Multisensory design transforms contemporary spaces by using light, texture, and sound to craft emotional environments that engage the senses
What Is Emotional Design in Interiors?
In today’s design culture, aesthetics and function are no longer enough. The contemporary approach increasingly values the ability of an object or a space to evoke emotions, trigger memory, and foster intimate connections.
Design is no longer just something we observe or use; it’s something we feel. This shift marks the rise of emotional and multisensory design, where light, sound, texture, and even scent become essential tools for shaping perception and meaning.
How Does Multisensory Design Enhance User Experience?
At the heart of this evolution lies a renewed focus on the senses. More designers are exploring how materials, acoustics, and lighting interact to create atmospheres that resonate emotionally.
Whether it’s the warmth of a wooden surface, the resonance of a sound, or a carefully diffused fragrance, these elements come together to transform objects into experiences—and users into active participants.
Formafantasma: Emotional Impact and Ethical Materials
The work of Formafantasma, the Italian-Dutch duo Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, has become a benchmark for critical and multisensory design. Their recent projects—In Transit (within Prada Frames) and Staging Modernity—focus on materiality as part of a broader reflection on context, ecology, and perception.
View this post on Instagram
With a language that is both subtle and powerful, Formafantasma invites viewers to slow down and engage. Tactile surfaces, silent forms, and thoughtful details create an emotional depth that transcends the object itself.
Snøhetta and the Power of Light in Emotional Design
At the 2025 Milan Design Week, the Norwegian studio Snøhetta unveiled Aura, a lighting collection developed in collaboration with Viabizzuno. Here, light is not just a source of illumination; it also embodies material, emotion, and atmosphere.
View this post on Instagram
Each element is defined not by its volume, but by its intensity, direction, and spatial presence. This poetic approach invites us to experience space through light, recognising it not as a mere background, but as a central protagonist.
Studiopepe: Designing Memory and Emotion Through Materials
The Milan-based Studiopepe brings an instinctive and narrative quality to design. Their projects combine materials like glass, stone, and natural fibres in refined compositions that encourage exploration and discovery.
View this post on Instagram
More than just decorative, each surface carries emotional weight. Their work transcends static forms to create immersive environments—spaces that thrive through contact, light, and memory.
Why Is Gen Z Drawn to Sensory-Rich Environments?
This new sensitivity to design aligns perfectly with the values and lifestyle of Gen Z. Growing up in a blend of digital and physical worlds, this generation seeks emotional authenticity, immersive experiences, and meaningful aesthetics.
According to the Opeepl Gen Z Report 2025, sensory-rich experiences drive over 70% of design-related choices among Gen Z adults. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram reflect this shift: environments are increasingly described in terms of sound, texture, and atmosphere, rather than just visual impact.
Emotional Design and the Language of Contemporary Interiors
Emotional and sensory design represents one of the most compelling frontiers in contemporary practice. It challenges the conventional boundaries of form and function, speaking instead in the language of feelings, sensations, and perceptions.
Projects by studios such as Formafantasma, Snøhetta, and Studiopepe go beyond mere aesthetic statements; they serve as invitations. They ask us not just to observe, but to inhabit, connect, and remember.
This is what makes design unforgettable: when it transcends form and becomes something we don’t just see but deeply feel.