In December 2025, we had the pleasure of welcoming Laura Fehre, Senior Design Leader at Figma, for an inspiring talk and hands-on workshop with our students. Laura shared her vision for the future of design, explaining why it offers many opportunities for young and emerging designers to reshape the design process in a changing landscape. 

The session gave students a first look at Figma Make, prompting a discussion about how technology can support designers and work for them, rather than replace their work. Laura emphasised that those with a strong foundation in the design process are best positioned to rethink how design can evolve, using new tools to expand creative possibilities rather than hand over decision-making. 

Students dove into the session, developing and presenting prototypes, including: 

• A mentoring platform, designed to connect people with all kinds of mentors in their neighbourhood. 

• A senior friendly video call app, where flipping the camera is actually simple because, let’s face it, everyone over 65 struggles with that tiny button. 

• A personalised sensory friendly walking app, tailored to make walks more comfortable and enjoyable for all users. 

• An app with visual guides, helping users remember misplaced items. 

• An app for finding missing pets, making it easier to reunite lost animals with their owners. 

The workshop showcased how design processes are evolving, giving students firsthand insight into how technology can enhance creative problem-solving. 

As a bonus, students received Figma swag and a special follow-up offer from Laura, giving them the opportunity to continue the conversation, ask questions, and keep exploring new ideas in design.