Global Scans · Design · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Design thinking will increasingly play a key role in improving systems and customer experiences. Companies will re-learn their approach to innovation and embrace human-centred design principles. Designers will begin to apply knowledge of human interaction, specifically in the area of how we earn trust and respect, to AI systems.

• [New] New mandatory frameworks in APAC, driven by waste challenges and global alignment efforts, will prompt at least five software vendors to launch new modules designed to support APAC packaging EPR regulations. Default
• [New] Siemens announced that it will be integrating NVIDIA NIM and NVIDIA Nemotron open AI models into its electronic design automation (EDA) software offerings to advance generative and agentic workflows for semiconductor and PCB design. Siemens Digital Industries Software
• [New] In Scotland, EPCs will be renewed every five years, there's a new certificate design and the launch of a new digital EPC platform to show how different measures could improve a home's performance in terms of energy use, fuel bills and carbon reductions. Liz Male Consulting
• [New] Working alongside a leading UI UX design company in India will lead to the development of more intuitive interfaces, boosting user engagement and overall better health results. Neointeraction
• [New] Virtual design and construction will trend in 2026 with AEC firms leveraging AI, digital twins in construction, and cloud collaboration software to deliver sustainable projects smarter and faster. RIB Software
• [New] In 2026, augmented and virtual reality technologies will transform how homes are marketed, designed, and experienced. Spaciable
• [New] Oversized models will be central to garden design schemes in 2026. Ideal Home
• [New] In 2026, companies will be able to accelerate product design, generate patents, and create software at record speed. Mexico Business
• [New] Identity, user trust, and endpoint hygiene remain central risk areas heading into early 2026. Hornetsecurity - Next-Gen Microsoft 365 Security
• [New] The current landscape presents a complex matrix of interconnected risks, where Iran tensions fuel oil supply risk considerations across multiple dimensions of global energy security architecture. Discovery Alert
• [New] In 2026, organizations with mature identity and Zero Trust programs are better positioned to support digital transformation initiatives without increasing risk. BitLyft Cybersecurity
• [New] By 2026, ethical design frameworks will be integrated into development workflows, with features promoting digital well-being becoming standard rather than exceptional. Medium
• [New] Within the year, Congress authorized $7.1 billion for the newly created Pacific Deterrence Initiative, designed to boost the United States' capability to deter Chinese military adventurism, and the policy community scrambled to develop strategies to counter Chinese military threats. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] In 2026, identity verification providers will invest heavily in staying ahead of the regulatory curve (including new ETSI requirements), anticipating the next wave of AI-driven fraud, and refining existing protection layers so they do not come at the expense of conversion rates. Authologic
• [New] Scaling AI across the procurement function and designing in greater resilience against geopolitical disruption are amongst four key procurement trends for 2026. IT Supply Chain
• [New] More investment in 2026 in AI-driven forecasting, digital models of supply chains and scenario planning are giving procurement teams clearer visibility of risk, allowing supply networks to be designed more deliberately rather than reacting to crisis. IT Supply Chain
• [New] The private sector continues to be the largest initiator of non-residential buildings, contributing 67.3% of the value of intentions for 2025-2030. PlaceMakers
• [New] In 2026, trust will be a major design problem for AI experiences. Nielsen Norman Group
• [New] In 2026, industry leaders will increasingly adopt digital and AI-driven solutions that seamlessly manage the full consumer identity lifecycle, minimizing patient burden and reducing complexity, all without disrupting care. Healthcare IT Today | Fresh, Daily, Practical Healthcar
• [New] The establishment of Great British Railways will ensure that new infrastructure is specified and designed efficiently, considering the needs of the national system across infrastructure, operations and maintenance. GOV.UK
• One of the most meaningful roles of design in the coming years will be creating spaces that restore attention, presence, and humanity. officeinsight
• Design will be less romantic and more about risk management, future proofing and building scalable systems instead of products. dezeen
• Rough-around-the-edges design could emerge as a key trend in 2026. dezeen

Last updated: 26 January 2026