Since rolling out the new Today in Design just two weeks ago, we’ve received an outpour of feedback. It’s been roughly 85% positive, 10% negative, and 5% confused… Some thoughts:

Everything is iteration. We’re making small tweaks issue by issue as we incorporate feedback from you, our readers. For those asking for dark mode to come back: sorry, it’s gone for good.

On Mondays, like today, we’ll share inspiration that we’ve collected, highlight an “up and coming” designer, take you behind the scenes of design projects we’re into, and share some news.

Fridays we’ll continue to explore the best formats for diving deep into a topic that’s relevant right now. I’m working hard on our new interview format and hope that you’re enjoying it. I can promise you that each episode will be better than the last as I start to really figure things out.

Just remember, at the bottom of each email, we ask for your feedback. We read every single submission. If you care about the content, please share your thoughts and let us know what you feel is working and what could improve.

P.S. Did you see our interview with Mike from Worklouder? He shares a lot of amazing insights into their approach to product design and marketing.

— Hunter Hammonds

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Emir Ayaz is the founder of Arc Studio, a design partner for startups seeking more than just another agency. He specializes in UI/UX redesigns, high-converting landing pages, and flexible design subscriptions. With experience working with YC-backed startups and a track record of boosting conversions by 20%, Emir helps early-stage teams bring their vision to life through design that connects, inspires, and drives results.

A few months ago, this was just an idea. Half a conversation over coffee, a shared frustration with the usual coworking options, and the question: what if we just made our own.

Now it’s real. It’s called Outpost, and it lives on Goose Island in Chicago. Sixteen fixed desks, no hot-desking, no chaos. Just a space for people who care about their work and want a quiet place to do it.

We landed on the name Outpost pretty quickly. It felt honest. A little industrial, a little outdoorsy. Not trying to be everything for everyone—just a solid place to set up camp and do your thing.

From there, we built a brand that feels like the space itself: confident but quiet. The type is bold and geometric, but there’s softness in the colors. Muted tones that balance warmth with utility.

We carried that same approach into the website, which we designed and launched in just two days.

There’s something freeing about working that quickly. You don’t overthink things. You make decisions based on instinct and values instead of trying to predict what people will think. That mindset carried through the whole process—just make it good, make it useful, and get it out into the world.

It’s intentionally minimal—no fluff, no endless scroll. Just the essentials: what it is, where it is, how to apply. The typography mirrors the brand. The layout is clean. The tone says: “This is for people who get it.”

The space itself is the same story. Polished concrete floors, soft light, oversized windows. Thoughtful furniture choices that actually support focus, not distract from it. A few plants, some brutalist touches, and a layout that respects your need to breathe. It’s got a vibe—but an understated one.

We wanted the nav to feel like the kind of signage you’d see in a physical space—simple, clear, and directional. The arrows and layout are meant to feel familiar, like wayfinding in a building. It’s a small touch, but it helps the site feel more grounded and connected to the space itself.

@iampetrknoll

We’re starting with 16 fixed desks. No hot-desking. No rotating circus. Just a small crew of people doing great work.

Outpost isn’t about scale. It’s about clarity. And if that resonates with you, we’d love for you to check it out.

Learn more at workatoutpost.com

Figma Blog

Figma Explores: Is Design Efficiency Killing Creativity?

Design thinking needs to move beyond speed to prioritize care, craft, and emotional resonance. Config 2025 highlighted a growing sentiment that while AI enhances efficiency, it should also augment the human aspects of design. Notably, Smith & Diction's talk declared, "Efficiency kills love," and Figma CEO Dylan Field emphasized that "Design is chasing a feeling." We cannot forget the importance of creating experiences that are not only functional but also meaningful and emotionally engaging.

DesignWeek

“It was a bit nuts” – Teo Connor on designing the new Airbnb app

In a recent interview, Airbnb's VP of Design, Teo Connor, discusses the ambitious redesign of the Airbnb app, which expands beyond vacation rentals to include services like personal training, photography, and fine dining. The design team faced the challenge of integrating a wide array of new options and information into the app's interface, aiming to make it a comprehensive platform for real-world services. This conversation offers valuable insights into managing complex information architecture and creating intuitive user experiences in multifaceted applications.

Coca-Cola x Adobe

Coca-Cola Launches Fizzion to Elevate Brand Design Through AI

Fizzion, a pioneering AI-powered design system developed in collaboration with Adobe, transforms static brand guidelines into intelligent, adaptive assets, enabling creative teams to produce content up to ten times faster without compromising quality or brand integrity. By learning from designers' workflows within Adobe Creative Cloud applications, Fizzion captures creative intent and encodes it into machine-readable StyleIDs, ensuring consistent application of brand rules across various formats and markets. Fizzion exemplifies how AI can enhance creativity and efficiency, allowing for rapid, on-brand content creation at a global scale.