Future Icons: The Designs That Could Define Tomorrow
For more than two centuries, Heal’s has championed design that looks beyond the moment. From pioneering modernist furniture to the designers shaping contemporary interiors today, our history has always been rooted in discovering what comes next.
But what makes a design an icon?
Some pieces become icons because they change the way we live. Others challenge convention, introduce new materials or manufacturing techniques, or simply possess a quality that allows them to remain relevant long after trends have passed. The Eames Lounge Chair is one such example. Designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956, it has become one of the most recognisable pieces of modern design, its combination of craftsmanship, comfort and distinctive form making it as relevant today as it was when first introduced.
This London Design Festival, we’re looking towards the future with a selection of pieces that embody the qualities we believe can define tomorrow’s design classics. From emerging talent discovered through the Heal’s Discovers programme to exclusive designs created with established names, these are pieces designed not simply for today, but with longevity in mind.
The Fisher Desk – Michiel Vrenegoor
Discovered through Heal’s Discovers, the Fisher Desk by Michiel Vrenegoor brings a considered architectural quality to the modern workspace. Its oak A-frame, generous surface and integrated storage are rooted in traditional making techniques, while its clean, sculptural form responds to the evolving role of the home office.
It is a piece that demonstrates how good design can adapt to changing ways of living without compromising on simplicity or character.
The Matera Sofa – Heal’s Design Studio
The Matera Sofa draws on the enduring language of contemporary Italian design, with elegant proportions, subtle curves and hand-sewn pleated detailing. Named after the southern Italian town where it is made, its design is understated yet distinctive.
Created with longevity in mind, Matera demonstrates that a future classic does not need to follow a trend. Sometimes, it is the quiet confidence of good proportions, considered craftsmanship and enduring materials that gives a piece its staying power.
The Arch Console – Magnus Pettersen
With its sculptural silhouette and distinctive curved legs, the Arch Console by Magnus Pettersen shows how simplicity can create a lasting impression.
Available in solid oak or walnut, its architectural form gives the piece a strong visual identity while allowing it to sit naturally within a range of interiors. It is an example of design that makes a statement without relying on excess, allowing the quality of its materials and construction to speak for itself.
The Neva Light Chair – Regular Company for Artisan
The Neva Light Chair by Regular Company for Artisan takes a simple idea and gives it an expressive new form. Its flowing backrest transitions seamlessly into the legs, creating a distinctive silhouette that feels both sculptural and remarkably light.
Crafted from solid wood, the chair reflects Artisan’s commitment to traditional craftsmanship while demonstrating how familiar forms can be reinterpreted for contemporary living. It is this balance between heritage and innovation that gives the Neva the qualities of a potential future classic.
The Supernova Pendant – Heal’s Design Studio
Inspired by the explosive beauty of a supernova, the Supernova Pendant turns lighting into a sculptural centrepiece. A constellation of connected LED lights creates a sense of movement and depth, bringing a sense of wonder to an otherwise functional object.
Its design looks firmly towards the future, demonstrating how technology can be used not simply to improve function, but to create an entirely new visual language for the home.
The Offset Rug – Heal’s Design Studio
The Offset Rug brings a contemporary perspective to traditional weaving. Its bold geometric pattern is created through jacquard construction, giving the design depth and texture while 95% wool provides a natural sense of warmth and durability.
Rather than following a fleeting pattern, Offset explores how geometry, material and craftsmanship can work together to create something with lasting character.
The Melt Light – Tom Dixon
Some designs become recognisable simply by their silhouette. Tom Dixon’s Melt Light is one of them.
Inspired by molten glass, melting glaciers and deep space, its organic form creates an almost otherworldly glow. The innovative manufacturing process gives the light its distinctive, fluid appearance, blurring the boundaries between lighting, sculpture and art.
Now recognised as a defining piece of contemporary lighting, Melt offers a glimpse of how the designs of today can become the classics of tomorrow.
The Verona Sideboard – Nathan Yong
Designed by award-winning designer Nathan Yong exclusively for Heal’s, the Verona Sideboard takes inspiration from the architectural lines of 1960s stereo consoles and reinterprets them for contemporary living.
Its slatted front creates a distinctive rhythm while generous storage gives the design a practical purpose. It is this combination of heritage, innovation and functionality that makes Verona particularly relevant to the idea of the future icon: a piece that looks to the past without being defined by it.
The Lilli Sofa – Says Who
Designed exclusively for Heal’s by Danish studio Says Who, the Lilli Sofa reflects a contemporary understanding of comfort. Its softly rounded form, subtle pull-in stitching and natural beech feet give it a relaxed yet considered character.
Its modular construction is equally important. Designed to adapt as lifestyles change, Lilli demonstrates that longevity is not simply about how a piece looks, but how successfully it continues to serve us over time.
The Marlow 4-Poster Bed – Tim Rundle
The traditional four-poster bed is an enduring piece of furniture, but Tim Rundle’s Marlow offers a distinctly contemporary interpretation.
Designed exclusively for Heal’s, its slim frame, refined proportions and minimal aesthetic retain the sense of occasion associated with the traditional four-poster while removing unnecessary ornamentation. The result is a piece that feels rooted in history but unmistakably of its time.
A future classic is often a familiar idea seen differently. Marlow is a case in point.
So, what makes a future icon?
There is no formula for creating an icon. The pieces that endure are often those that combine several qualities: a distinctive point of view, exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful materials and a genuine understanding of how people live.
Most importantly, they have the ability to move beyond the moment in which they were created.
The Eames Lounge Chair could not have predicted the homes, lifestyles or technologies of the decades that followed it. Yet its fundamental qualities have allowed it to remain relevant across generations.
Perhaps that is the real measure of an icon.
Not whether it is fashionable today, but whether we will still want to live with it tomorrow.
This London Design Festival, Heal’s is celebrating the designers and pieces that have the potential to shape that future.
Future icons will be on display at Heal’s Tottenham Court Road from Saturday, 12 September until Sunday, 20 September. Discover the exhibition in-store throughout London Design Festival.
