Co.Design

Where business and design collide

‘Good taste’ is a myth

Tasteful design isn’t based on anything objective. It’s a construct that reinforces power and privilege, writes designer Leyden Lewis.

‘Good taste’ is a myth

Damien Hirst’s ‘The Currency’ questions everything you thought you knew about art and money

The art world’s erstwhile enfant terrible approaches the question of ownership by distilling it down to its purest economic and commercial form—literally artwork as money.

Damien Hirst’s ‘The Currency’ questions everything you thought you knew about art and money

‘The invention of a new America’: Traditional monuments get a dramatic overhaul

Many indigenous artists are creating public artworks that invite communities to engage, rather than keeping them at a distance.

‘The invention of a new America’: Traditional monuments get a dramatic overhaul

The best Olympic logos of all time, according to design experts

The real Olympic blood sport? Debating the official logos.

The best Olympic logos of all time, according to design experts

Legendary American furniture company Herman Miller is now MillerKnoll

The new name preserves an important piece of design history.

Legendary American furniture company Herman Miller is now MillerKnoll

This stunning bridge can be picked up and moved as needed

Meet “plug and play urbanism.”

This stunning bridge can be picked up and moved as needed

This parks department’s new mission is anti-racism

Norma Edith García-Gonzalez is the first woman and the first person of color to lead the Los Angeles County Parks Department. And she’s rethinking how it serves the public.

This parks department’s new mission is anti-racism

Ikea redesigns one of the ugliest home devices to look as beautiful as a book

The lovely, usable design is an enticing alternative to Eneloops.

Ikea redesigns one of the ugliest home devices to look as beautiful as a book

An unsavory history of the Olympic Games in five outfits

A close look at Olympic outfits over the last 125 years tells a story about the classism, racism, and sexism under the surface.

An unsavory history of the Olympic Games in five outfits

Tokyo 2020: With no spectators, local sponsors lose out

Domestic sponsors such as Asics, Canon, and EY Japan, have pumped more than $3 billion into the games. But these sponsorship agreements depend on in-person marketing opportunities that are no longer viable.

Tokyo 2020: With no spectators, local sponsors lose out

Quarantined spaces are everywhere—and they’re much more influential than you think

A new book explores how quarantines throughout history have shaped everything from architecture to crops.

Quarantined spaces are everywhere—and they’re much more influential than you think

‘Softer, more feminine, design’ is the future, says legendary architect Kengo Kuma

Kuma, whose work is explored in a new book from Taschen, details his humanistic approach to architecture in an exclusive interview with Fast Company.

‘Softer, more feminine, design’ is the future, says legendary architect Kengo Kuma

See Nike’s totally rad uniforms for skateboarding’s Olympics debut

Nike was tasked with creating a unified look for each country, while giving skaters the ability to customize their look.

See Nike’s totally rad uniforms for skateboarding’s Olympics debut

This ingenious Oreo packaging makes it easy to hide your cookies from your kids

Oreo Thins get branded disguises from Ford, Hanes, Green Giant, and Better Homes & Gardens.

This ingenious Oreo packaging makes it easy to hide your cookies from your kids

It’s a bold new era for emoji at Google and Microsoft

For World Emoji Day, Google refreshed nearly 1,000 emoji—and Microsoft updated 1,800. TLDR? Clippy has never looked better.

It’s a bold new era for emoji at Google and Microsoft

Why marketers love mashups, from mac ‘n’ cheese ice cream to baked bean smoothies

It’s part of a marketing trend that uses unexpected partnerships to gain your attention—and it’s working.

Glitter is terrible for the environment. Is a greener version finally here?

Glitter is made of tiny plastic particles that damage the environment, and brands are on a quest to make it sustainable—but it’s a tougher job than it might seem.

Glitter is terrible for the environment. Is a greener version finally here?

The traffic light gets a dazzling, 21st century makeover

The stop sign’s days look numbered, too.

The traffic light gets a dazzling, 21st century makeover

A symbol of freedom or a 4,000 pound tool of destruction? The car’s legacy faces a reckoning

Automania, a new exhibit at MoMA, grapples with the complicated history of the automobile.

A symbol of freedom or a 4,000 pound tool of destruction? The car’s legacy faces a reckoning

Propaganda or architectural masterpiece? A mesmerizing space museum rises in Shanghai

China’s new astronomy museum is a compelling look at the cosmos—and a reminder of the country’s imperialist eye toward space.

Propaganda or architectural masterpiece? A mesmerizing space museum rises in Shanghai

Impact

Is your 401k plan using your retirement money to fund fossil fuel companies?

This sleek, climate-friendly cooling unit reduces the footprint of HVAC by 75%

Does your local hospital require staff to be vaccinated? This tracker will tell you

News

WeChat suspending new signups as China continues crackdown on its tech giants

VA to healthcare workers: Get vaxxed or get penalized

You might get an IRS refund this week related to unemployment taxes: Here’s the latest update

Co.Design

Your next paid job might be playing a video game

The Olympic caldron is absolutely stunning. Meet the Japanese design firm behind it

Fans are complaining about the new name of Cleveland’s baseball team. Here’s why it’s actually brilliant

Work Life

Why I decided to quit my retail job and join the Great Resignation

How (and why) you need to retrain your brain to be social again

Discover your personal productivity style, so you can reimagine time management for hybrid work