Weekly Design Overview

Journey designs Starlab space station interiors

Starlab Space hired Journey, the agency behind Las Vegas’ Sphere, to design the interior of its commercial space station. Journey’s team will craft hospitality‑grade living quarters for astronauts, combining narrative design, AI‑enabled infrastructure and intuitive layouts. The project involves partners Hilton, Airbus, Mitsubishi and Palantir and aims to support continuous human presence in orbit.

Shelter launches architecture streaming platform

Actor Dustin Clare’s Shelter streaming platform is now live, offering a curated library of films and documentaries about architecture and the built environment. The platform features productions on urbanism, biophilic design, prefab housing, and highlights such as Here are the Arquitectas and La Cupola. It also promotes social‑impact series like Mexity, focusing on accessible housing.

Reuben Wu draws ‘Thin Places’ with drones and lasers

Artist Reuben Wu’s new photographic series “Thin Places” uses drones, lasers and long‑exposure photography to trace geometric light patterns across remote landscapes. Shot with a 102‑megapixel medium‑format camera, the work explores places where the physical and spiritual worlds feel connected.

Figma's IPO blows past expectations

Figma’s shares surged nearly 158 % in its NYSE debut on July 31, 2025. The stock opened at $85 after pricing at $33, valuing the design‑software company at about $50 billion. That's more than twice the price tag of Adobe’s failed buyout. The rally signals a thaw in the IPO market and underscores investor appetite for design‑software firms adding AI features. Figma’s CFO said AI tools are being embedded to “lower the floor and raise the ceiling” of creativity.

Collins rebrands Muse Group into a ‘creative‑fluency’ brand

Design firm Collins rebranded music‑technology company Muse Group (owner of Ultimate Guitar, MuseScore, Audacity and MuseClass) as a “creative fluency company.” The new mission is to “inspire the artist, unleash their sound.” Visual modules reference Suprematism, musical notation and sonic vibrations; a bespoke typeface ties products together. Muse Group’s products reach over 400 million users worldwide.

Design Within Reach debuts Fall 2025 collection

Furniture retailer Design Within Reach unveiled its fall 2025 collection, including new pieces from Geiger and Stua. Highlights are the Lorea dining table with petal‑shaped legs and plywood top, the New Canaan collection by BassamFellows featuring bookcases and media units wrapped in Geiger textiles and leather, and Symme modular seating with customizable frames and upholstery.

Herman Miller partners with Stine Aas on ‘Land’ collection

Herman Miller collaborated with Norwegian designer Stine Aas on the Land collection, which includes a dining table, credenza and console inspired by rural landscapes. The pieces use oversized timber components, trestle bases and mortise‑and‑tenon joinery, available in white oak or umber‑stained oak. Timber is sourced within 350 miles of production to reduce environmental impact.

AI threatens Iconfactory’s design business