Feel The Felt at London Design Festival 2026

MINOVA launches a creative wellbeing hub exploring human creativity in the age of Al at London Design Festival 2026

Designer, maker and Co-Creativity for Innovation Coach Dr Mine Ovacık, Founding Director of MINOVA Design & Consultancy, will launch the first public pilot of MINOVA Craft Collective during London Design Festival 2026, inviting visitors to explore how tactile making, regenerative craft and human connection can support creativity and wellbeing in an increasingly Al-enabled world.

Taking place from 12-20 September 2026 in North London, Feel The Felt: MINOVA Craft Collective Open Studio | Creative Wellbeing Hub transforms a small pop-up studio into a calm space for making, conversation, reflection and connection.

Guided by the principles Simple | Small | Slow, the open studio asks a timely question: as Al and digital technologies become increasingly capable, how can we continue to nurture the distinctly human qualities of imagination, craftsmanship, empathy, curiosity and collaboration?

Rather than positioning Al as a threat to creativity, Ovacık sees technology as an opportunity. By supporting routine and analytical tasks, Al can free up time and space for people to imagine, experiment, make, and connect. MINOVA Craft Collective explores the complementary side of this technological shift: the importance of developing human creativity and maintaining our relationship with tactile, embodied experiences. Mine Ovacık says:

“As technology becomes more capable, I believe nurturing our human creativity becomes more important, not less. Making with our hands gives us an opportunity to slow down, focus and reconnect-both with ourselves and with others. Al can empower creative minds, while tactile making helps us continue developing the human qualities and supports our wellbeing we bring to that relationship.“

A living open studio

Throughout the festival, Ovacık will make natural wool felt pieces live in the studio, allowing visitors to encounter the creative process as it happens rather than seeing only finished objects.

MINOVA’s felt collection will be displayed alongside materials and works in progress. Visitors can discover felt-making techniques, explore natural wool and learn about MINOVA’s regenerative and made-to-order approach. Existing pieces will be available to purchase, while visitors can also personalise bespoke pieces by selecting from MINOVA’s designs and colour palette. Bespoke orders will be produced after the festival, reducing unnecessary stock and overproduction.

Creativity, craft and wellbeing

The studio will also become a place for informal dialogue. Visitors will be invited to reflect on questions such as: How does making by hand influence our wellbeing? How does creativity affect our everyday lives? What role can tactile making play in an Al-enabled world?

These conversations form part of Ovacık’s ongoing practice-based exploration of creativity, co-creation and wellbeing. With participants’ permission, observations and insights will help inform future workshops, research and community projects.

More than an exhibition or pop-up shop, Feel The Felt is a living experiment in regenerative design, creative wellbeing and community building.

Open Studio will take place from 12–20 September, 10:00–17:00, with studio appointments available via Eventbrite.