japanese attention to detail to Scandinavian minimalism, from designers cultivated in different backgrounds from the Bronx to Belfast, Eritrea to Eton, blending different traditions and experiences enables us to create products with global appeal.

At the heart of this cross-border collaboration is empathy. This isn’t just a buzzword; it’s an essential part of a designer’s world, as crucial as a pencil and as useful as your Mac. It’s about recognising ‘sonder’ – the experience and inner monologues of others, of the lived experiences that influence the design preferences of people. It is also about respecting the methodologies that arise from them.