Inside the Space | 3: Spring High Point 2026, Notes from Spring High Point Market
There’s something electric about High Point Market in the spring.
A Season of Possibility
There’s something electric about High Point Market in the spring.
Not just the scale of it all—the endless showrooms, the layered textures, the conversations happening at every turn—but the feeling that design is actively evolving in real time. This season especially felt charged with possibility. Everywhere we turned, there was a deeper conversation unfolding around how we live, how we work, and how technology, wellness, and sensory experience are beginning to intersect in more meaningful ways.
Spring Market wasn’t simply about what’s trending next. It was about where design is heading.
AI, Communication & the Future of Design
One of the standout moments for me was attending the panel “Clarity Over Chaos: Using AI to Strengthen Visibility, Communication & Design Decisions,” featuring Jenna Gaidusek, Mary Beth Chau of Materio, and Jennifer Smiga of Ultraviolet Agency.
The conversation moved beyond the typical fear-based AI narrative and instead focused on how designers can thoughtfully integrate these tools to create greater clarity, efficiency, and communication within their businesses and client experiences.
What resonated most was the reminder that technology should amplify human connection—not replace it.
As designers, our work is deeply emotional and intuitive. AI may help streamline workflows or sharpen visibility, but the heart of design still lives in storytelling, empathy, and the ability to create spaces that make people feel something. That distinction felt important, especially as our industry navigates rapid change.
Continuing Education Through the Science in Design Keynote
Another highlight was attending the SID Symposium keynote sessions, which offered one of the most thought-provoking experiences of the entire Market. The symposium featured High Point’s first-ever virtual designer showhouse—a fully immersive whole-home concept created entirely through the lens of biophilic and health-centered design.
The keynote explored how intentional design choices can directly support well-being through neuroaesthetics, sensory design, and biophilic principles. Blending research-backed insights with stunning 3D virtual room presentations, the experience challenged attendees to think beyond aesthetics and consider how environments can actively influence emotional, mental, and physical health.
The presentation featured insights from Science in Design-certified creatives including Kat Blue, Marie Cloud, Michelle George, Angela Harris, Gabrielle Kozhukh-Joo, and Erica McLain, alongside wellness-focused design leadership from Mike Peterson and the Science in Design program.
What made the experience especially impactful was seeing how science and design are no longer operating separately. They are becoming deeply intertwined.
From circadian lighting and materiality to spatial flow and sensory regulation, every room presentation reinforced the idea that luxury today is less about excess and more about how a space nurtures the people living within it.
Earning certification through the symposium added another layer of intentionality to the experience and reinforced how important continued education and evidence-based design are becoming within the future of our industry.
Emerging Trends & Closing Reflections
A few clear influences emerged again and again throughout Spring High Point Market: wellness-centered spaces, sculptural forms, tactile natural materials, restorative earth tones, and technology integrated with greater intention and subtlety.
The growing presence of biophilic and science-backed design was especially evident, signaling a larger industry shift toward interiors that support emotional well-being, sensory experience, and human connection—not just aesthetics alone.
Some of the most meaningful moments happened between the major events—connecting with fellow designers, industry leaders, and organizations like the Interior Design Society, all sharing a collective vision for a more thoughtful future in design.
Spring High Point left us inspired not only by what we saw, but by the influences shaping where design is headed next: spaces designed to help people truly feel well.
Author’s Note
Thank you for taking a moment to step into this space with us. Writing this piece felt like a deep breath — a chance to slow down, reflect, and honor how far we’ve come while opening ourselves to what’s next. Our hope is that Inside the Space becomes a place you return to when you want inspiration, grounding, or simply a reminder that your environment is a powerful part of your story.
We’re grateful you’re here, and we can’t wait to share more of the journey with you.
With intention,
Genna + Erik
