3daysofdesign 2026 Festival Theme - Make This Moment Matter

Interview with Signe Byrdal Terenziani, CEO & Managing Director of 3daysofdesign

What inspired the theme Make This Moment Matter?‍

We’re living in times marked by chaos, confusion, and filtered realities. The result is a longing for depth. “Make This Moment Matter” is a riveting reminder that the most powerful place we can be is the present moment. The past inspires us and the future motivates us, but the only moment where we can truly have an impact is the one we’re in right now. Implicit in the theme is an imperative, encouraging designers and consumers to act with intent, and that will have a ripple effect. It signals a sense of urgency, where every moment is an opportunity. Carpe diem.

Why is finding your “why” so important?

Purpose gives design meaning. When your “why” is clear, it becomes the driving force behind what you create and how you create. Every design decision becomes more carefully considered. The same is true for every purchase decision by consumers.

How does the theme reflect the current state of the global design community?

It feels deeply connected to what I see happening in the global design community today. Designers everywhere are questioning the role of their practice. Why are we making this? What purpose does it serve? How does it impact our communities and our planet? When you “Make This Moment Matter”, there’s a realisation that the choices we make have lasting consequences. It asks us to be present. To turn off autopilot and act with awareness. Including the collaborations we form, the concepts we co-create, and the stories we tell.

At the sametime, the theme inspires optimism. It’s a reminder that design can illuminate our path toward co-creating a brighter future. That even the smallest gestures have a big impact.

For me, “Make This Moment Matter” captures the spirit of a global community that is growing more reflective, more connected, and more committed to creating designs that truly make a difference. It invites all of us to treat this moment as an opportunity to act with intent, and to shape a future we can stand behind.

 Where does sustainability fit in?

“Make This Moment Matter” champions a shift in mindset, materials, and methods. I see designers incorporating sustainability into the foundation of their practice. I see renewed attention to raw materials, craftsmanship, artisan skills, cultural integrity, and longevity. There is a clear movement away from fast design toward work that endures emotionally and ethically. The theme encourages bothdesigners and consumers to be conscious of their choices. To do something good that does something good.

In what way does the theme encourage circularity and long-term thinking?

By encouraging designers to “Make This Moment Matter”, we’re also urging them to consider the lifespan of what they create, the impact, and the legacy they leave behind. From the materials they choose and how a design is produced, to how it lives on after its immediate purpose. Do the right thing, and do it with compassion - or don’t do it at all.

Can designers be environmentally responsible and still be creative?

They’re not two opposing ideas or mutually exclusive - they’re increasingly intertwined. Creativity is what helps us rethink waste, reimagine materials, and innovate more sustainable solutions. Using materials that won’t harm the planet. Creating interiors that enhance our wellbeing. And fostering a sense of belonging in our communities.

Is “Make This Moment Matter” a call to rethink the overproduction and overconsumption that we often see in design?

Absolutely. I tasks us to pause before creating anything new, and to consider whether it truly adds value to people, to culture, and to the planet. I believe design should be intentional, not excessive. The theme invites us all to focus on what is meaningful, rather than what is simply more.

How do you empower designers to design with intent?

At 3daysofdesign, we empower designers by giving them a platform where they can shine. A space for thoughtful and courageous work. When designers see that intention, awareness, and experimentation are valued, they feel freer to take risks, to question norms, and to create with purpose rather than pressure. We encourage creatives to explore designs with a raison d'être beyond form and function.

Ultimately, the power of design lies in its ability to transform spaces and, in doing so, the lives of the people who inhabit them.

How can people take action without having all the answers?

Courage is essential to creativity. You don’t need a perfect roadmap to move forward. Small, meaningful moves in the right direction form the stepping stones for big change.Ironically, perhaps the biggest waste for designers is time. Time that could be spent shaping a more regenerative world. There’s no time like the present.

 You mention a ripple effect. How can one person’s actions influence the design community - and society at large?

Design is inherently collaborative. When one person makes a thoughtful choice, it inspires others to do the same. Change starts and spreads by setting an example. The result is a collective consciousness that we can harness to bring about even bigger change. When creatives and consumers come together, they elevate each other’s ideas, with an impact that none could ever achieve alone.

How does “Make This Moment Matter” inspire designers to consider their legacy?

Recognising a design that’s ahead of its time requires a certain openness to unprecedented ideas that were previously impossible. Truly pioneering ideas often become defining moments in design. To a large extent, they tend to break with the past and envision a future that starts in the present. All of which gives them a timeless quality.“Make This Moment Matter” begs the question: What legacy do you want to leave behind? By thinking along those lines, we are advocating the idea that what we create today will matter tomorrow. Likewise, what consumers buy today will also have an impact.

What do you hope visitors will take away from the festival this summer?

I hope they will leave feeling inspired to create with intent. To recognise that every moment holds the potential for something meaningful, and that their choices truly matter. For all of us.

We’ve created a suite of theme assets to help your exhibition stand out, and so you feel part of the entire 3daysofdesign experience. From our theme visual, graphic elements, and colours to video content, these ready–to–use materials are yours to incorporate into your invitations, social media, signage, and more. Access everything directly here on your Members Page in the Downloads section to create cohesion, and to promote your exhibition as part of our festival.