SHAPE, SHADE & SPIRIT

How do design, memory, and culture redefine identity? This event examines the role of SHAPE, SHADE & SPIRIT in evoking emotions and crafting narratives across disciplines.

This talk explores how design, memory, and culture shape identity, influencing how we perceive and interact with the world. Through the lens of SHAPE, SHADE & SPIRIT, the discussion examines how form, contrast, and atmosphere evoke emotions, establish familiarity, and embed meaning in both physical and digital spaces.

Drawing from urban design, architecture, interiors, objects, and graphics, the talk highlights how design choices—whether in the built or digital environment—carry cultural narratives and shape collective memory. It questions how shade frames experience, how shape defines presence, and how spirit, though intangible, adds depth to identity beyond its physical form.

A central theme of the discussion is how far we can push innovation while still preserving meaning and emotional connection in design. In an era where trends often dictate aesthetics, we ask: What makes a design timeless rather than just contemporary? How can we balance progress with authenticity, ensuring that innovation does not strip design of its depth?

To illustrate this, we will showcase projects across disciplines that demonstrate a commitment to meaningful, lasting design. From spaces that bridge historical and modern contexts to objects that reinterpret tradition in fresh ways, these examples highlight our approach to creating designs that are not just new, but enduring.