Laura Luchtman talks to TCA about her journey from fast fashion to sustainable fashion looking for a greater purpose. She experiments with natural pigments and materials, always searching for solutions to problems that exist in the fashion and textile industry. In this episode, Laura explains how she experiments with color-growing bacteria and how this process creates a new aesthetic, researching to answer that big question: can our what we wear heal us?

Laura Luchtman was born in the Netherlands where she lives and works in Rotterdam. She is a textile and surface designer investigating the social, cultural, and ecological dimensions of color. She develops new ways to experience color through bio-based pigments, inclusive systems, and translating color and pattern across different contexts. From her chromatic atelier Kukka in Rotterdam, she works with brands like Puma, ranging from conceptual presentations to applied collections. Her research into sustainable dyes highlights her hands-on approach and commitment to conscious design. Laura’s work has been shown globally, published, and presented at TEDx. In 2023, she won the DNA Paris Design Award for Chromarama Riso.

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Nieves Contreras talks about what inspires her and how she wants to take design, material and in particular color out of context. She explains how material and processing have become part of the innovative brand Lladrò, what are the challenges for the Spanish design market in the next years and how AI may influence the return to true craftsmanship.

Graduated in Industrial Design as well as a Master's in Design Management from UPV in Valencia. She has developed a significant part of her professional career in Paris, France, collaborating with product design studios, creating designs and artistic direction for various sectors, from furniture and home appliances to luxury brands and connected objects, at studios such as Marc Berthier, Pascal Mourgue, and particularly eliumstudio, where she worked for 10 years. Simultaneously, she has been active as an independent designer, deeply involved in craftsmanship and its contemporary renewal, creating furniture for Expormim, and as the co-founder and creative director of the handmade ceramic brand sagenceramics (Manises).

Since 2019, she has been the Creative Director of Lladró, a Spanish porcelain company recognized internationally, heading the Creation and Development Department, consisting of a team of 15 people. She is responsible for the creation and implementation of the new creative strategy and the revitalization of the brand through product diversification and a contemporary approach.

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In this very frank and open conversation Mohamad Baitie talks about how color reflects cultural heritage, the decolonization of design, and the desire to be seen. This podcast is a look into Middle Eastern aesthetics challenging Western norms and reclaiming visual identity.

With a master’s Degree in interior architecture, Mohamad Baitie has an expansive knowledge of color, color forecasting, color design and architectural coatings. Mohamad was born in Lebanon and grew up in Accra, Ghana, constantly moving with the family and being exposed to different cultures. His first encounter with color came through a dual interaction, Smarties and Lego. He was constantly amazed by how color shapes objects and defines the way we interact with them. Architecture was his obvious choice, where color, light and shadow are intertwined.

Today, with over 22 years of experience in marketing and communication in the paint industry, working for one of the top multinational paint brands as Business Development Director, GLC Paints. He has led the brand identity transformation of GLC Paints and is thoroughly involved in product research and development within the organization. He also took the role of professor of Color at the American University of Cairo, teaching color theory, color practice and color psychology. As part of the CMG organization, through GLC Paints, he attends the yearly global summit on color forecasting and does his own color talks and color workshops within the MENA region.

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This episode is filled with information on intentional trends within a variety of industries yet with a special focus on the culinary industry. Cécile talks to us about how the the trend forecasting industry has changed with the current speed of information reaching us and how this has resulted more in trend provocation whereas there is a great need for trend curation to truly help out businesses in finding answers in a difficult economical climate.

Cécile Poignant is French, born and raised in Paris. She is a futurist specializing in contemporary lifestyles for the past 35 years. Her expertise lies in detecting weak signals and connecting the dots to anticipate major future shifts. She has worked with international brands such as Nissan, Swatch, Philips, L’Oréal, and P&G. Always on the lookout, she observes and deciphers emerging needs and evolving behaviors.

Cécile is also actively involved in international conferences and frequently conducts workshops for professionals. She loves teaching and sharing her insights at various institutions, including IFM, ENSAD, and the American University of Paris.

Her greatest passion is curiosity—she is constantly seeking to better understand the world around her. You’ll often find her sipping an excellent Japanese green tea, savoring high-quality dark chocolate, or immersed in a book. Nature is her ultimate source of rejuvenation; in another life, she might have been a landscape designer.

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Together with design hunter Evelien Reich, we dive into the essence of Milan Design Week 2025. She shares her favorite installations, the standout colors, materials and textures of the week. Which are the key themes that defined this year’s edition and how has Milan Design Week changed over the past years? Listen to our conversation on all that is Milano!

Evelien Reich is the editor-in-chief of MANERA Benelux, a new English-language addition to the MANERA family, that is set to launch in September. With a decades-long career in media, she has built up extensive expertise in design and interiors. Evelien is a sought-after host at design events and is known for her sharp eye and deep understanding of interior aesthetics. She has a particular passion for the power of color in homes—how it shapes atmosphere, brings joy, and makes spaces feel alive.

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Australian Bree Banfield shares with us her passion for color surprises in interiors, how color comes intuitively to her and how the light down under changes the color game completely. Listen to our conversation and receive valuable insights to the color selection process for home interiors.

With an extensive career spanning 30 years, Bree Banfield is an Interior Designer renowned for her expertise in trend forecasting and styling. A maestro in color, Bree approaches each project with a commitment to creating aesthetically appealing and emotionally rich spaces. Her projects, marked by surprises in color, pattern play, and innovative use of scale, reflect a passion for gently pushing boundaries and intuitively understanding her clients' brief. Beyond her role as an Interior Designer, she stands as a visionary trend forecaster, shaping the contemporary landscape of Australian interiors with her forward-thinking aesthetic.

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In this episode Melania shares her story about how she went from being too much to finding her own voice, how color became the main driver in her work and how she wants to bridge the gap between the intrinsic variety of Mexican culture and the world of the arts. Learn about how she expresses these elements through her own body and person.

Fashion and Textile Designer with a degree from Centro de Diseño, Cine y Televisión (CDMX) and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp, Belgium).

Born and raised in Mexico City, she works on a diverse range of projects within the creative industries, spanning fashion, arts, design, styling, journalism, and creative direction.

With nearly 10 years of experience, she has developed numerous dynamic design projects aimed at fostering and promoting a stronger fashion identity for Mexican culture from a contemporary and international perspective.

In 2015, Melania launched her design project, CDMX11000, inspired by the surreal architectural language of Mexico City. This project has evolved through social media platforms, using photography to create a visual language where local arts, design, traditions, and culture are seamlessly integrated with fashion. Through the interplay of colors, textures, shapes, and prints, the project highlights specific theories, aesthetics, and concepts.

Her continuous collaboration with other creatives led her to share their stories and projects through DNA Magazine, an innovative fashion media outlet. There, she writes to spotlight emerging talents and guide the next generation of creative professionals.

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Which way better to start the new season than with Brazilian creative Michell Lott. In this episode, Michell shares insights on how he uses color to stay in touch with his emotions to navigate life more easily, how warm colors increase happiness for 2025 and how AI allows him to work quicker yet without taking over his creativity.

Based in São Paulo, the multidisciplinary creator has made a name for himself by envisioning and delivering majestic, immersive, colorful, and playful productions that capture the spirit of the times in striking visuals – whether for campaigns and editorials, installations in collaboration with brands from various sectors, or impactful sponsored content shared on Instagram. A journalist by training, he fell in love with the visual universe while working as a journalist at Casa Vogue. Since pursuing a solo career, he has worked as a set designer, creative director, design curator, multidisciplinary creator, and, for the past four years, as a color consultant and trend researcher in collaboration with Suvinil. His main objective is to make life prettier creating his own reality.

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