Introducing New Rules: Design - A Guide to Navigating the Changing Landscape of the Design Industry

WePresent, the arts platform of WeTransfer, in collaboration with It’s Nice That, announce the third installment of New Rules, an in-depth exploration of how graphic designers can thrive in today’s rapidly evolving creative landscape. This edition specifically addresses the challenges faced by graphic designers in an era of technological advancement and cultural flux.

New Rules: Design features leading industry voices like Shamma Buhazza, Erik Carter, and Maya Man, who break down their creative processes, alongside Brent David Freaney who unpacks the story behind his company Special Offer’s groundbreaking “Brat” campaign for Charli xcx. Together, they tackle three critical areas where guidance is scarce: navigating trends, conducting research, and understanding emerging roles.

Through the lens of these industry leaders, this guide provides an inside look at the behind-the-scenes processes and challenges of navigating a rapidly evolving creative landscape, offering practical insights to help both emerging and established designers stay true to their craft.

“We know that a huge amount of WeTransfer’s audience work in the creative industry so it made complete sense to continue on from last year’s New Rules guides delving into what’s happening in film and photography today with a look behind the curtain of the graphic design industry, another space where there has been a huge amount of upheaval due to recent developments in technology and a changing creative landscape. Partnering with our brilliant friends at It’s Nice That meant that we could not only draw on their expertise but also ensure that this guide reached as many designers as possible by sharing it with both of our audience bases. As a brand committed to ensuring that creativity continues to thrive, we hope that this guide provides useful insight and frank advice that today’s graphic designers can use to shed some light on an industry in flux.” - Holly Fraser, VP Content at WeTransfer

As the third installment in WeTransfer’s New Rules series, this edition underscores the company’s dedication to empowering emerging creative talent with practical education and industry insights, equipping the next generation of designers for success. The collaboration with It’s Nice That combines WeTransfer’s creative platform with one of design’s most respected editorial voices, resulting in a guide that speaks directly to the needs of today’s creative communities. 

“Both It’s Nice That and WePresent share a deep appreciation for the behind-the-scenes details of the design process – from the unexpected references that spark a project to the many different roles it takes to bring a vision to life. This collaboration has provided a worthwhile opportunity to peek behind the curtain of graphic design practices, especially at a time where the industry is experiencing immense change. Today’s graphic designers face more challenges than ever before, including alarming statistics about AI’s influence on the job market and the need to keep up with changing technologies and trends. The latest in WePresent’s New Rules series is an opportunity to assess and adjust from a graphic design perspective. Our hope is that its content provides a manual to navigate these troubling times, with concrete advice from some of the most exciting names across the industry. As put brilliantly by the report’s editor Liz Gorny: “By looking closely at how leading designers work, perhaps we can all reframe and ground what we’re striving toward.”- Lucy Bourton, Senior Editor at It’s Nice That

The latest edition of New Rules: Design is now available for free download exclusively on WeTransfer https://we.tl/newrulesdesign. The first two editions, New Rules: Navigating film’s unfixed future and New Rules: Photography Guide, are also available for download on WeTransfer.

About WeTransfer

WeTransfer is the simplest way to share ideas, collaborate with teams and earn money, all in one platform. By offering fast, easy and sustainable tools, we help tens of millions of creators, entrepreneurs and businesses globally to make an economic impact through creativity. WeTransfer is a long-time champion of using business as a force for good and the founder of The Supporting Act Foundation, a foundation offering annual grants to emerging artists and grassroots organisations that aim to shape a better future.

About WePresent

WePresent is WeTransfer’s arts platform, acting as the company’s cultural torchbearer to a monthly audience of approximately 3 million in 190 countries. Collaborating with emerging young talent to renowned artists such as Marina Abramović, Riz Ahmed, FKA twigs or Solange Knowles, WePresent showcases the best in art, photography, film, music, literature and more, championing diversity in everything it does. The platform’s commissions range from editorial features to films, illustrations, photography series, events, and exhibitions, with an aim to offer a fresh take on the magic and mystery of creative ideas. WePresent were the commissioners and Executive Producers of the acclaimed short film “The Long Goodbye” by actor and musician Riz Ahmed and director Aneil Karia, which won an Oscar in 2022 for Best Live Action Short Film.

About It’s Nice That

It’s Nice That is a leading platform on a mission to inspire the global creative community. It’s Nice That champions diverse talent, showcases original projects, offers industry insights and nurtures creative growth. Founded in 2007 in response to a university brief to “put something into the public domain that makes people feel better about themselves,” It’s Nice That has grown into one of the leading platforms globally for the creative community. It encompasses an award-winning website, a variety of social media channels, a regular live event series called Nicer Tuesdays and a top-ranking podcast, celebrating creative culture to help keep you inspired at work and beyond.