PORTO ROCHA’s astute Design Threads report collaboratively addresses the state of design in 2022

NYC-based design and branding agency PORTO ROCHA, alongside strategy and cultural analysis agency Float, have collaboratively collated, curated and challenged the state of design as of the year 2022 – raising the international industry’s trends, questions, expectations and issues. Titled Design Threads, the project – financially supported by Wix Playground – culminated in a globally accessible, uber-immersive online platform and a fascinating, thoughtful exhibition at the Wix Playground in Manhattan; featuring insight gathered from interviews with 30 creative industry leaders and responses from hundreds in the design community.

Utilising a double-whammy of typographic treats from Swiss foundry Dinamo, PORTO ROCHA opted for ABC Simon Mono and ABC Marist as their headline and supporting typefaces throughout the printed and digital outlets of the report. Together, the typographic duo lend an academic tone to the project, whilst also conveying a character and individuality akin to the innovative nature of the research-based report. This striking duality further befitts the project’s emotive explorations due to its content facing the realities of creatives, the social-economic disparities of the industry and more. The discussion of which is translated accessibly, clearly and engagingly through their responsive presentation of insights, research and visuals. 

Overall, Design Threads is a powerful, thought-provoking report that takes a well-needed temperature check of design’s state, going beyond the clichés and expectations of self-reference in design. From discussions of the latter’s Eurocentric standards and the excess of everything to AI’s optimistic roles and creative honesty, Design Threads is a must-read for creatives, no matter their discipline – going far in demystifying certain aspects of the design industry while taking note of other issues.

Read the Design Threads report