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High Point, Show Events

American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Hosts Announce HPMKT Seminar: ‘Creativity X AI’

The potential that artificial intelligence (AI) holds to fuel design creativity will be topic of a “Creativity X AI” Trend Spotter Seminar during the October High Point Market.

10/13/2025
Graphic with portraits of trend-spotters Leslie Carothers of Savour Partnership, Mark Feng of Markor International and Ania Sommerauer of Future Snoops.
Creativity X AI features trend-spotters, from left, Leslie Carothers of Savour Partnership, Mark Feng of Markor
International and Ania Sommerauer of Future Snoops.

HIGH POINT, N.C., -- The potential that artificial intelligence (AI) holds to fuel design creativity will be topic of a “Creativity X AI” Trend Spotter Seminar during the October High Point Market at the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame.

The seminar will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29 at the Hall of Fame Building located at 311 S. Hamilton St. The event is hosted by Markor International and its family of brands A.R.T. Furniture, Caracole, Jonathan Charles and Rowe.

Jaye Anna Mize, Vice President of Advisory and Partnerships at Future Snoops (FS), will moderate the panel discussion, which will feature three thought leaders — Ania Sommerauer of Future Snoops, Leslie Carothers of Savour Partnership and Mark Feng of Markor International. The lively discussion will explore the latest developments in the fast-evolving field of AI.

"AI is transforming every part of our industry, from the products we design to the way we connect with clients," said Mize. "This panel is a chance to cut through the hype and talk about what AI really means for designers, brands and showrooms right now. We’ll share practical strategies and real-world examples and give attendees early access to our new white paper, ‘Active Creation in the Age of AI.’ If you want to stay competitive in the next era of interiors, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.”

From design and sourcing to supply chain and client connections, AI technology is changing every link in the value chain, Mize said, adding that with these advances come risks such as “lookalike products, predictable spaces and brands that lose their competitive edge.”

During the Trend Spotter Seminar, the expert panelists will unpack how to spot the pitfalls of passive design, strengthen individual voices in a tech-saturated landscape and unlock fresh possibilities by combining human imagination with machine precision, Mize said. “This session is built for designers, brands and showrooms ready to thrive in the next era of interiors.”

This panel discussion will serve as the first public dialogue around Fashion Snoops’ new white paper. The report examines how emerging AI tools are shaping the future of design, creativity and cultural production — and more importantly, how human imagination continues to set the tone in this new landscape.

“Building on the work of the white paper, the panel will bring together voices who are actively experimenting with AI in creative practices, strategy and industry applications,” Mize said. During the seminar, panelists will dig into questions such as:

How does the home furnishings industry preserve the human spark in a world where machines can generate endless outputs?
What new boundaries does AI open for designers, brands and makers to push the boundaries of originality?

How do design professionals balance innovation with integrity and use AI as a collaborator rather than a replacement?
“We are thrilled to host this cutting-edge seminar,” says Brian Moffitt, CEO of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation. “These in-depth discussions with creative thinkers from across the industry provide a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into what’s coming next in the ever-changing world of home furnishings.”

The three panelists and moderator for this upcoming seminar are:

• Leslie Carothers is a nationally recognized digital marketing innovator and the principal of Savour Partnership, a leading agency for home furnishings brands, retailers and designers. With more than two decades of experience, Carothers has worked with over 200 companies and is a sought-after speaker on the future of AI, digital marketing and brand strategy. Carothers has pioneered projects that brought AI into design and retail, from the first Designer Virtual Showhouse to new product development with Midjourney AI. Today, she is recognized as an expert in agentic AI and how it is transforming not just design, but the way home brands operate, market and grow.

• Mark Feng, Chairman and CEO of Markor Home Furnishings, leads a dynamic, vertically integrated global business spanning 500-plus retail doors and wholesale operations across 84 countries under esteemed brands like Caracole, A.R.T., Rowe and Jonathan Charles. With manufacturing hubs in China, Vietnam and Virginia, Markor Home Furnishings blends craftsmanship, innovation and efficiency to deliver world-class products. In addition to his leadership at Markor, Feng is the founder of DecorX, an AI-powered interior design startup that is revolutionizing how customers and designers create spaces that inspire.

• Ania Sommerauer, Vice President of Content Strategy at Future Snoops, leads the global editorial vision for trend forecasting across fashion, interiors and consumer culture. With a background that spans publishing, retail and creative strategy, Sommerauer is known for translating cultural signals into clear narratives that guide brands, designers and retailers toward future opportunities. A frequent speaker on the role of foresight, storytelling and AI in building resilient, differentiated businesses, Sommerauer focuses much of her work on how technology and shifting lifestyles reshape consumer desires.

• Jaye Anna Mize, panel moderator, leads Future Snoop’s consulting practice and global partner ecosystem. Known for her ability to connect cultural foresight with business strategy, Mize helps brands, retailers and trade organizations translate trends into growth opportunities. She has advised leading companies across fashion, home and consumer goods, and is recognized for building new frameworks that bridge creativity, commerce and technology. At Future Snoops, she is also at the forefront of integrating AI into trend and business advisory, guiding partners on how to stay original and competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Part of the Hall of Fame’s ongoing education initiative, the Future Snoops Trend Seminar is held twice a year at each High Point Market as a collaboration between the Hall of Fame, FS, ANDMORE, Interwoven and the High Point Market Authority. In addition, the partnership calls for FS to identify four fabric trends during each November and May Interwoven Textile Fair and through a changing product exhibit unveiled during each April and October High Point Market at the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame.
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