Samsung Electronics highlighted a new global design direction at CES 2026, emphasizing a more human-centered approach. Their session, titled “The Human Side of Tech: Designing a Future Worth Living,” explored how design can better reflect human values rather than just focusing on minimalism or functionality.
The discussion featured diverse perspectives led by Samsung’s Chief Design Officer Mauro Porcini, alongside renowned designers Karim Rashid and Fabio Novembre. They examined how technology design has evolved beyond the past two decades dominated by minimalism, urging a shift to more emotional and expressive forms. This new direction aims to enhance user experience in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
Refocusing Design on Human Values
A common theme throughout the forum was that technology design should reconnect with fundamental human values. As Mauro Porcini stated, Samsung’s vision centers on using design to improve quality of life. Their goal is to create technology that helps people live healthier, more creative, and meaningful lives while encouraging authentic self-expression.
The panel emphasized that design is more than specifications and function. It acts as a medium through which technology conveys empathy and care for users. Thoughtfully designed products can foster emotional connections, making everyday interactions with devices more meaningful.
Integrating AI with Emotional Intelligence
AI’s role in design also received significant attention. The panelists agreed AI should extend human creativity rather than replace it. When combined with emotional intelligence and human imagination, AI can unlock innovative possibilities that remain grounded in human-centric values.
This perspective places AI as a collaborative tool that complements human intuition and empathy. It encourages designers to harness technology without losing sight of emotional and social contexts in which users engage with products.
Expressive Design as the Future
Emerging as a focal point was the concept of expressive design. This approach goes beyond simply shaping objects and focuses on cultivating emotional bonds and identity through technology. Design thus becomes a bridge connecting users and devices on a deeper, more personal level.
By infusing technology products with warmth and character, Samsung envisions future devices that are not only functional but also inspiring and lovable companions in daily life. This movement signals a radical departure from sterile, purely utilitarian design trends.
Samsung’s Commitment to Human-Centered Innovation
Samsung’s participation at CES 2026 underscores its commitment to pushing technology design toward a more humane and insightful future. Their leadership signals an industry-wide reconsideration of what meaningful innovation entails in an AI-driven world.
This holistic design philosophy aims to shape a world where technology serves human well-being and nurtures creativity. Through this vision, Samsung plans to influence how technology integrates into everyday experiences, encouraging products that resonate emotionally while enhancing life quality.
Key Takeaways from Samsung’s CES 2026 Vision:
- Design must prioritize human values, empathy, and meaning over minimalism.
- AI complements human creativity when paired with emotional intelligence.
- Technology products should foster emotional connections through expressive design.
- Samsung strives to develop tech that enriches health, creativity, and self-expression.
- The future of design involves bridging technology with human experience, not just utility.
Samsung’s new design paradigm redefines technology as an enabler of richer, more connected living. Their approach at CES 2026 marks a turning point where innovation embraces humanity at its core, cultivating products worth cherishing in the fast-evolving tech landscape.
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