Interview with Francesca Mueller: between surfaces, memory and artificial intelligence
Francesca Mueller, surface and pattern textile designer, has been working for years at the crossroads of culture, perception, and digital experimentation. In this interview, she tells us how international experiences, dialogue with materials, and conscious use of artificial intelligence contribute to the design of decorative surfaces that activate memory, emotion, and well-being.
MeM: “Your path has led you to engage with different cultural contexts. How has this international experience shaped your approach to surface design?”
F.M.:I grew up in Germany, in a German-Italian family where linguistic and cultural nuances were part of everyday life. From there, my creative journey took me to Switzerland, then to Amsterdam to work with Ulf Moritz, a master textile designer. It was there that I learned to “feel” fabric beyond sight.
I lived in India and worked with a weaving mill, where textile decoration design and color choice lent depth to my approach. Back in Amsterdam, I brought with me stories and cultures that I found in Marcel Wanders‘ international studio, where design is theater and culture.
Today, as an independent designer, these experiences guide me in surface design: each project comes from meticulous research into materials, cultures, and connections, which result in narrative and tactile patterns.
MeM: “You have been exploring the use of artificial intelligence in pattern generation for carpets and tapestries. How do you experience the connection between digital experimentation and manual attention to detail?”
F.M.:I actually use artificial intelligence as a creative tool to explore new patterns of shape, color, and decorative structure. It acts as an accelerator in the ideational phase and is a real facilitator of surprising cues.
Each digitally generated pattern I digitally interpret, adapt or transform manually to meet specific production needs and make it authentic. This craftsmanship gives soul and uniqueness to the final design, marking it as my personal signature.
In addition, AI allows me to contextualize my designs visually, integrating them into real or imaginary environments. Those surreal images we are becoming increasingly accustomed to become tools for representing the possible.
MeM: “What are the materials or techniques that most fascinate you right now, and why?”
F.M.:I have no definite preferences. As a designer specializing in surfaces, each new project is an opportunity to explore the specific language of a material. I am intrigued by its restrictions – the limits imposed by color, texture, strength – but also by the expressive possibilities it provides compared to other media.
Every surface has a unique voice, and to decode it is what stimulates me most in my practice.
MeM:In your opinion, what makes a decorative element, like a tapestry or a rug, something that is not only beautiful, but also narrative and emotional?
F.M.:Emotion comes from recognition: we see in a decorative element something that relates to us, that recalls a visual, cultural or sensory memory. But there is no one emotional key.
Some people are thrilled by a rug because it evokes a generational style or era, others because they recognize in that object a mirror of the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times.
After all, what makes a decoration emotional is its ability to create intimate connections, even across the surface.
MeM: “Well-being is also a central theme for those who, like you, work on the perceptual quality of spaces. What design choices really promote it?”
F.M.: For me, an environment that communicates perceptual well-being comes from a cohesive project in which interior design, materials, and FF&E dialogue fluidly.
I am very interested in the balance between classic and contemporary elements-an equilibrium that generates familiarity and surprise at the same time.
I select sustainable or high-quality materials that are pleasing both to the touch and to the eye. The color palette is harmonious, designed to positively influence the mood.
I believe it is essential to design dynamic and versatile environments, where spaces for action and corners reserved for recollection coexist. This balance is essential for a true sense of well-being.
MeM:”What piece of advice would you give to a young interior designer who wants to stand out in an increasingly competitive and digitized landscape?”
F.M.:Standing out today may seem like an easy goal for those with a strong personal motivation, but it is a real challenge in a saturated market.
I think it is crucial to be able to adapt without losing one’s identity, to get out of the comfort zone, to collaborate with different realities.
A solid base of studies, enriched by technical specializations and recognized certifications such as LEED, is a key element today for those working in interior design.
But equally important is nurturing inspiration: traveling, attending shows, exhibitions, fairs, events. Staying on the move.
I am reminded of a phrase by Philip Rosenthal, porcelain manufacturer, when asked “what is the secret of success?”:
“Ein wenig Sein, ganz bisschen Schein und viel Schwein.“
(A little bit of being, a little bit of appearing, and a lot of luck.)
Working with professionals like Francesca Mueller means valuing design that combines experimentation, material culture, and sensory well-being.
Therefore, we support and network designers, architects, artists, and scholars who share with us a common goal: to design spaces that speak to people.