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Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
What is designed, designs us

Sep 28, 2026

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5 min read

What is designed, designs us

The senior advisor for humanistic studies and practices at the Aspen Institute and the literature that changed him

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
If Emmett Till Lived

Sep 21, 2026

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6 min read

If Emmett Till Lived

A new exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
A Google UX researcher responded to digital fatigue by founding a newspaper

Sep 14, 2026

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4 min read

A Google UX researcher responded to digital fatigue by founding a newspaper

Amid the decline of the local news, the Sunday edition finds a second life

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
We're joyfully receiving your feedback. Here's where we're headed:

Sep 8, 2026

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4 min read

We're joyfully receiving your feedback. Here's where we're headed:

We're glad you're here

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
“It’s time to take back the baton”

Sep 8, 2026

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1 min read

“It’s time to take back the baton”

Leaders and investors are ready to start planning, and it's time for design to lead.

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
Wracked with doubt? Good

Sep 8, 2026

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2 min read

Wracked with doubt? Good

Commentary from AKQA's CEO and Harvard Business School's Linda Hill

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
The launch of Kimi K3

Sep 8, 2026

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2 min read

The launch of Kimi K3

When you reach for the moon, you best not miss.

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
America’s 250th anniversary

Sep 8, 2026

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2 min read

America’s 250th anniversary

And the role design can play in the next 250

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
Your summer reading list

Sep 8, 2026

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3 min read

Your summer reading list

We asked, “What book made you a better designer?”

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
"If anybody knew trans people, of course they'd love them"

Sep 8, 2026

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3 min read

"If anybody knew trans people, of course they'd love them"

Nine larger-than-life portraits for Pride Month and a reflection on LGBTQ+ history

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
Observing David Hockney

Sep 8, 2026

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3 min read

Observing David Hockney

“Everybody does look. It’s just a question of how hard.”

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
Mamdani's city-owned grocery stores need a brand identity

Sep 8, 2026

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2 min read

Mamdani's city-owned grocery stores need a brand identity

"People can’t benefit from resources they don’t know about."

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt
Pope Leo XIV weighed in on the AI conversation

Sep 8, 2026

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2 min read

Pope Leo XIV weighed in on the AI conversation

And we asked the design community to respond

Ellen McGirt
Ellen McGirt

The Observatory

A weekly dose of ideas to help you better see the world, featuring essays, news, opinions, and observations curated by the Design Observer editorial team.

© 2026 The Observatory.
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