This week feels like a collective deep breath after WWDC25 — and then a bold step forward.

Across the board, designers are breaking out of old molds: ditching rigid frameworks, cutting through the business-jargon, and creating work that feels more strategic, more human, and far more alive.

Figma dropped a not-so-subtle message and we couldn’t agree more: designers don’t just shape experiences, they shape businesses. 20(SOMETHING) showed what happens when a philanthropic brand stops acting like a corporation and starts acting human. Birmingham Design Festival reframed “play” not as chaos, but as structured exploration. And open briefs? They’re more than creative exercises. They’re becoming essential for reviving instincts dulled by over-structured, over-scoped work.

Even in Chloé Gaillard’s quiet, sculptural typography, you can feel it: a refusal to follow convention, and a fierce commitment to carve a new path.

This issue isn’t just inspiration — it’s a signal. The best work isn’t coming from those who stay inside the lines. It’s coming from those bold enough to redraw them.

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Why Designers Need Business Skills — Not Just Creativity

Figma makes a compelling case: if designers want a seat at the table, they need to speak the language of business. This piece digs into why creative intuition alone isn’t enough. Today’s top designers are sharpening their product thinking to build, lead, and shape billion-dollar ideas.

Forget the pixel-perfect portfolio — start building business fluency.

20(SOMETHING)’s Playful Rebrand Sparks Philanthropic Energy

When eBay founder Pierre Omidyar needed a rebrand for his philanthropic network, he turned to 20(SOMETHING). And oh did they deliver. The result? A vibrant, human-centered identity that ditches the corporate gloss for something real, warm, and alive. It’s a masterclass in how to build systems with soul.

“Play” as Design Strategy: A System for Creative Thinking

Play isn’t just a break from the work — it is the work. This bold design system from Birmingham Design Festival proves that when play is structured with intention, it becomes a powerful engine for fresh thinking. It’s a helpful reminder that the best ideas don’t come from rigid frameworks, but from the freedom to explore, experiment, and invent without fear.

How the Open Brief Unlocks Creative Breakthroughs

No rules. No client. No expectations. That’s the power of the open brief. And it’s shaping some of the industry’s most exciting work. It’s Nice That explores how open briefs are helping designers rediscover creative freedom, sharpen their voice, and fall in love with the process again.

Chloé Gaillard Is Turning Typography Into Functional Art

French designer Chloé Gaillard creates typography that feels sculpted rather than drawn. Her work merges graphic clarity with the quiet poetry of ceramics. It strips away the noise, leaving behind form, rhythm, and restrained beauty. If you’re into thoughtful design that whispers instead of shouts, you’ll want to see this.