How emotional control is reshaping palettes, contrast and restraint
In a time of economic pressure, geopolitical tension and cultural fatigue, colour is no longer about expression alone. It has become a tool for emotional regulation.
This 30–45 minute, visual-led webinar reframes how we understand colour in today’s interiors, furniture and product environments. Rather than starting with palettes or trend lists, Michael Cleghorn and Lou Petersen explore why colour behaviour is changing, and how emotional needs are shaping the way colour is used; with more restraint, clearer intent and greater psychological purpose.
Grounded in the MC&Co Trend Intelligence System™, this session introduces a behaviour-first lens that explains how emotion becomes colour choice, contrast, depth and proportion. Attendees are guided through the four Approaches to Life — Optimistic, Ambitious, Disciplined and Accomplished, to understand how the same colour can communicate confidence, calm, authority or reassurance depending on context.
This is not a forecast reveal. It is a decoding of the logic behind what we are all seeing, and why it feels different.
What You’ll Learn
✔️ Why colour has shifted from expression to emotional management
✔️ How uncertainty changes how colour is used before what colours appear
✔️ The four emotional temperaments shaping colour behaviour today
✔️ Why restraint, tonal depth and controlled contrast are rising across categories
✔️ How to read colour behaviour in imagery, products and spaces with confidence
✔️ A framework to support clearer design, buying and briefing decisions
Who Should Attend
• Furniture, homewares and lifestyle buyers
• Product developers and designers
• Interior designers and stylists
• Brand, marketing and creative leads
• Manufacturers and suppliers
• Senior decision-makers seeking clarity in volatile markets
Meet The Speakers
Michael Cleghorn
Michael Cleghorn is the Founder and CEO of MC&Co, a global consultancy specialising in the future of interiors, furniture, homewares and lifestyle design. With over 30 years of experience across retail, product development, manufacturing and design strategy, Michael is globally recognised for his ability to decode how emotion, culture and behaviour shape aesthetic and commercial outcomes.
Michael is the creator of the MC&Co Trend Intelligence System™, a proprietary framework that translates global socio-economic and cultural change into emotionally aligned, commercially actionable design intelligence. His work is trusted by retailers, manufacturers, designers and senior leadership teams worldwide to bring clarity and confidence to complex decision-making environments.
A frequent speaker at international industry events and private boardroom sessions, Michael is known for his behaviour-first perspective, explaining not just what is changing, but why it matters, how it shows up visually, and when to act.
Lou Petersen
Lou Petersen is the UK Partner at MC&Co Trend Intelligence, bringing deep expertise in design strategy, brand positioning and trend interpretation for global interiors and lifestyle markets. With a background spanning creative leadership, commercial strategy and international brand development, Lou works closely with clients to translate trend intelligence into clear, usable direction.
Lou is known for her ability to bridge emotional insight with practical application, helping teams understand how global shifts influence consumer behaviour, aesthetic choices and commercial timing. Her work supports brands navigating change with confidence, particularly in periods of market volatility and cultural uncertainty.
As a speaker and facilitator, Lou brings a structured yet human approach to trend intelligence, making complex ideas accessible, relevant and actionable for cross-functional teams.
