DESIGN CHATTER
Starry Night, But Make It Barbie
Nov 19, 2025
Mattel and MoMA just teamed up for one of the most delightful, and wholly unexpected collaborations of the year: turning some of the world’s most famous artworks into Barbies, Little People, Hot Wheels, and even a Magic 8 Ball. No breaking and entering into the Louvre needed here! Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” is interpreted into a ball gown on Barbie, Monet’s “Water Lilies” shrinks into the world of their Little People toy line, and Dalí’s melting clocks transform into a surreal mini figurine set.
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The Political Campaign That Didn’t Look Political
Nov 12, 2025
Congratulations to New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani! If you’ve been following the election, the Mamdani campaign was a masterclass in how design can propel a movement. Instead of the usual “safe” red-white-and-blue playbook politicians always opt for, his campaign showed up in warm yellows, hand-painted-sign vibes, and typography straight from NYC bodegas and street carts. It felt grassroots, real, and built for the people it’s speaking to, especially the younger New Yorkers who feel squeezed by rising costs of living in the city.
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Goth: It’s not Just For Halloween
Nov 07, 2025
Goth is having a moment, and it’s not just because of the spooky season. Bratz dolls are dressing like horror icons, fashion houses are sending lace-and-leather down couture runways, and even Booking.com is tapping into some Morticia Addams energy. Dark and gothic visuals are giving brands a way to express the messy feelings modern life creates without spelling them out. The lesson: don’t wait for the time change to go dark. When brands embrace mood and vulnerability instead of always being shiny and cheerful,
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Brand Evolution Done Right
Nov 05, 2025
Few logos capture an era, and evolve with the culture, the way MTV’s did. Born in ’81 with a chunky hand-drawn 3D “M” and graffiti-tagged “TV,” the logo became a cultural touchpoint almost overnight. It was rebellious, playful, and alive…just like the music channel itself (back when it used to play music). Over the years, MTV refined and stripped it down, ditching the “Music Television,” flattening it the way all logos got flattened, and adapting for streaming and phones.
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Is the fear of hiring the wrong designer costing your brand its future?
Nov 05, 2025
What do you do when the economy is on shaky ground, yet your company still needs to run? It’s a question that many businesses are facing now as it becomes harder and harder to make long-term plans.
Naturally, you want to avoid taking unnecessary risks, especially with hiring designers or creative agencies. But playing it too safe often results in doing nothing, which means missing out on opportunities that could help your brand in the future.
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AI- or Human-First? A 3-Tier system for delegating your design workflow
Nov 05, 2025
Going for an “AI-First” strategy is seductive. AI promises to do more with less. Plus, its makers say that this technology will change the world.
But taking the plunge and transitioning into an AI-run organization is, let’s say, a gamble.
For example, using it for design means the AI “thinks” about it in the same way, whether it’s a logo, a social media graphic, or a marketing campaign. (Which is not at all.)
This leaves you with a pile of “almosts,” “not-quites,” and design results ranging from uncanny valley to just plain wrong.
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