Apple is still the best brand in the world, according to Interbrand's report (4 minute read)
Interbrand's 2025 Best Global Brands ranking keeps Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Samsung at the top. Nvidia saw record growth of 116%, while Instagram, YouTube, Uber, and Netflix also climbed. Newcomers include Uniqlo, Booking.com, Shopify, and BlackRock. Tesla dropped sharply, Ferrari grew, and Gucci fell as Hermés and Chanel held steady. Brands to watch include Burberry, Canon, KFC, PlayStation, WhatsApp, Zoom, and Starbucks.
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Spotify Partners with Record Labels to Create ‘Artist-first' AI Music Products (2 minute read)
Spotify partnered with major record labels—Sony, Universal, Warner, and Merlin—to develop AI music products that respect copyright and allow artists to opt in. The initiative follows criticism over AI-generated content on the platform and recent policy changes to reduce spam and label AI-assisted music. The company is establishing a generative AI research lab to develop tools that enable artists to opt in and receive compensation for their participation.
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Apple Sued, Again, for Allegedly Using Copyrighted Material to Train its AI (2 minute read)
Two neuroscientists filed the second lawsuit in just over a month against Apple, claiming the company trained its Apple Intelligence models using pirated book collections, including their copyrighted works. The lawsuit alleges Apple used Books3, a shadow library containing over 190,000 pirated books, to train its OpenELM model—the same dataset involved in other AI copyright cases. Apple joins Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic in facing legal action over AI training practices, while tech companies typically defend their use of copyrighted material under the fair use doctrine.
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Burnout by design – How to protect creatives' purpose and passion (11 minute read)
Burnout in the creative industry has shifted from exhaustion to a loss of curiosity and purpose, driven by systemic pressures, unrealistic expectations, and AI-fueled pace. Once seen as a personal weakness, it's now recognized as a structural issue. Leaders are urged to promote balance and sustainable workloads, while many creatives combat burnout by setting boundaries, diversifying work, and protecting curiosity as their key creative asset.
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The Psychology of Trust in AI: Why “Relying on AI” Matters More than “Trusting It” (4 minute read)
Psychology research reveals that trust in AI differs fundamentally from trust in humans, activating different brain regions and requiring a shift from "trust" to "reliance" in design thinking. While human trust depends on empathy and shared intentions, AI reliance centers on predictability, transparency, controllability, and consistent performance—qualities that make it a dependable tool rather than a social partner. For UX designers, this means measuring perceived reliability and user control instead of applying traditional trust frameworks, ensuring systems explain decisions clearly, admit errors, and allow human override.
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M5 iPad Pro: These surprise features make a compelling upgrade (3 minute read)
Apple's new M5 iPad Pro delivers far more upgrades than expected, beyond the faster M5 chip. It adds 30% higher memory bandwidth, a faster and more efficient C1X modem, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6 via the new N1 chip, fast charging, and 120Hz external display support. With more RAM, better multitasking, and the nano-texture display option, it's seen as a substantial and practical upgrade for users who rely on the iPad Pro as their main device.
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Good DX isn't Enough: Why Your Component Library Still Fails Your Team (9 minute read)
While good developer experience (DX) in component libraries provides initial productivity gains, it fails to address critical long-term challenges like consistency, maintainability, and team alignment. Teams frequently switch UI kits chasing better DX, but the real problems stem from inadequate governance, unclear ownership, technical debt accumulation, and misalignment between library capabilities and evolving product needs. Organizations should treat design systems as products with clear goals, incremental adoption strategies, robust governance structures, and continuous feedback loops rather than pursuing the mythical "perfect DX."
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Holographik built a scalable identity for Open Works on a tight timeline (4 minute read)
Holographik designed the Open Works festival identity around practicality and clarity rather than visual spectacle. Using only Helvetica in all caps and a single evolving “O” shape for motion, the system balanced speed, scalability, and consistency across print, digital, and environmental formats. Constraints drove simplicity, transforming limitation into strength and avoiding typical festival clichés. The adaptable framework proved both efficient and enduring, setting a foundation for future editions while reinforcing Holographik's focus on design culture and community.
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Hidden patterns of system behavior (7 minute read)
Systems behave predictably based on their design, producing recurring patterns called familiar system mechanisms (FSMs). Understanding FSMs—such as balancing processes with delays, limits to growth, and the tragedy of the commons—helps predict outcomes, anticipate common failure modes, and identify leverage points. Feedback loops are central, guiding adjustments and decision-making. Recognizing these patterns allows individuals to navigate complexity, make smarter choices, and work with systems rather than against them.
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Thanks for reading,
Jae Lee, Matej Latin & Ralph Brinker
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