Mark Wilson

Within the span of one night, the interiors of Starbucks coffeehouses nationwide are being revamped with comfier seating, ambient lighting, and an overall cozier atmosphere. As a part of CEO Brian Niccol's Back to Starbucks plan, locations in Southern California, New York, and now Chicago are getting makeovers. The "uplifts" are intended to reintroduce Starbucks cafes as third places, "turning quick stops into places to gather, work and linger." Global Design Editor Mark Wilson visited one of the new renovations in Chicago.

The latest upgrade to Starbucks' in-store experience? Ceramic mugs and ergonomic chairs. As a part of CEO Brian Niccol's ongoing "back to Starbucks" campaign, he made two specific asks for the company's cross-discipline design team that are being revealed today: an iconic new cup and a new plush chair. As the literal touchpoints between the consumer and the company, “they are the biggest signals we have of warmth, comfort, and generosity,” says Dawn Clark, SVP of global concepts and design at Starbucks. Read more about the design process behind these new features at the link in bio.

Even for a legendary automaker launching its first EV, it was a preposterous pitch: Ferrari’s big car reveal would not show the car. And it wouldn’t show the car’s interior, either. Instead, journalists were asked to fly—some of them halfway across the world—to scope out a steering wheel, a few chunks of dashboard, a center console, and a seat. Designed over the last five years with the firm LoveFrom, the Ferrari “Luce” (translation: “light” or “illumination”) is a generationally important car for the Italian automaker as it transitions to an electric future. Global design editor Mark Wilson got an exclusive look at Ferrari’s new EV. Click the link in bio to read his full review.

Before hype had a name, Jeff Staple was already defining it. From silkscreening tees in NYC to sparking a sneaker riot with the legendary Pigeon Dunks, he built a streetwear empire from a single bird. In this exclusive video with Mark Wilson, Fast Company uncovers the untold stories behind the brand, the chaos, and the creative force that reshaped fashion forever. Watch the full documentary at the link in bio.

When was the last time you flew somewhere to visit a mall? Fast Company’s global design editor Mark Wilson was one to do so, traveling to King of Prussia, Pennsylvania to explore a massive shopping complex seemingly frozen in the ’90s. A few years ago, he’d be looking up at a two-story Lord & Taylor. But now, that big-box retailer has been transformed into the next big bet in the experience economy: the inaugural Netflix House. Netflix has been experimenting with bringing its digital worlds to life since 2020—but Netflix House marks the company’s first permanent physical location. Click the link in bio for an exclusive sneak peak at Netflix’s immersive take on the cineplex.

After a year at the helm, Nike CEO Elliott Hill is still dealing with the company's COVID hangover. Following a year of Hill’s media quarantine, Fast Company's global design editor Mark Wilson was invited alongside a small group of global journalists to get a peek at what Hill has up his sleeve. The company has something to prove to fans and shareholders alike—namely, that it can still innovate. But it’s making a strong case that it can. From its Project Amplify exoskeleton-in-a-shoe, to Nike Mind brain-hacking footwear, to a new inflatable jacket called Project Milano, to recycled fabrics known as Aero-FIT that are 2x more breathable, every big new idea out of Nike looks more promising than another Dunk colorway. Click the link in bio to get an exclusive look at what's next for the brand.

So fun moderating this panel at the @fastcompany Innovation Festival with @eggyboom , @jeffstaple , and @karllieberman today Here's an abridged tidbit on why Ego believes her Miss Eggy sketch struck a chord. Love how she and Jeff broke down how being ourselves is a balance EN: I had to think about what worked about this versus anything that I've sort of done before. I think hearing me switch out of voices [Miss Eggy to Ego], was really important. It's like me putting on this persona of a 50-year-old woman who says, "Sex is a little different after 50." I'm not 50! And I wouldn't know! I've heard, I'll report back later. I've met some of my comedy heroes and I had this realization that so many performers, which I shouldn't tell this secret, but it's the truth is that that's a persona. I meet this person in real life who is exuberant and outgoing, extroverted comedian on stage. You meet them and they're so soft-spoken, so shy, and that resonates with me. JS: Even for me as a designer, there's "what Jeff would wear and want to make?" and then there's what my fan base wants to wear and want. If I just said, I'm only going to make things that I would wear, I would be broke. EN: I think in creating comedy, what happens sometimes when people try to service the audience in that way where they go, "This is what I think they think is funny." And I had a friend who was helping coach me in stand up years ago, and I was like, "OK, well this audience will probably want to hear that." And he goes, "Uh uh, you can't think of it that way. You need to tell jokes that you want to tell them that you think are funny." JS: You even have to shift it when you're being public facing, The equivalent for me is my Japanese audience, my French audience, and my New York audience all want different things. EN: Anytime a new comedian comes to Saturday Night Live, it's part of their job to figure out how to marry their comedic voice to that of the show…[and] I don't know that there's a time when you go, "I finally nailed it!" I think it's week by week. If we were getting paid by the sketch, a lot of people would be broke. [Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Fast Company]

It’s been a big month for design. President Trump just created the National Design Studio and tapped Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia to lead the charge. Cracker Barrel has offended or enraged just about everyone with its new logo. Meanwhile, @Figma hit Wall Street with a bang. On this episode of By Design, hosts Liz Stinson and Mark Wilson talk to Figma Chief Product Officer Yuhki Yamashita just after the company’s super successful IPO. Listen to the full episode at the link in bio.

There have been 11 Superman films released in the past 50 years. How do you make a new one that stands out? On this episode of By Design, hosts Liz Stinson and Mark Wilson interview Beth Mickle (@bethmickle ), production designer for the latest Superman film. They discuss her collaborations with director James Gunn and share how she developed the latest Superman aesthetic. Plus, Mickle explains why her team chose the more difficult route of relying heavily on practical effects. Hit the link in bio to listen to the episode.

By Design is the new podcast from @fastcompany . Hosted by two people who know the territory as well as anyone, senior editor Liz Stinson and global design editor Mark Wilson, it promises to be a great addition to how we understand the way design is changing the way we live, work, and understand the world. I was lucky enough to guest on the inaugural episode, and can’t wait to hear what Liz and Mark get into next. Link in bio.

Introducing By Design, a Fast Company show led by design editors Mark Wilson and Liz Stinson featuring news and interviews on the wide world of design. For our very first episode, we bring you Michael Bierut (@mbierut ), the brains behind some of the most iconic design work in recent history. Mastercard, Slack, Saks Fifth Avenue, and countless more came from Bierut's desk as a partner at @PentagramDesign . Now, as he steps into (semi) retirement, he shared reflections on his legendary career and why both humans and technology need to work together for real design innovation. And yes, the conversation revisits the infamous "H" logo he designed for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Visit the link in bio for the full episode.

Some news! We’re launching a new design podcast at @fastcompany called By Design. And our first episode is live…today! By Design features myself and @lizstins as we unpack the biggest news of the design world, engage in deep interviews with design luminaries, and then balance it all out with the most superficial and petty takes on the things that irk us the most. While we are far from the first design podcast—and my own colleagues will share my initial reservations in pursuing the project—I’m so glad that we’re here now. By Design will distinguish itself in the same ways that Fast Company Design has over the years. We will offer the best portrait of the intersection of business and design. We will speak with the smartest people in the industry. And we will remain rarely critical in a field that’s dominated by a lot of back-patting. But most of all? We plan to have a lot of fun doing it. I hope you join us for our first episode as we kick things off riffing on @apple , IO, and gold phones, while chopping it up with the one and only @mbierut from @pentagramdesign . (Come for his insights on graphic design…stay for the story of that time I unwittingly asked him to redesign his own logo.) Listen through the link in my profile, rate us if you like us, and hit that subscribe button if you would be so kind. Let’s continue to raise the discourse together