<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=UTF-8"><meta charset="UTF-8"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width"><meta name="x-apple-disable-message-reformatting"><title>TLDR Design</title><meta name="color-scheme" content="light dark"><meta name="supported-color-schemes" content="light dark"><style type="text/css">
:root {
color-scheme: light dark; supported-color-schemes: light dark;
}
*,
*:after,
*:before {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box;
}
* {
-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;
}
html,
body,
.document {
width: 100% !important; height: 100% !important; margin: 0; padding: 0;
}
body {
-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;
}
div[style*="margin: 16px 0"] {
margin: 0 !important;
}
table,
td {
mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;
}
table {
border-spacing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; margin: 0 auto;
}
img {
-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; border: 0;
}
*[x-apple-data-detectors] {
color: inherit !important; text-decoration: none !important;
}
.x-gmail-data-detectors,
.x-gmail-data-detectors *,
.aBn {
border-bottom: 0 !important; cursor: default !important;
}
.btn {
-webkit-transition: all 200ms ease; transition: all 200ms ease;
}
.btn:hover {
background-color: #f67575; border-color: #f67575;
}
* {
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {
.container {
width: 100%; margin: auto;
}
.stack {
display: block!important; width: 100%!important; max-width: 100%!important;
}
.btn {
display: block; width: 100%; text-align: center;
}
}
body,
p,
td,
tr,
.body,
table,
h1,
h2,
h3,
h4,
h5,
h6,
div,
span {
background-color: #FEFEFE !important; color: #010101 !important;
}
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
body,
p,
td,
tr,
.body,
table,
h1,
h2,
h3,
h4,
h5,
h6,
div,
span {
background-color: #27292D !important; color: #FEFEFE !important;
}
}
a {
color: inherit !important; text-decoration: underline !important;
}
</style><!--[if mso | ie]>
<style type="text/css">
a {
background-color: #FEFEFE !important; color: #010101 !important;
}
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
a {
background-color: #27292D !important; color: #FEFEFE !important;
}
}
</style>
<![endif]--></head><body class="">
<div style="display: none; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">Alan Dye, Apple’s Human Interface Design chief since 2015, is leaving for Meta to lead a new design studio focused on hardware, software, and AI </div>
<div style="display: none; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">
<br>
</div>
<table align="center" class="document"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="container" width="600"><tbody><tr class="inner-body"><td>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr class="header"><td bgcolor="" class="container">
<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container">
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0px;">
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="margin-right: 0px;"><a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Ftldr.tech%2Fdesign%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/MYCQiWCKUXIsxjYuQXacP5TGbhCIix4nAxHoh5vnyAI=434" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>Sign Up</span></a>
|<span style="margin-right: 2px; margin-left: 2px;"><a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fadvertise.tldr.tech%2Faudiences%2Fdesign-professionals%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign%26utm_medium=newsletter%26utm_campaign=advertisetopnav/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/s1u4k3y9hWZyqpprF3tvea3RRGeNC_zf5MniT85SWxE=434" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>Advertise</span></a></span>|<span style="margin-left: 2px;"><a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fa.tldrnewsletter.com%2Fweb-version%3Fep=1%26lc=166ec370-84b7-11f0-814d-55fc1d40139c%26p=43ceedda-d1bb-11f0-a725-4df9934e298b%26pt=campaign%26t=1764940786%26s=9efe3155c45a3458aa9e7b3fd4dc5d9b0fbe5b61f714fd75c60f7b12f9bdf3ac/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/ivh6UJjygt5pUOHbYxSDZhw9lNj_oL7htmp6Dot3N4Q=434"><span>View Online</span></a></span>
<br>
</span></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="text-align: center;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color:#3db3ff; color: rgb(51, 175, 255) !important; font-size: 30px;">T</span><span style="font-size: 30px;"><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color: rgb(232, 192, 96) !important; --darkreader-inline-color:#e8c163; font-size:30px;">L</span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color: rgb(101, 195, 173) !important; --darkreader-inline-color:#6ec7b2; font-size:30px;">D</span></span><span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="--darkreader-inline-color:#dd6e6e; color: rgb(220, 107, 107) !important; font-size: 30px;">R</span>
<br>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="together-with"><td align="center" height="20" style="vertical-align:middle !important;" valign="middle" width="100%"><strong style="vertical-align:middle !important; height: 100%;">Together With </strong>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fframer.link%2FTLDR/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/Imy3y6U4AnUgN7nuXx6lekEOWHOGxOIeT6n5Lr9OtSQ=434"><img src="https://images.tldr.tech/framer.png" valign="middle" style="vertical-align: middle !important; height: 100%;" alt="Framer"></a></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="table-layout: fixed; width:100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;margin:0;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1><strong>TLDR Design <span id="date">2025-12-05</span></strong></h1>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="table-layout: fixed; width:100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="sponsy-copy"><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fframer.link%2FTLDR/2/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/-Q9uUfAkh59hZLhHN-R4t88sXZLhmK960WsWMfFc5SE=434">
<span>
<strong>Early-stage company? Launch beautiful, production-ready sites in hours on Framer — free for the first year (Sponsor)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
No dev resource? No problem. Join hundreds of YC-backed startups who launched on <a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fframer.link%2FTLDR/3/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/3tbu_LLlphidQ22nl3lts3uopVCB1FYqtvj6PLli090=434" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><span>Framer</span></a> without waiting for devs — and never looked back.
<p></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>One year free:</strong> Save $360 with a full year of <a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fframer.link%2FTLDR/4/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/jSammQ4UVHkQdUNYopuIbri0oq_TvZ4y-HlvpgUH5Vc=434" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><span>Framer Pro</span></a>, free for early-stage startups.</li>
<li><strong>No code, no delays:</strong> Launch a polished site in hours, not weeks, without hiring developers.</li>
<li><strong>Built to grow:</strong> Scale your site from MVP to full product with CMS, analytics, and AI localization.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Build a beautiful site</strong>, then update, scale and localize with<strong> no code required. </strong>Pre-seed and seed-stage startups get their first year free.</p>
<p><a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fframer.link%2FTLDR/5/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/sAtx924DXBHspWW5lLJOxZiqYoOhbMxQGHWWYapoBbU=434" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><span>Apply to claim your free year →</span></a>
</p>
</span></span></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor=""><td class="container">
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0px;">
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 36px;">📱</span></div></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1><strong>News & Trends</strong></h1>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;margin:0;" valign="top">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2F9to5google.com%2F2025%2F12%2F03%2Fgoogle-workspace-studio%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/oTBfvmh6E6PuL0yI5mwrGm5-F5p8G_rPl8Kvla36Fqw=434">
<span>
<strong>Google Launches Workspace Studio to Create Automated Gemini-powered Agents (2 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Google's Workspace Studio is a no-code automation tool that enables users to create AI agents powered by Gemini 3 to handle tasks across Gmail, Chat, Drive, and other productivity apps. The agents use natural-language prompts and can perform sentiment analysis, content generation, and intelligent prioritization by reasoning through problems rather than rigid rules. Workspace Studio is rolling out to Business, Enterprise, and Education tier customers over the coming weeks.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2F9to5mac.com%2F2025%2F12%2F03%2Fapple-design-vp-alan-dye-departing-for-meta%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/QK-7tq1cTNMRDRByZrLaBb2UuAsJ2W7NPbSpBa4nopQ=434">
<span>
<strong>Apple design boss Alan Dye departing for Meta (2 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Alan Dye, Apple's Human Interface Design chief since 2015, is leaving for Meta to lead a new design studio focused on hardware, software, and AI. Apple veteran Stephen Lemay will take over his role. While some commentators argue Dye's departure won't meaningfully affect either Apple or Meta, it comes during a period of major leadership turnover at Apple, including recent exits by key executives and ongoing shifts as the Tim Cook era winds down.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2F9to5mac.com%2F2025%2F12%2F02%2Fios-26-2-will-add-three-new-ways-to-customize-your-iphone%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/yLtL5TA7rCSOv-DWjFNylUMF-twwzS6EkRN6lMHGcw8=434">
<span>
<strong>iOS 26.2 will add three new ways to customize your iPhone (3 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
iOS 26.2 introduces enhanced customization and accessibility features for iPhone users. The update expands the Liquid Glass clock slider on the Lock Screen for greater transparency control, adds a new “Screen” flash option for notifications alongside the camera flash, and brings an “Urgent” toggle for Reminders with customizable alarm behavior, letting users snooze or immediately complete tasks.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 36px;">🚀</span></div>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1><strong>Opinions & Tutorials</strong></h1>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;margin:0;" valign="top">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fdataanddesign.substack.com%2Fp%2Fdigital-twin-modeling-a-vision-of%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/5XWk98lhAmG1RiJVFBa78zophRl6MZJsIfLtooJklqg=434">
<span>
<strong>Digital Twin Modeling: A Vision of an AI Future with UX at the Helm (7 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Digital twin modeling—systems that create real-time behavioral models to predict and adapt to user actions—offers UX designers a concrete framework for working with AI, addressing the current confusion around "UX in AI." Unlike vague interpretations of AI design work, digital twins enable continuous learning from user behavior patterns. Learning digital twin modeling requires mastering data-informed design fundamentals first, then progressively building systems that identify behavioral patterns, automatically adapt experiences, and eventually predict user needs before problems arise.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fproductidentity.co%2Fp%2Fin-the-sea-of-sameness%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/maFRHy_Revi_CEOrqD6Yi6opdt86VzlCchMf_Uog7Gk=434">
<span>
<strong>In the Sea of Sameness (6 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Modern digital design has become increasingly homogeneous due to frameworks like Tailwind and design system templates, which prioritize efficiency over creative authenticity. The shift from craft-focused design to metrics-driven product development, combined with formulaic portfolio structures that reduce design to "problem-solving," has diminished the designer's role and unique voice. Designers need to reconnect with personal taste and intuition, creating space for authentic self-expression that goes beyond imitation and trend-following.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks.tldrnewsletter.com%2FsJSvrb/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/yBH6z11hPZGQTAhdiMqHfr5B0ZKdnenWL3jpGWcitec=434">
<span>
<strong>The only winning move is not to play (9 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
User research relies on human expertise, judgment, and context-gathering skills that AI cannot replicate. While AI can assist with tasks like pattern recognition or transcription, outsourcing entire research plans, interviews, or synthesis risks producing average results, devaluing the profession, and misleading organizations into thinking they are truly user-focused. Maintaining professional standards and preserving the uniquely human aspects of research is essential, resisting the temptation to trade expertise for efficiency or hype-driven AI adoption.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 36px;">💻</span></div>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1><strong>Launches & Tools</strong></h1>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;margin:0;" valign="top">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.umso.com%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/n4GIybmbWOtLQ1iOLr_4NWnjJ6WUUtpetuEdL2kkpsI=434">
<span>
<strong>The Easiest Way to Build a Website (Website)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Design, edit, and publish a beautiful website with absolutely no code.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fmedo.dev%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/H59wcQo10zVn6rUtvocpz9SaiAujILEQ9YuvbZPpMd0=434">
<span>
<strong>Prompt Your Next App (Website)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Turn ideas into live apps fast with MeDo—AI-driven, no coding, ready-to-use plugins.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fgemini3audit.com%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/obngsl8ynfAmPFbPAL4DPE-sEOLF7LWUY3uWLUqHv-E=434">
<span>
<strong>Gemini 3 Brand Audit (Website)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Find out what Gemini 3 thinks about your brand and competitors.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 36px;">🎁</span></div></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><h1>Miscellaneous</h1></strong></div>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table bgcolor="" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;margin:0;" valign="top">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.creativeboom.com%2Ftips%2Ftaking-stock-how-creatives-have-coped-with-a-challenging-year-and-plan-to-move-forward-in-2026%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/lTwgBuHEMAb9nQV05U7fqOCSFrbgxn6N2yCMYKbk4TQ=434">
<span>
<strong>Taking stock after a challenging year: how creatives plan to move forward in 2026 (5 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
UK creatives reflect on a turbulent year marked by economic uncertainty, sharing lessons from navigating inconsistent workloads, self-doubt, and shifting expectations. Across designers, illustrators, and strategists, common themes emerged: be proactive rather than overthink, embrace slow periods for intentional growth, protect your own pace, lead with authenticity, keep your work documented, and stay connected to community. Ultimately, persistence, clarity, and self-trust prove to be the most valuable takeaways heading into 2026.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.itsnicethat.com%2Farticles%2Fstudio-lotta-nieminen-erly-identity-graphic-design-project-021225%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/KRuPHPY4zQBRK6M8kGMuf6B7Y7aE91_Tl04uUmlFP-0=434">
<span>
<strong>Studio Lotta Nieminen's sophisticated brand identity for Erly leans on exquisite colour combinations and a confident logo (2 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
A decade after shifting from illustration to running her own graphic design practice, Lotta Nieminen and her studio have created a refined yet playful identity for Erly, a clean skincare brand focused on personalisation. Centered on a logo inspired by the circular motion of blending skincare products, the system uses soft, merging letterforms, confident scaling, sophisticated muted tones paired with neons, and an adaptable typographic toolkit to balance elegance with approachability across packaging and digital touchpoints.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fthe-brandidentity.com%2Fproject%2Funspoken-agreement-designs-skinmetal-with-young-men-as-co-founders%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/m10uFp--pLL9044cmZ1CT40ItDKK6txVojsnYjv8wP0=434">
<span>
<strong>Unspoken Agreement designs Skinmetal with young men as co-founders (5 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Skinmetal's brand identity was co-created with teenage boys, who acted as decision-making collaborators rather than traditional focus group participants, shaping a product and messaging that genuinely resonates with its audience. The packaging, colour palette, and typography balance industrial functionality with emotional authenticity, while campaigns focus on empowerment and everyday relevance rather than fear-based health messaging, reflecting a design process rooted in collaboration, respect, and real-world insight.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 36px;">⚡</span></div></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<div class="text-block">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1><strong>Quick Links</strong></h1>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table bgcolor="" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;margin:0;" valign="top">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.creativeboom.com%2Finsight%2Fis-illustration-dead-creatives-weigh-in-on-ai-and-the-future-of-commercial-art%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/hqhXSrUNQ0kPDZnNtLi6bqxe1kQ2PB_s3qZngHexgRo=434">
<span>
<strong>Is Illustration Dead? Creatives Weigh in on AI and the Future of Commercial Art (5 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Despite widespread AI anxiety in the illustration industry, many established illustrators report record-breaking workloads by emphasizing their human-made, handcrafted approach and unique storytelling abilities that AI cannot replicate.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.creativebloq.com%2Fai%2Fai-art%2Fnot-using-ai-for-animation-is-inhumane-netflix-pokemon-producer-says%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/MjXxLp4Ee7VfBluCtURRXMZ_edsdyvJpTicVVCTwY_M=434">
<span>
<strong>“Not Using AI for Animation is Inhumane,” Netflix Pokémon Producer Says (4 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Taiki Sakurai, a former Netflix producer, claims animators favor AI because drawing 100,000 pictures by hand feels "inhumane," contradicting widespread creative opposition to the technology.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
<span>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.creativebloq.com%2Fdesign%2Flogos-icons%2Fits-giving-chinese-restaurant-new-winter-olympics-logo-gets-icy-response%3Futm_source=tldrdesign/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/Bu1xlv3fZW5CQDYdUW7h7l7wuGNo56yQkXai9am02f0=434">
<span>
<strong>New Winter Olympics logo gets icy response: "It's giving Chinese restaurant" (4 minute read)</strong>
</span>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">
Utah has unveiled a bold, contemporary logo for the 2034 Winter Olympics, featuring an abstract, angular wordmark inspired by the state's geography and petroglyphs.
</span>
</span>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="word-break: break-word; vertical-align: top; padding: 5px 10px;">
<p style="padding: 0; margin: 0; font-size: 22px; color: #000000; line-height: 1.6; font-weight: bold;">
Love TLDR? Tell your friends and get rewards!
</p>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="container" style="padding: 0px 10px 15px;">
<div class="text-block">
Share your referral link below with friends to get free TLDR swag!
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" style="padding: 10px;">
<div class="text-block">
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Frefer.tldr.tech%2Fb09f2b2d%2F4/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/hxD8Ic3SiU42x7yyIb-wKT5L9Sp1ZmWCpMX2rxZK8lU=434" style="color: #464ba4; text-decoration: underline;">https://refer.tldr.tech/b09f2b2d/4</a>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr></tr>
<tr><td align="left" style="padding:5px 10px;">
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fhub.sparklp.co%2Fsub_4b74573b30f9%2F4/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/kr0La0Np4pFpoS1Sc-G1SCw0TI5lAlm0ADGxWOqvCX0=434" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0; display: inline-block; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="mso-text-raise:13pt; text-decoration: underline;">Track your referrals here.</span></a>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="word-break: break-word; vertical-align: top; padding: 5px 10px;">
<p style="padding: 0; margin: 0; font-size: 22px; color: #000000; line-height: 1.6; font-weight: bold;">
Want to advertise in TLDR? 📰
</p>
<div class="text-block" style="margin-top: 10px;">
If your company is interested in reaching an audience of design professionals and decision makers, you may want to <a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fadvertise.tldr.tech%2Faudiences%2Fdesign-professionals%2F%3Futm_source=tldrdesign%26utm_medium=newsletter%26utm_campaign=advertisecta/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/hHXsC4op5qj3OluXBX_OVbMt9Mvoeq6V8NuqQAH6RWA=434"><strong><span>advertise with us</span></strong></a>.
</div>
<br>
<!-- New "Want to work at TLDR?" section -->
<p style="padding: 0; margin: 0; font-size: 22px; color: #000000; line-height: 1.6; font-weight: bold;">
Want to work at TLDR? 💼
</p>
<div class="text-block" style="margin-top: 10px;">
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fjobs.ashbyhq.com%2Ftldr.tech/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/5DeJAFNd4nI_2bbW2lqcn4nYSNLJc_oruiUUVeI94uY=434" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #0000EE; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><strong>Apply here</strong></a> or send a friend's resume to <a href="mailto:jobs@tldr.tech" style="color: #0000EE; text-decoration: underline;">jobs@tldr.tech</a> and get $1k if we hire them!
</div>
<br>
<div class="text-block">
If you have any comments or feedback, just respond to this email!
<br>
<br> Thanks for reading,
<br>
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fhellojaelee%2F/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/5OwDeOcoVYPqk_bK5v8NOGa-zlwj4C6qubgoOEtuXN4=434"><span>Jae Lee</span></a>, <a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmatejlatin%2F/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/faswnif627Yo_fEB6G-LvK3QPoxiICp2_pAs4-A5Yhk=434"><span>Matej Latin</span></a> & <a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fralph-brinker%2F/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/YB5ii8GHjtZnpKeHnkcCAAiSbQQ_c7gQbWvEKb30-sw=434"><span>Ralph Brinker</span></a>
<br>
<br>
</div>
<br>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="container" style="padding: 15px 15px;">
<div class="text-block" id="testing-id">
<a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Ftldr.tech%2Fdesign%2Fmanage%3Femail=silk.theater.56%2540fwdnl.com/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/nGGz3CY_Sd_n6wsLYKQeBPtE6MEvE5yw-fa-FWWRtLI=434">Manage your subscriptions</a> to our other newsletters on tech, startups, and programming. Or if TLDR Design isn't for you, please <a href="https://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fa.tldrnewsletter.com%2Funsubscribe%3Fep=1%26l=e1c4e253-3e90-11ed-9a32-0241b9615763%26lc=166ec370-84b7-11f0-814d-55fc1d40139c%26p=43ceedda-d1bb-11f0-a725-4df9934e298b%26pt=campaign%26pv=4%26spa=1764939680%26t=1764940786%26s=e97192ae3f4aa8c97a4690f9ede517debea3da9b182cb8e6fb7259951e052946/1/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/IsT4l9TbD9Vul0cVe2hAJx8gHAaNXnJRg827iW3HPZo=434">unsubscribe</a>.
<br>
</div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<img alt="" src="http://tracking.tldrnewsletter.com/CI0/0100019aeeab2b10-d8abec23-cd54-4c37-92fc-fb17db3a1c58-000000/kQLFctNibUsRxz305G9iqHRQrbzs8ldpuUALtg_c5aw=434" style="display: none; width: 1px; height: 1px;">
</body></html>