I was planning the trip to check out The Invisible Collection’s exhibition featuring Damien Langlois-Meurinne. I’d had my eye on a few pieces for upcoming projects, but honestly, I wasn’t going there for anything time-sensitive. 

After a hectic start to the morning, however, I was running late, missed my train, and almost canceled my visit altogether. “There’s more urgent work,” I kept telling myself.

“Quiet, little voice!” I said. “I need this.” And I really did.

The new year is such a fun, refreshing time—a real opportunity for new beginnings. I always find myself inspired by design, but this time of year—those post-holiday winter doldrums—feels like the perfect moment to fill my cup with fresh ideas and new inspiration. One thing that consistently pops up around this time are trend reports for the upcoming year. If you’re not familiar, these are exactly what they sound like: groups of top designers share their predictions for “What’s Hot and What’s Not” in the world of design.

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with these lists.