DESIGN CHATTER
IKEA Says Goodnight To Your Phone
Oct 31, 2025
Leave it to IKEA to turn your doomscrolling phone addiction into a design challenge! In the UAE, the furniture brand has launched “The Phone Sleep Collection”, which are comprised of tiny, NFC-equipped “beds” for your phone that reward you for letting it rest while you do. The idea is simple but smart: combine humor, habit formation, and IKEA charm to tackle the modern sleep crisis. It’s a perfect reminder that creativity with purpose always hits harder than yet another ad about wellness!
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Finding Your Brand Voice (and Owning It Like Dolly)
Oct 29, 2025
Dolly Parton is one of the greats, we all know that! But one talent she is also great at can fly a little under the radar of her usual feats: brand strategist. The secret seems to be that she knows exactly who she is, and she owns it. In the always-changing brand world of trend-chasing and reactivity, brands can learn from Dolly’s playbook: find your truth, sharpen it, and tell it with conviction, and evolve as a brand without losing who you are at your core.
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Microsoft Got a Little “Apple”
Oct 24, 2025
Microsoft’s new Office program icons are certainly stirring up opinions, but for once, it’s Apple fans leading the applause this time! The updated suite swaps its corporate sharpness for a smooth, fluid look that happens to pair perfectly with Apple’s new Liquid Glass UI. Critics may call it “too sleek” or “too shiny,” but the update signals something unexpected: Microsoft finally embracing the aesthetic in a world where function used to rule. Showcasing richer gradients,
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Google’s Finger on the Pulse of Halloween Trends
Oct 22, 2025
Spooky season has officially arrived! Google just launched “Frightgeist 2025,” its annual list of all things Halloween, from trending costumes, to makeup looks, and decor. Topping the charts this year are KPop Demon Hunters (IYKYK), followed by Labubu, Chicken Jockeys, and Wicked’s Elphaba. Even pets are getting in on it (expect to see a lot of tiny Labubus and pickleball champs!) On the decor front, think floating candles, ghost garlands, and potion bottles: the vibe is more handmade than haunted house!
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How The Generations Use Type
Oct 20, 2025
Turns out, your font choice says way more about your brand than you think. Monotype’s latest report shows that type has officially become our digital voice, and every generation is speaking a little differently. Gen Z treats fonts like fashion, swapping styles to match their mood. Millennials see them as part of their online persona. Gen X leans on them for credibility. And Boomers are just here to get the message out. Across the board,
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Domino’s Gets A New Look After 13 Years
Oct 15, 2025
Domino’s just turned up the heat: literally and visually! After 13 years, the pizza giant has served up a bold new look, complete with richer colors, a custom chunky typeface, and its first-ever audio logo. The refresh, created with agency WorkInProgress, moves Domino’s from tech-focused convenience to try to capture more of a “vibe”: hotter reds, deeper blues, and metallic packaging bring the same energy as a fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza. It’s confident, consistent, and unapologetically pizza!
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