Tallinn Design Festival 2026 Panel Discussion

The main theme of Tallinn Design Festival 2026, “The Future of Product Design,” focused on how sustainability, adaptability, inclusivity and material awareness are shaping the next generation of products and services. The panel explored these themes through the fields of jewellery, leather and fashion design, asking what truly creates value in a product.

The discussion brought together Sofia Hallik (SOMA), Stella Runnel (Stella Soomlais) and Cärol Ott (carolxott). Each designer brought a different perspective, shaped by their materials, methods and practices, while the conversation focused on shared questions: What makes a good product? How is its value created? And what could the role of product design be in the future?

The discussion explored how materials and their origins, production methods, and technological and design possibilities influence the products we create. The speakers also considered how products can be designed to use materials more consciously, last longer, and be maintained, repaired or given a new purpose over time.

One of the key themes was the life cycle of a product. We often think about a product primarily in terms of its creation and the moment it is purchased, but good design can also consider what happens after the first year of use. What happens to the material over time? Can the product be repaired or adapted? And does wear necessarily make a product less valuable, or can the traces of use give an object a new kind of value?

The conversation also touched on the relationship between craftsmanship and technology, the possibilities of small-scale production, the reuse of materials, and the question of how we might make less, but make better. The discussion repeatedly returned to the role of the consumer as well – how we can make more conscious purchasing decisions and recognise the values in a product that may not be immediately visible.

The event attracted a remarkably large audience – the space filled up quickly and all available seats were taken, with some guests following the discussion standing. The audience was also actively involved throughout the evening, asking questions and contributing to a lively exchange of ideas between the speakers and the audience.

The evening demonstrated that product design is not only about what an object looks like, but also about how it is made, which materials and resources are used, how it changes over time, and what kind of relationship people develop with it. Thank you everybody who visited us!