Curated: a moment of news and reports of 2026

You’re not the only one behind on “good reading”

Playground readers,

Wherever I looked, November seemed full of happenings. Everything felt a bit intense – maybe it still does for you – and there’s somehow never any time left to read all the other great things waiting in your tabs, inboxes and saved folders.

But it’s exactly in these moments, when everything is slightly messy, that slowing down and grounding for even five minutes to see the bigger picture makes a massive difference. “Take some time for that,” I remind myself.

So I’ll invite you to see this as a moment to pause. I’ve collected a small, curated list from the last few months – articles, reports and books that genuinely helped me reflect and see the wider picture.

Think of this as a handful of links, that I really believe are worth your time.

Articles

How much is too much knowledge to give away for free? - Matilda Lucy

A great essay that feels like an echo of the conversations Matilda and I had in London a month ago – circling around knowledge, generosity and whether we should “gatekeep” or “gateopen” what we know. If you’re constantly wondering how much to share with the world, this one is truly worth a read.

Museums are no longer afraid of ‘selling out’. But have they forgotten about the art? - FT

A sharp look at how cultural institutions flirt with commerce – and what might get lost along the way. Perfect if you work anywhere near brands, culture or partnerships.

Social Media is now shrinking - Ted Gioia

Probably the topic of 2025 (alongside AI) – covered in-depth and with proper nuance. It’s behind a paywall, but I really recommend seeking it out if social media, culture and “what comes next” is your ongoing agenda topic. Less hype, more structural thinking.

The Future Of Work Isn’t Remote Or Hybrid—It’s ‘Microshifting’ - Forbes

This is probably one of my favourite theories of the year. If you are able to embrace change, “microshifting” is a beautiful testament to a different way of working.

Pockets aren’t just practical — they’re political - Woman of Substance

That’s one smart read via Woman of Substance – the new Substack of my dear friend, long-time collaborator and in-paper magazine editor Sophie Miskiw. If you love curious facts, tiny details and well-researched topics, head there right now.

POV: Adverts are about to get longer - It’s Nice That

A great deep dive into how advertising formats are shifting – and how platforms like Substack are pulling brands into slower, more narrative forms. As of now, Nike has joined the game here, and Charli XCX also has a Substack, did you know? It’s a good one if you are wondering what “content” might look like beyond the 15-second scroll.

Reports

This is an absolutely incredible shared Drive folder from the LinkedIn community.

From macro trend decks to niche cultural scans, this link gathers most of the big reports you might want to skim for the year ahead. You might need two cups of coffee or tea to go through it all.

Treat it with care, and add to it if you have anything worth sharing:

All the trend reports of 2026.

Book

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight

I tend to skip the “it” shows, books, etc. when they are at their loudest, then come back later to understand why something really reached the mass. My read of the month has been Shoe Dog by Nike’s founder Phil Knight and, honestly, it is probably the greatest “starting my business” book I have ever read. It’s genuine, messy in a good way and sometimes reads more like fiction than a business biography. Worth all the love and hype.

A few curated newsletters ago I wrote about The Secret of the Highly Creative Thinker: How to Make Connections Others Don’t by Dorte Nielsen. I read it half a year ago and I still think about it weekly. I had the honour of interviewing Dorte as part of IKEA’s panel at Democratic Design Days alongside Gustaf Westman and IKEA’s Emma Dafnäs – that conversation actually landed in Playground Issue 4, where we explore some really good theories about creativity.

Movie

The Aalto documentary – a slow, atmospheric look at architects Alvar and Aino Aalto’s work and life – is my “slow watching” recommendation. Perfect for an evening when you want to feel inspired by space, light and thoughtful design rather than overstimulated.

Show

I am not into celeb culture per se – I often feel it offers “quick fixes causing big effects” – yet the Victoria Beckham series on Netflix genuinely inspired me. A reminder that careers, families and creative lives are long, complicated stories, and changing your career comes with its pain no matter your level of fame, or money.

Podcast

The NDA Podcast – a favourite for anyone interested in what really happens behind the glossy version of creative careers. Smart guests, honest conversations and enough nuance to leave you thinking, not just nodding along. A lot of shared values with Playground over there!

Play Shop

Playground Issue 4, our latest notebook and caps await – last moments to receive them before Christmas, so you can both get inspired and plan the year of play ahead.

Housekeeping

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Thank you for supporting & reading,

Auste & Playground team