Panel Talk: Designing Culture in the Age of Intelligent Machines

At 2026 SXSWFuturePixelHouse, Sally Chung moderates a panel talk with design leaders, Lisa Gralnek, Joey Zeledón, and Rachele Didero to discuss what remains human in design, exploring AI’s impact on creativity, identity, and culture, and the evolving role of designers today.

This panel, What Remains Human in Design?, explored a critical shift in the role of designers in an age where AI can generate everything from visuals to full systems. Moving beyond the idea of design as pure output, the conversation reframed design as a practice rooted in meaning, culture, and intention. Panelists examined whether designers are transitioning from creators to curators—editing, guiding, and shaping machine-generated work—while questioning who ultimately defines emerging AI-driven aesthetics and visual culture.

The discussion also centered on the irreplaceable human dimensions of design: identity, emotion, and resistance. From designing with lived experience and cultural nuance to using physical objects as a form of pushback against algorithmic systems, the panel highlighted how humanity continues to anchor design in ways machines cannot replicate. Ultimately, the conversation asked whether the future of design will be defined by more intelligence or more humanity, and what responsibilities designers must take on to ensure that technology amplifies, rather than erases, the human experience.

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Moderator : Sally Chung

Panelists:

Lisa Gralnek

US Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainability & Impact, iF Design (Creator & Host of award-winning podcast, FUTURE OF XYZ).

Lisa is a brand builder with 25-years of experience launching new ideas and initiatives for companies including adidas, BCG, Chobani, David Yurman, moo.com, and Walmart, among dozens of others. In 2017, she founded the independent strategy advisory LVG & Co.. In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, she created FUTURE OF XYZ, an award-winning interview series now in its 8th season and available across podcast streaming platforms and on YouTube. In 2023, she became the first US Managing Director of iF Design, the prestigious European nonprofit design institute, and now also serves as their Global Head of Sustainability & Impact. Lisa holds a BA in Political Science and French from Bates College and an MBA from INSEAD.

Joey Zeledón

Joey Zeledón doesn’t just design things — they elevate them, helping products reach their higher purpose. An award-winning designer with nearly two decades of experience, Joey has collaborated with top industry names including HP, Steelcase, Smart Design, Continuum, and Clarks. Their work spans everyday objects to thoughtfully reimagined furniture, blending emotional depth with practicality — always with a focus on comfort, connection, and meaning. Joey is the author of “Design is Trans”, exploring design as a vehicle for self-discovery and for expressing the true identity of the objects we create, and Touchy/Feely, which champions emotional ergonomics by reminding us that great design isn't just about how something looks or works, but about how it feels. 

Rachele Didero

Founder, Cap_able (https://www.capable.design/ ), Designer & Researcher in AI, Fashion & Data Ethics

Rachele Didero is a designer, researcher, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of fashion, artificial intelligence, and data ethics. She is the founder of Cap_able, a research-driven brand developing AI-resistant textiles and Critical Design Tech Products that challenge biometric surveillance and algorithmic visibility. Her work investigates how physical objects can actively engage with computer vision systems, translating complex legal, technological, and ethical questions into wearable interfaces. Through research and practice, she explores how garments can embed consent, agency, and critical awareness into everyday life within an AI-mediated world.