YouTube Announces New Generative AI Tools for Shorts Creators (3 minute read)
YouTube unveiled new generative AI tools for Shorts creators at its Made on YouTube event, including a custom version of Google's Veo 3 model called "Veo 3 Fast" that generates 480p video clips with sound. The platform is introducing capabilities to animate still images with video motion, apply artistic styles, add objects through text descriptions, and remix dialogue into soundtracks using Google's Lyria 2 music model. A new "Edit with AI" feature will automatically transform raw footage into first drafts by arranging clips and adding music and transitions, plus voice-overs in English or Hindi.
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ByteDance Unveils New AI Image Model to Rival Google DeepMind's 'Nano Banana' (3 minute read)
ByteDance's Seedream 4.0 is an AI image generation tool that claims to outperform Google DeepMind's Nano Banana across key metrics, including prompt adherence and aesthetics. The new model combines text-to-image and editing capabilities while offering 10x faster inference speed than previous versions. Priced at $30 per 1,000 generations, Seedream 4.0 joins China's competitive AI image generation market alongside tools from Kuaishou and Tencent, though it has yet to receive independent evaluation from benchmark firms.
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Starburst's vibrant brand refresh is hitting me with major nostalgia (2 minute read)
Starburst has refreshed its brand identity with a playful yet timeless design that balances nostalgia with appeal for new generations. The update, created by agency Straight Forward, features a refined wordmark, bold typography, vibrant colors, and the iconic square motif, offering flexibility for the future while reinforcing the brand's essence.
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Taste vs. empathy (12 minute read)
Designers often debate whether taste or empathy is the key skill in the age of AI, but both have limitations: taste is subjective and replicable, while empathy can be shallow without action. What truly sets designers apart is grounding their work in reality—combining empathy, taste, business outcomes, context, soft skills, adaptability, vision, storytelling, and synthesis to stay valuable and irreplaceable.
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Business insights that prove the value of design (12 minute read)
Many companies undervalue design, but extensive research proves it's a major driver of growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. Studies from McKinsey, Harvard Business Review, Adobe, Forbes, and the NEA show that design-led firms achieve significantly higher revenue, shareholder returns, market share, innovation rates, and ROI, making design not just an aesthetic choice, but a core business strategy.
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Beyond the Work – Why Design Studios are Creating Their Own Platforms (9 minute read)
Design studios are increasingly launching their own cultural platforms, such as podcasts, festivals, and talk series, to shape discourse beyond client work and express their values authentically. Studios like Lucky Dip's NDA Podcast, Apropos' Highly Opinionated platform, and Studio Dumbar/DEPT®'s DEMO Festival demonstrate how these initiatives help attract aligned clients while establishing stronger industry voices. However, balancing these passion projects with studio demands requires careful time management and shouldn't be seen as mandatory for all designers.
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Style Spark (Website)
Generate stunning design systems, curated color palettes, HDR gradients, and extract colors from images.
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3D AI Tool (Website)
Redefine your approach to 3D content creation with Tripo AI, the ultimate 3D AI tool for designers, developers, and creatives.
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Futura's Global Expansion by TypeTogether Fit for Another 100 Years (5 minute read)
Futura100, released by TypeTogether, reimagines Paul Renner's iconic geometric sans serif for modern use with expanded weights, variable fonts, and extensive typographic features. Designed over two years with global experts, it now supports 23 scripts covering 90% of the world's languages, preserving Futura's legacy while making it a versatile, culturally respectful typeface for the next century.
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Accessible Writing Techniques for Web Content (12 minute read)
This article explores practical techniques for making web content accessible to all users, emphasizing that clear communication naturally improves search rankings. Key strategies include writing in plain language at an 8th-grade reading level, creating proper heading hierarchies, using meaningful link text, and providing alt text for images. The piece demonstrates how NHS Digital increased daily users by 73% through accessibility-focused content improvements, while showcasing Scope's website as an example of effective accessible writing with short sentences and simple vocabulary.
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Building Design Endurance (12 minute read)
A designer discovered parallels between completing a challenging 58-mile bike ride and building endurance for design careers through five key lessons. The experience revealed that designers are more capable than they think, benefit from mentorship and community support, should encourage others to create positive work environments, need clear motivation during difficult periods, and must develop persistence to push through project challenges and career obstacles. Design careers require the same endurance as long-distance cycling—ordinary persistence applied over time rather than superhuman talent or strength.
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