Design has always moved with the times. In stable periods, it refines and improves. In unstable ones, it shifts—quietly expanding its role from shaping commercial opportunities to shaping societal systems. Europe now stands in a moment of uncertainty, and design’s role is changing again.

This talk looks at design not as a way to predict the future, but as a way to stay coherent within it. When the world becomes harder to read, the ability to simplify complexity, create direction, and build shared meaning becomes critical. Design becomes less about what we make—and more about how we make sense of where we are and where we go from here.

What does it mean to design when the next step isn’t obvious? How can design help Europe hold together what feels fragmented? And how can we think of design not just as an industry, but as part of our democratic infrastructure?

"At its best, design makes the complex feel simple—and the simple, significant." — Kaave Pour

Kaave Pour is the founder of 21st Europe, a think tank working with Europe’s brightest minds to design blueprints that spark conversations and inspire optimism for the continent’s next chapter.

Kaave was formerly the co-founder, CEO, and Creative Director of SPACE10, the acclaimed R&D lab that gained global recognition across four continents under his decade-long leadership.

Also behind Sun—Sun, a new design and technology venture focused on healthy and sustainable living, Kaave’s expertise spans design, culture, and technology, with collaborations that include IKEA, Apple, MIT, and UN Habitat.

He openly shares insights that encourage a playful yet thoughtful approach to progress and creativity among emerging designers, brands, and institutions.