Courtney Porter
In her final column for DNN, Courtney Porter surveys the five forces reshaping design right now: what the fragmenting art fair landscape means for how visual culture gets staged; why Gen Z can smell AI slop from a mile away; how this year’s Oscar-nominated films are writing the brief for tomorrow’s interiors; what hotel designers can steal from yachts and private clubs; and whether the 21st century already has a defining aesthetic — even if no one has named it yet.
mbiente 2026 reveals five defining trends shaping the future of home and product design, from portable warmth and universal kitchen tools to playful forms and woven craft traditions. The fair frames design as a form of care, responding to climate pressure, shifting domestic habits and the growing demand for objects that support everyday well-being.
Artificial intelligence is moving from a marketing add-on to core infrastructure for brick-and-mortar retailers. In this interview with AiPRL Assist founder JD Camden, DNN explores how unified data, omnichannel memory and real-time customer intelligence can help local and regional retailers compete with national chains while strengthening the showroom experience.
Each month, DNN Editor in Chief Courtney Porter curates five developments shaping the design industry, from international fairs and technology launches to regional shifts and standout interiors. The January 2026 edition spans Paris Design Week’s most compelling products, CES’s evolving relationship between technology and the home, and a sober assessment of California’s wildfire rebuild one year later, reframed through global philosophies of resilience and impermanence.
This month’s briefing also considers Dallas’ potential rise as a year-round design destination and closes with a close reading of Sheldon Harte’s refined desert interiors, which signal an evolution of Palm Springs style without erasing its past. Together, these selections map a creative landscape defined by nostalgia, adaptation and the search for durable cultural meaning in a period of ecological and economic pressure.
Join Pacific Design Center’s Fall Market 2025 for The Power of Collaboration: Crafting Luxury Residences, a dynamic panel exploring the teamwork behind high-end residential projects. Featuring Jay Jeffers, Naomi Leigh, James Corr, and Geddes Ulinskas, and moderated by Courtney Porter of Design News Now, the conversation reveals how architects, designers, and builders align their visions to deliver homes of extraordinary beauty and quality. Produced in partnership with The Gold Collective, the event takes place Sept. 10 from 4–5 p.m. at the Main Stage, 5th Floor Atrium, West Hollywood, followed by a reception.
Courtney Porter curates five essential design moments for June, featuring emerging trends, key design events, and inspiring product launches. From abstract nature influencing interiors to tech-driven design at NeoCon, this roundup offers insights into the evolving creative landscape.
This year, Design Miami celebrates its 20th anniversary as the global forum for collectible design. In celebration of this milestone, the brand announces its 2025 events program, and an expansion of its global platform to include a debut initiative: Design Miami.In Situ.
In a world where “good taste” and social media algorithms reign supreme, is everything starting to look the same? This thoughtful essay challenges the current absence of critique in interior design media, exploring why design escapes the kind of criticism common in art and film, and what we stand to gain—or lose—by speaking up.
When it comes to building a successful design career, experience is often the most powerful teacher. In our new series ‘Advice for Designers from Designers,’ we ask accomplished interior designers — from boutique studio founders to seasoned industry veterans — to share the pivotal lessons they learned early on, what they wish they’d known when starting out and what they would do differently if launching their careers today. In each edition, we are bringing you three pieces of advice from designers with diverse backgrounds and aesthetics.
At the end of each month, DNN Editor in Chief Courtney Porter curates a list of five standout items, including design projects, product launches and noteworthy events, that deserve your attention. Together they offer a snapshot of where the design industry stands, capturing emerging trends, influential movements and key developments. Think of it as your monthly briefing on what’s shaping the creative landscape.