TLDR DESIGN 2025-06-10

WWDC 2025: EVERYTHING ANNOUNCED, INCLUDING LIQUID GLASS, APPLE INTELLIGENCE UPDATES, AND MORE

Apple unveiled iOS 26 at WWDC 2025. This was the operating system's most significant design update in over a decade. A new Liquid Glass interface adds translucent, reflective elements across devices. The company also introduced a dedicated Games app, refreshed Apple TV and watchOS experiences, and expanded Apple Intelligence features, including an AI-powered Shortcuts app for macOS and a Workout Buddy on Apple Watch. Additional updates included travel tools in Apple Wallet, interactive iMessage polls, CarPlay enhancements, and new accessories for the Vision Pro headset.

THE SWITCH 2'S MOST UNEXPECTEDLY SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE IS THE ESHOP DESIGN

Nintendo Switch 2's eShop received major performance and design upgrades that surprised fans with their significance. The new digital storefront runs much faster than its sluggish predecessor, eliminating the painful lag that plagued game browsing. Design improvements include better categories, filters, personalized discovery features, and Nintendo's signature red branding, replacing the previous orange color scheme. Social media users are celebrating the smoother experience, with some calling it a "real store" complete with auto-playing trailers and improved navigation.

THE FOUNDER OF DEVIANTART IS MAKING A $22,000 DISPLAY FOR DIGITAL ART

DeviantArt founder Angelo Sotira has launched Layer, a $22,000 premium display designed to showcase digital art. The high-end screen focuses on code-based generative artworks that require significant computing power to render live animations and interactive pieces. Layer operates as a self-sustaining system that automatically sequences art collections, requiring minimal user maintenance over its intended five-year lifespan. The startup raised $5.7 million in funding and operates on a subscription model where artists receive royalties based on the display time of their works.

AN EMPATHETIC DESIGNER

Empathy remains crucial for design work, extending beyond user understanding to internal processes and stakeholder management. It can be as simple as making workflow changes, such as creating a simplified Figma component library for non-designers and anticipating their needs through detailed documentation, tutorials, and support channels. Deep user research through shadowing, active listening, and building trust with internal platform users can reveal insights impossible to gather through traditional interviews alone.

THE POLITICS OF DESIGN SYSTEMS

Building a great design system isn't enough — people won't adopt it just because it exists, they'll only embrace it if they feel included, understood, and see clear value in it for their work. True adoption is built on trust and relationships, not mandates or documentation, and success comes when the system becomes theirs, not just yours.

AWARDS ARE A PROBLEM – DESIGN IS CLAPPING ITSELF INTO THE ABYSS

At a time of seismic cultural and technological change, the creative industry continues to cling to outdated awards rituals that feel increasingly disconnected from the real challenges and opportunities ahead. Instead of celebrating shallow recognition, we should be empowering work that defines new creative standards and leads the future with vision, relevance, and impact.

AI-POWERED DESIGN WORKFLOWS

Turn your creative vision into scalable workflows. Access all AI models and professional editing tools in one node-based platform.

GLOW ICONS

442 light icons in two styles, crisp and beautiful at any size — perfect for interfaces. Figma files are available.

FONT GENERATOR

Convert your simple text into fancy fonts with this cool font generator that helps you copy and paste from 180+ beautiful text styles in seconds.

MORE ON WHAT MAKES A GOOD ACCESSIBILITY DESIGNER

WHAT IS PHYGITAL DESIGN, AND WHY IS IT EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW?

Phygital design — the blend of physical and digital experiences — is transforming how brands engage consumers, turning everyday objects like packaging into interactive, immersive touchpoints without the need for apps. Once a marketing buzzword, it has become a strategic necessity driven by technological advancements, hybrid lifestyles, and new EU legislation that demands more accessible, transparent, and engaging product interactions.

STUDIO MIMU™'S IDENTITY FOR LAND+FORM REFLECTS A PRACTICE ROOTED IN CARE, CONTEXT, AND CO-EXISTENCE

Land+Form's refreshed identity emphasizes resilience, environmental consciousness, and collaboration. It reflects the company's mission to create interconnected, nature-centric spaces that prioritize landscape over ego. The visual identity, which has a custom Reform-based logotype, earthy Australian-inspired colors, and dynamic web elements like live weather integration, reinforces Land+Form's commitment to blending design with the natural world.

MODELO'S NEW NA BEER MIGHT JUST HAVE THE BEST LOGO OF THE YEAR

Modelo's new nonalcoholic beer features a brilliantly simple logo solution (Model0%) which seamlessly replaces the "o" in Modelo with "0%" to signify zero alcohol content.

THE SIGNALFIRE STATE OF TALENT REPORT - 2025

The tech industry is undergoing a major hiring reset: new grad recruitment has collapsed, especially at startups and Big Tech, while elite AI labs like Anthropic are dominating talent retention with a culture-focused edge, and geographic trends show Texas cooling off as newer hubs like Miami and San Diego rise.

JORDAN MOODY'S DRAWINGS ARE A TECHNICOLOUR TAKE ON LONDON'S STREETSIDE SCENES

South London artist Jordan Moody transforms everyday scenes and overlooked details into vibrant, joyful works using bold color, capturing the spirit of ordinary people and places with a playful, optimistic lens.