CMF Forecast: India 2026
Trend analysis
Futures thinking
Material Innovation
An exercise in trend analysis and forecasting, to uncover upcoming trends and their CMF translations for India in 2026.
Theme:
Future Heritage
Macro trend:
A desire for authenticity and cultural reclamation
Story:
With rapid advancements in technology driving global change, India is witnessing its very own renaissance, where ancestral wisdom meets innovation.
‘Future Heritage’ is a story that is rooted yet radical; a seamless fusion of craft and technology, honoring the past while reimagining it for a future-forward society.
This movement reflects a shift toward cultural reclamation, where digital tools, AI, and material innovations amplify India’s deep intangible and tangible heritage rather than replace it. India in 2026 is not choosing between tradition and technology; it is designing a seamless continuum where both thrive, as seen through various recent works in the design, art and tech space.
Image from The Busride Studio, Goa
Design Stories: India
Anuvad
A textile design studio that fuses craft and technology to craft immersive experiences.
Nitush-Aroosh
Blending tradition with innovation, Nitush-Aroosh craft stainless steel sculptures that redefine spaces.
Rimzim Dadu
Rimzim Dadu's design philosophy involves an alternative perspective to traditional materials through unorthodox yet intuitive hand craft techniques.
Sam Madhu
Inspired by old colonial-era photographs of Tamil women across India and Sri Lanka, digital artist Sam Madhu’s series rebirths ancient beauty traditions in a futuristic rendition of South Asian women.
Jayesh Sachdev
A multi-disciplinary artist-designer who brings out a contemporary tech forward perspective on ancient mythology in his work.
Key Emotive Drivers
The Desire for Reconnection: Where do we come from, and where are we going? A yearning to reconnect with our heritage
Decolonizing Aesthetics and Reclaiming Identity: Owning our past to redefine our future, increased sense of hyperlocal pride and belonging
Spirituality in the Everyday: Objects as talismans and spaces as sanctuaries, with increasing relevance of ritualistic living and emotional connection alongside functionality
Sensory escapism through future-facing nostalgia: A desire to escape the grim realities through experiences that are rooted yet somehow ethereal, awe-inspiring
Emotion to Color Translation
Authenticity
Reconnection
Familiar Newness
Future Nostalgia
A rich mix of vibrance against steely greys and metallics that bring out a balance between warmth and coolness. Familiar yet unfamiliar neutrals against bright blues that tie together new and old.
NCS Color Mapping
CMF Directions
The materiality for this story can be described as futuristic folklore - a unique juxtaposition between intricate crafted detail and sleek clean surfaces. The use of metals, reflective surfaces, intricate geometric textures and woven fabrics creates a rich multi-sensory experience.
The emphasis is on a new kind of material language that marries the authenticity of craft with a dark steely coldness that screams ‘new-age’.
Material Juxtapositions + Proportion Play
For this story to be translated in physicality, the key is juxtapositions. The proportions in which each color and finish are used together will define the harmony of 'new vs old'.
Trend Visualisations:
The following is a simple visualisation of the trend story in the form of an end application, in this case, automotive interiors
