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SHAPE OF AI

The Shape of AI helps people understand and thoughtfully design the rapidly evolving impact of AI, so they can create technology that serves and enhances human life rather than harms it.

INSPOGEN

An immersive tool for designers to explore curated design projects, discover related ideas, and save or share inspiration through interactive "Sparks."

THOUGHTS ON FIGMA'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Figma showed how it has grown into a complete product ecosystem at Config 2025, adding prototyping-to-code handoff, AI asset generation, and design system governance. Aimed at all design disciplines and improved performance, about 65 percent of users are now non-designers. Despite worries of becoming “the new Adobe,” Figma aims to bridge design and development and may become the control layer for AI across the tech stack.

JONY IVE CAN'T SAVE US FROM THE IPHONE ADDICTION HE HELPED CREATE

Jony Ive regrets the screen addiction linked to his iPhone design and has partnered with OpenAI on an AI device to reduce smartphone use. Critics cite failures like Humane's AI Pin and Rabbit R1, doubting that such gadgets can fix these issues. AI also faces backlash for disrupting education, raising copyright concerns, and threatening creative jobs.

MESMERIZING SURREAL ILLUSTRATIONS INSPIRED BY VIETNAMESE CULTURE BY BUI NGAN

Bui Ngan creates surreal illustrations of Vietnamese life, inspired by women, children, and culture, using “keywords” to guide her artistic process.

FIVE TIMES APPLE CHOSE THE RIGHT FONT (AND ONE IT GOT WRONG)

Apple's typography evolved through five phases, from the 1970s Motter Tektura to the 2015 San Francisco typeface that unified its brand and UI design.

GOOGLE'S ‘G' LOGO JUST GOT PRETTIER

Google has updated its “G” logo with a gradient blend of red, yellow, green, and blue while keeping the original shape. The gradient in YouTube and Gemini balances modern style with a familiar identity.

APPLE UNVEILS IOS 19 ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES: MAGNIFIER FOR MAC, APP STORE LABELS, MORE

Ahead of WWDC, Apple revealed new accessibility features across devices, marking 40 years of progress. Updates include Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, Magnifier for Mac, a more straightforward Personal Voice setup, and improved tools like Accessibility Reader, Braille Access, and Live Captions. CarPlay, Vision Pro, Eye Tracking, and Background Sounds also get enhancements with releases coming later this year.

META'S ASSETGEN 2.0 AI MODEL WILL GENERATE HIGHER-QUALITY 3D ASSETS, AND EVEN ENTIRE WORLDS

Meta's AssetGen 2.0 is a much-improved 3D asset generation AI with better detail and geometry. It uses a single-stage 3D diffusion model trained on 3D assets to create higher-quality objects from text prompts. Currently used internally, it will be added to Horizon Desktop Editor later this year as Meta works toward generating full 3D scenes and making 3D content creation as easy as 2D.

HOW MOTION DESIGN AFFECTS UX

Effective motion design enhances interface usability and user engagement. It offers feedback, clarifies transitions, guides focus, shows state changes, and shapes product identity, making interfaces intuitive and memorable. Good motion design needs a clear purpose, subtlety, consistency, technical feasibility, and accessibility for motion-sensitive users.

SMASHING ANIMATIONS PART 1: HOW CLASSIC CARTOONS INSPIRE MODERN CSS

Andy Clarke's modern CSS animations for composer Mike Worth's site were inspired by classic Hanna Barbera cartoon methods. Early animators used looping backgrounds, minimal frames, and layering to save costs like CSS animations today. These principles use CSS, SVG, and keyframes to add ambient effects, feedback, and storytelling while keeping performance high.

95% OF HOMEPAGES ARE INACCESSIBLE

Global Accessibility Awareness Day stresses the need for digital products accessible to people with disabilities, yet 95 percent of websites fail basic WCAG standards. Common issues, like low contrast text and missing alt text, block users needing screen readers or keyboard navigation. Designers and developers can prevent this with better practices, handoffs, and free accessibility tools, creating a more inclusive web for all.

CALL-TO-ACTION (CTA) DESIGN INSPIRATION

Curated gallery of Call-to-Actions (CTAs) designed to inspire creativity and maximize conversions.

INSTANCE COMPONENT GENERATOR (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Generate all possible instances for your components in a tidy, labeled table, including every combination of variants and component properties.

TERMINAL USER INTERFACES (TUIS) CSS LIBRARY

WebTUI is a modular CSS library that brings the beauty of Terminal UIs to the browser.

WHY LEARNING TO INTERACT WITH TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS IS KEY TO CREATIVE SUCCESS

Three technicians share how they mentor and solve problems to help students bring ideas to life. Intense creative technical work relies on respect, clear communication, and early collaboration with technicians as creative partners, not just service providers. Success today requires working with specialists early, staying curious, respecting their skills, and embracing true partnership.

WHAT COLOUR BLIND DESIGNERS CAN TEACH US ABOUT SEEING DIFFERENTLY: THE HIDDEN ADVANTAGE

Colour blindness, often seen as a design limitation, can enhance focus on essentials like structure, contrast, and usability. Throughout history and across fields like science, military, and art, those who perceive differently have uncovered insights others overlook. Designing from the perspective of outliers, rather than the assumed “average” user, leads to more inclusive and effective solutions for all.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES GETS A NEW IDENTITY, BUT STICKS WITH ITS OLD LOGO

WeWantMore rebranded Brussels Airlines without altering its logo or color palette by focusing on refined details that express warmth and individuality, aligning with the brand essence “You're in good company.” Through subtle updates, like a custom typeface, warmer hues, and a focus on a single red dot, the identity feels more cohesive, premium, and distinctively Belgian, reflecting a boutique hotel-in-the-sky experience.

MEET FEMALE CHARACTER DESIGNS WITH ATTITUDE IN THIS ARTIST'S DISTINCTIVE ILLUSTRATIONS

Natalie Pellmann's distinctive illustrations blend modern aesthetics with fantasy elements to create memorable, colorful characters with unique personalities.

VIBRANT DIGITAL ART BY ILLUSTRATION ARTIST ARONNE NEMBRINI

Milan freelance artist and designer Aronne Nembrini blends illustration and design to craft striking visuals that help brands and editorials stand out with unique art and packaging.

A REALLY WELL CURATED DECK WILL HAVE THE IMPACT YOU WANT

A paid portfolio site is not essential.

VSCO IS LAUNCHING AN AI-POWERED COLLABORATIVE MOODBOARD

VSCO launched Canvas, an AI collaborative moodboard for photographers to import, edit photos, and generate images via text and region editing. Launching days after Adobe's similar product, it uses tech from Facet, which was acquired last year. Canvas improves on tools like Slides and Pinterest. It is open to all with extra AI credits for subscribers.

CREATE AND EDIT IMAGES WITH GEMINI 2.0 IN PREVIEW

THE BIBLE, REDESIGNED FOR THE INSTAGRAM AGE

The Byble project reimagines the ancient book with separate volumes as a luxury design object. Despite lacking formal design credentials, the Sydney-based property developer created a purely typographic edition emphasizing readability through careful text layout, debossed typography, and special "yield" moments highlighting key passages.

HUMAN AFTER ALL

As AI and no-code tools advance fast, the real challenge is shifting our mindset to curiosity over fear and exploring with openness, not resistance. The edge lies not in technical skills alone but in human traits like judgment, empathy, connection, communication, experience, creativity, and curiosity. We must build these strengths to complement machines, not compete with them to stay relevant.

THE SLOW BURN

A poorly designed button that forced registration before purchase cost an e-commerce company $300 million, showing how minor UX flaws can cause significant losses. Unlike technical debt, UX debt often goes unseen but harms trust, raises support costs, and lowers loyalty. The fix is to spot, track, and resolve UX issues with audits, focused sprints, and a culture that treats user experience as a business priority.

THE SECRET TO EFFECTIVE UX WORKSHOPS

UX workshops boost careers by helping designers align stakeholders and solve problems faster. Key types include Problem Framing, Prioritization, Empathy Mapping, Rapid Ideation, and Future Visioning. Success needs clear expectations, strict timeboxing, smart participant choices, and flexibility.

SEAMLESSLY CONNECT MULTIPLE AI TOOLS TO CREATE TAILORED SOLUTIONS

Miniflow lets you use multiple AI tools for writing, data analysis, or art in one place. No coding needed - point, click, and go.

SPOTTED IN PROD

Keep up with the very best of iOS design. From indie developers to big tech.

JAYBE'S TASTY VISUALS: A BRANDING & IDENTITY DEEP DIVE

Cêpa Studio designed the vibrant branding for JayBe MilkShakes. Centered around JayBe, a playful character that encourages consumers to pause and enjoy, the identity uses bold colors, simple shapes, and fun animations to connect emotionally across packaging and social media. The project shows how thoughtful, expressive design can create strong consumer bonds.

DESIGNERS SHOULD BE GENUINELY EXCITED BY DIGITAL PRODUCT PASSPORTS

Digital Product Passports in the EU push sustainable transparency by adding traceability, repairability, and resale to products. They offer designers chances to boost brand loyalty and support circular economies while creating smarter, sustainable experiences.

DESIGNING AI WITH PURPOSE: THE AI INTENTION MATRIX

The AI Intention Matrix guides teams in building clearer AI features. It maps Augmentation vs Automation and Optimizing vs Satisficing to define human input and output quality. This helps reduce costs, avoid over-engineering, and ensure useful AI.

LEVEL UP YOUR GAME ART WITH THESE 10 PRO TIPS

Elevating game concept art means balancing looks and technical needs, meeting briefs, working with designers for emotion and consistency, adding storytelling, knowing when to stop, trying new angles, giving clear notes, and sketching complex forms.

FIVE INDUSTRIES TO EXPLORE FOR FRESH GRAPHIC DESIGN INSPIRATION

Designers can get ideas from gaming, interior design, music, food, film, design platforms, events, new tools, swipe files, and mood boards while keeping inspiration aligned with the audience, brand, and project goals.

HOW AI IS IMPACTING GRAPHIC DESIGN?

AI boosts graphic design productivity, creativity, and precision.

ADOBE QUIETLY REBRANDS, TWEAKING ITS ICONIC LOGO

A refresh of Adobe's brand, led by Mother Design, modernized its iconic identity using a bold red palette, simplified logotype, and a new 'Adobe lens' framing device. Inspired by Marva Warnock's original 'A' design, the update enhances flexibility and coherence while spotlighting the Adobe name more confidently across platforms.

INTRODUCING WEBFLOW CLOUD: BRING FULL-STACK WEB APPS TO YOUR WEBSITE EXPERIENCE

Webflow Cloud expands Webflow into full-stack development, enabling teams to build dynamic apps, programmatic SEO pages, and internal tools—all within one platform. Powered by Cloudflare, it supports frameworks like Next.js and Astro, streamlining collaboration between developers and designers. Now in private beta, it unifies infrastructure, workflows, and brand experiences seamlessly.

SEE LOVEFROM'S NEW BRANDING FOR ONE OF THE BEST BOOKSTORES IN THE U.S.

As William Stout Architectural Books neared its 50th anniversary under the Eames Institute, the lack of a logo led neighbor design firm LoveFrom to craft a new identity. Using a custom typeface, branding, and interactive website illustrations, LoveFrom kept the bookstore's spirit while expanding its digital presence.

FIGMA SITES: WHEN ACCESSIBILITY IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT

Figma Sites excited users with fast, expressive web design but raised concerns over poor accessibility. Though it offers alt text and semantic tools, the final content is wrapped in generic div elements, showing a shift toward speed and looks over inclusivity and ethics.

SPICY(?) TAKES ON AI, DESIGN TESTS, AND COWARDICE

THE COMMERCIALISATION OF THE WORKING-CLASS CREATIVE

Pentagram designer Harriet Richardson shifted from commercial design to performance art, influenced by her working-class roots and northern education. She critiques the class divide where southern privilege allows risk while northern students focus on jobs. She urges structural change to help working-class creatives explore art safely.

FOLLOW THE PATH (FIGMA PLUGIN)

A Figma plugin that automatically arranges objects along a vector path with customizable spacing and orientation options.

CONVERT TEXT TO DETAILED 3D MODELS

Bevelify's AI-powered Text to 3D generator lets you create stunning 3D models from simple text prompts in just a minute.

AUTO DOCUMENTATION (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Document all your Figma color styles and turn them into adjustable components. You can create your template or use the auto-generated one.

HOW&HOW DELIVERS SCRAPPY NEW IDENTITY FOR BIG CARTEL

Big Cartel, a longtime e-commerce platform for artists and makers, has rebranded with design agency How and How. It embraced an indie style with hand-drawn illustrations, a custom wordmark, and bold visuals to stand out in a crowded market. The rebrand reinforces Big Cartel's mission to empower creatives and reject polished tech norms.

IN DEFENSE OF THE 'PIXEL-PUSHER': WHY TINY DETAILS DEFINE GREAT DESIGN

Small design choices can create a powerful emotional impact. Pixel-Pusher should be celebrated, as its attention to detail, intuition, and human creativity brings uniqueness and authenticity in an AI-driven world. These micro-decisions, like precise spacing or subtle color shifts, are the breadcrumbs that guide users, elevate experiences, and keep the magic of design human and meaningful.

GET READY FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF VISUAL DESIGN: WALLPAPER FORGED WITH FIGMA'S PROGRESSIVE BLUR

This minimalist yet visually rich mobile wallpaper, created using Figma's innovative Progressive Blur feature, showcases a luminous gradient, and soft shapes to illustrate a new design aesthetic that promises to inspire a fresh wave of digital creativity.

THE AM DASH

A new punctuation mark called the “am dash” is being introduced as a symbol of authentic human thought and creativity in writing in response to AI's widespread use of the em dash.

NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO SEE WES ANDERSON'S PHYSICAL DESIGNS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Over 600 items from Wes Anderson's archive will be displayed in a landmark London exhibition, showcasing his iconic films, handmade props, costumes, and detailed set designs.

WHY EVERY COMPANY IS HITTING ‘CTRL+B' ON ITS LOGO

Major brands like Amazon, Walmart, and OpenAI have embraced a minimalist rebrand trend—slightly thicker logos, subtle tweaks, and bold typefaces—sparking debate over design effort versus visual impact.