HTSI's design issue profiles obsessive creators from fashion to art

The Financial Times' HTSI editor's letter for April 11 2026 spotlights individuals with monofocused design passions. Ramdane Touhami collects 19th-century stamping devices to revive monogramming. Model and artist Sang Woo Kim paints self-portraits of his eyes as a response to exoticization, with an upcoming group exhibition at AMA Venezia featuring Arthur Jafa, Jenny Saville, and Charles Ray. Architect Sophie Hicks discusses her minimalist projects for brands like Paul Smith, Chloé, and Alaïa, and her recent building for fragrance brand 025S in Seoul's Seongsu-dong, reflecting her appreciation for South Korea's dynamic youth culture. Heinz Mack, co-founder of the Zero movement in 1957, continues his Chromatic Constellations series at age 95. The issue includes a fashion shoot by Julia Nobis, Tonne Goodman, and Craig McDean emphasizing minimalist silhouettes, such as a Proenza Schouler dress priced at £1,655. Editor Roula Khalaf curated the weekly newsletter.