Human-Centered Design Takes Center Stage at Atlanta Design Festival

September 27, 2025

Today, the Creative Futures Conference at the Atlanta Design Festival brought together thought leaders from across the creative spectrum to explore how design can drive radical transformation in business, culture, and community. With a lineup featuring visionaries like Nu Goteh, recipient of the 2025 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, the conference delved into topics ranging from design for disability to the future of public spaces like Stone Mountain.

Embracing Human-Centered Design

A central theme of the conference was the shift towards human-centered design prioritizing the needs, experiences, and well-being of individuals in the design process. This approach emphasizes empathy, inclusivity, and accessibility, ensuring that design solutions are not only functional but also meaningful and impactful for diverse communities.

Textile Design: Beyond Aesthetics

In the realm of textile design, this human-centered approach is gaining momentum. Designers are increasingly considering how fabrics feel, how they contribute to comfort and well-being, and how they interact with other materials in a space. This holistic view is leading to more thoughtful and intentional choices in material selection, moving beyond mere aesthetics to encompass sensory experiences and emotional resonance.

Creating Material Families

One innovative concept discussed was the idea of "material families." This involves curating a cohesive selection of materials hard and soft

that work harmoniously together in terms of texture, color, and performance. By treating materials as interconnected members of a family, designers can create more unified and immersive environments that resonate on a deeper level with users.

Practical Takeaways for Designers

For designers looking to integrate these insights into their practice, here are some actionable tips:

• Prioritize Sensory Experience: When selecting materials, consider how they feel to the touch, how they sound, and how they contribute to the overall ambiance of a space.

• Consider Material Interactions: Think about how different materials will work together in a space, ensuring they complement each other in both aesthetics and function.

• Engage with Users: Involve end-users in the design process to gain insights into their needs and preferences, ensuring the final design truly serves them.

• Stay Informed: Attend conferences, workshops, and events to stay abreast of the latest trends and innovations in design.

Bonus for Design Teams and Fabric Houses:

To give your reps a tangible way to present finished products, we provide swatches of your treated fabrics. These samples allow design teams and fabric houses to feel the softness, texture, and quality of our treatments firsthand—making it easier to demonstrate the excellence of your finished collections and inspire confidence in your clients.

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Inside TEK Weekly:

10 Contemporary French Door Drapery Styles Designers Swear By

1. Ripple Folds for Seamless Flow

Opt for ripple-fold drapery that glides effortlessly along a concealed track. The uniform waves add a sleek, minimal silhouette, ideal for keeping sightlines clean while still allowing the doors to shine.

2. Inverted Pleats for Tailored Elegance

For a more structured look, in

verted pleats give each panel a crisp, architectural edge. This style works beautifully with heavier fabrics—think silk blends or velvet—and makes a strong visual statement when doors are left partially open.

3. High-Mounted Hardware to Lift the Space

Position rods or tracks just below the ceiling to create the illusion of soaring height. This simple tweak instantly amplifies room proportions, floods the space with light, and draws the eye upward to celebrate the full drama of your French doors.

4. Layered Sheers for Soft Diffusion

Combine blackout-lined drapes with a lightweight sheer behind them. By day, the sheers filter sunlight softly; by night, the blackout panels provide privacy and insulation. It’s the perfect balance of light control and energy efficiency.

5. Bold Color-Blocking for Contrast

Make your drapes pop by pairing a rich, saturated hue against neutral walls or vice versa. This high-contrast approach frames the doors like artwork and allows you to weave bold accent colors into your overall palette.

6. Textured Fabrics for Tactile Interest

Incorporate materials with tactile appeal think nubby linens, woven silks, or boucle to add depth and character. Textured weaves bring warmth to sleek glass panels and pair beautifully with living greenery or sculptural hardware.

7. Motorized Tracks for Effortless Operation

For the ultimate in convenience and luxury, motorized drapery tracks let you open or close treatments at the touch of a button (or via your smart-home system). They keep lines clean no cords in sight and elevate the experience for your clients.

8. Pattern Play with Subtle Prints

Select a subdued stripe or botanical motif to add pattern without overwhelming the doors’ classic geometry. Small-scale prints work best here, offering personality while maintaining an elegant, refined look.

9. Minimal Roller Shades for a Streamlined Vibe

If you prefer ultra-clean lines, motorized or manual roller shades in a sheer or light-filtering fabric can be tucked neatly above the door frame. They disappear when retracted, letting the doors take centre stage.

10. Custom Cornices or Pelmets for Architectural Cohesion

Pair drapes with a bespoke cornice board or upholstered pelmet that echoes window trim or ceiling mouldings. This custom approach ties the treatment directly into the room’s architecture, creating a polished, bespoke feel.

Why It Matters for TEK & Design Pros

French doors bridge the gap between indoors and out, so their treatments must look beautiful and perform brilliantly. At TEK, our flame retardant finishes preserve the drape, texture, and hand-feel of luxury fabrics whether you’re specifying linen, silk, or velvet. We tailor each treatment to deliver full compliance with safety standards while ensuring your designs remain soft, sumptuous, and effortlessly elegant.

The world of interiors is brimming with stories of heritage craftsmanship and design innovation. In today’s Inside TEK Weekly, we spotlight two fresh industry tales: one celebrating British manufacturing excellence, the other unfolding the ever-evolving story of Swedish design.

Magnet Awarded the Manufacturing Guild Mark

Darlington, UK — Kitchen specialist Magnet has just been honoured with the Manufacturing Guild Mark, bestowed by The Furniture Makers’ Company to recognise outstanding standards in British manufacturing.

Why this matters:

• Craftsmanship on Display: Since 1993, the Guild Mark has only gone to firms that excel across seven criteria design, product development, manufacture, HR, financial stability, sustainability, and marketing. Magnet’s award underscores its century-long commitment to quality from first design sketch through to final installation.

  
  

• Local Impact: With every kitchen made in the UK and supported by over 200 showrooms, Magnet’s recognition highlights the health of the domestic supply chain—and the importance of backing British finishers, fabricators, and treatment specialists like TEK when sourcing materials and services.

“Quality isn’t just a target for us, it’s a mindset… every kitchen we make carries that same commitment to excellence,” says Charlie Allan, Magnet’s Quality & Technical Manager.

Closing Thoughts

From the enduring craftsmanship honoured by Magnet’s Guild Mark to the artful elegance of today’s French-door treatments, excellence in design and performance remains at the heart of every project. At TEK, we’re here to help you bring both beauty and safety to your interiors—every step of the way.

What will you create next? Share your thoughts in the comments below, subscribe for weekly insights, or get in touch to discuss how TEK can elevate your next textile project.

Welcome to Inside TEK: Your Source for Textile Trends & Industry Insight

Hello and welcome to Inside TEK, the new blog where we pull back the curtain on the ever-evolving world of textiles, interiors, and fabric technology. I’m Charles from TEK a family-run company passionate about high-quality flame retardant treatments and textile finishes that protect and enhance premium fabrics.

Whether you’re an interior designer, furniture maker, or just a fabric enthusiast, this blog is for you. We’ll bring you industry news, interviews with textile experts, spotlight major furniture groups, and explore the trends shaping interiors today with the occasional deep dive into the technical side of flame retardant treatments and textile care.

What to Expect from Inside TEK

In the coming weeks and months, expect fresh, insightful posts that cover:

• Innovations and news in the textile and furniture industries

• Big players and emerging brands in interiors

• Behind-the-scenes looks at fabric treatments, finishes, and care

• How flame retardant technology is evolving to meet modern design needs

• Tips and advice for designers and fabricators to get the best from their textiles

• Case studies from our clients, showcasing what TEK’s treatments can do

Why We Started Inside TEK

The world of textiles is moving faster than ever. New innovations, shifting regulations, and evolving design trends mean that staying ahead is a challenge — even for the experts. At TEK, we saw a gap: a place where interior designers, furniture makers, and fabric lovers could get real, up-to-date insight about what’s happening in the industry.

Inside TEK is our answer. We want to cut through the noise and share clear, meaningful stories about the changes shaping textiles today — from sustainable practices to breakthrough treatments, from big industry moves to the nitty-gritty of fabric technology.

Because informed decisions lead to better designs, safer spaces, and fabrics that don’t just look good but perform brilliantly.

We’re here to be your trusted source — the insider’s perspective that helps you understand what’s really going on, so you can stay inspired, confident, and ahead of the curve.

Thanks for stopping by Inside TEK! We can’t wait to share our passion for textiles with you. What topics would you like us to cover next? Drop a comment below or get in touch — we’d love to hear from you.

If you want to stay in the loop, hit subscribe and get notified every time we publish fresh content.

Here’s to the beautiful, functional fabrics that make interiors come alive!

Charles and the TEK team