Lepas explores the future of automotive design at the V&A

How can craftsmanship and elegant design become more accessible in the way we move? In an era continuously reshaped by new technologies and innovation, fresh possibilities are redefining how cars are made and experienced. In September 2026, leading voices from different creative backgrounds gathered at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for a panel discussion exploring the future of mobility.

Presented by Lepas and hosted by Dr Jiayu Wu from the Royal College of Art, ‘The Evolving Language of Automotive Design’ session was part of the 2026 Global Design Forum, a curated thought leadership programme exploring how design, culture, technology and modern living intersect. It brought together unique perspectives from automotive leadership, transport design, academic research and design journalism.

Jonathan Bell, transport & technology editor at Wallpaper*, emphasised the importance of precision engineering, materials and finishes at a time when advanced manufacturing allows for the mass production of fine objects. ‘From a consumer perspective, people have really raised their expectations of what a car interior should be,’ he noted. As people tend to spend more time in their vehicle, sometimes in traffic and congestion, designers are facing the challenge of making the car ‘a pleasant place to be, and not just something that you tolerate’. Whether through lighting, sound, interfaces, quietness or attention to detail, advances in materials science are helping to create interior atmospheres that feel genuinely luxurious.

This approach to contemporary craft, however, needs to be embedded meaningfully into everyday life. ‘Craftsmanship is really about time and effort and energy. It’s not really about mass production,’ Bell commented, noting the recent rediscovery of analogue as a reaction to the rise of sophisticated innovations such as 3D-printing, VR, and AI. Many people want advanced technology without spectacle, quality over ostentation, benefits rather than gadgets. The conversation then turned to functionality and how such advancements could be made accessible to a broader range of people, beyond the realm of exclusivity.

Presented during London Design Festival 2026, the panel discussion positioned Lepas within the global design conversation, just weeks after the brand’s UK debut with the launch of three new electrified SUVs. Looking at mobility beyond the automotive industry, this fascinating conversation argued that the best design shouldn’t feel or look extraordinarily technological. With innovation in constant motion across disciplines and space, the need to prioritise human experience seems to be the most efficient way to enrich the everyday – placing tactility, simplicity and emotional appeal at the forefront.

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