"The technological future will be sustainable or it won't be": Pepe Marqués analyses the challenges of AI in 'Orbital Vision 2026'.

A sketch can define the appearance of a character, an object or a setting, but it does not yet contain all the information needed to produce it. In animation, it will need to be developed into shots, poses, timing and movement. In a video game, it must also be integrated into a system with states, rules and technical constraints. There is a chain of translations between the visual idea and the final result.

A product is well designed when it fulfils a function that is relevant to the people and the context for which it was designed, can be used effectively and safely, can be manufactured consistently, and takes into account what will happen during its maintenance, repair and end of life. Its appearance matters, but it cannot compensate for problems relating to usability, ergonomics, production or durability.

A fashion collection isn’t created first and then sold. From the very first decisions, design, brand identity, target audience, materials, costs, timing, communication and sales channels all come into play. The product must have creative coherence, but it must also be accessible to an audience and viable within the brand’s business model.

Learning by doing does not mean replacing theory with projects. In Design and Technology, it means turning an idea into something that can be observed and tested, gathering information about its shortcomings, revising decisions and explaining why changes have been made. Learning takes place within this cycle of action, evidence, feedback and iteration, not solely in the final outcome.

If you’re interested in both design and technology, you don’t need to choose between creativity and technique, but rather to identify the type of problem you want to tackle. Disciplines such as Fashion, Interior Design, Product Design and UX, Visual Communication, Animation, Video Games, and Data Science and AI apply varying degrees of both tools depending on whether they focus on the body, space, use, meaning, time or systems.

A passing fad attracts attention quickly, but lacks depth and has low barriers to exit. A trend shows continuity, growing adoption and observable behavioural changes. A structural change alters infrastructure, incentives, norms or capabilities. To distinguish between them, it is not enough simply to measure virality: one must gather evidence and understand what underpins the change.

Sensory design examines how an experience is shaped by cues that are not solely visual. Sound can provide orientation; texture conveys material and function; temperature influences comfort; and movement explains responses and changes. Designing these cues requires consistency, control and user testing – not simply adding stimuli for decorative purposes.