Curated: reports, reads, podcasts & fuel for spring
curiosity breeds creativity
Playground readers,
It’s been a while since our last curated newsletter.
Compiling everything into one list – from our Slack inspiration channel to my Notes app – made me revisit it all, and I’m feeling so excited to strategise, think, create, and play… I felt like I was in for a treat, and I hope you will too.
The more experience I gain, the more I realise how crucial it is to continually make time to read, let my mind wander, seek new perspectives, and find inspiration. Moments like these play an important role (I’ve even started scheduling them into my calendar).
One of my goals this year is to continue learning. Launching studio playground has been all about doing, but I keep reminding myself – and the team – how much gaining new experiences gives back in return.
Stay curious!
Austė & Playground team
Reports
Visual Insights Report 2025 - Stocksy
Resilience Pulse Check: Harnessing Collaboration to Navigate a Volatile World (White Paper) - World Economic Forum
TikTok What’s Next 2025 - TikTok
The Commercial Filmmaking Trend Report 2025 - Filmsupply
Further Forecast 2025—Community Capital - Design Hotels
Anonymous Creative Futures Report - Metalabel
Growth 2.0 The Exponential Multiplier - by Zoe Scaman
Articles
Choosing Devotion Over Discipline - by NoomaLooma with Piera Luisa Gelardi
Aspiring to age - by Alexi Gunner on Mediacat
Elizabeth Goodspeed on untangling credit in design - It’s Nice That
A Conversation With the Cultishly Popular Author of Arranging Things, Every Creative Person’s Secret Favorite Book - Sight Unseen
Five graphic trends to keep in your sights in 2025 - Forward Thinking on It’s Nice That
The Noetic Spiral - on Musings Of A Wandering Mind by Zoe Scaman
Art is the frontline - by Amie McNee
how to begin - by Celine Nguyen on personal canon
Efficiency vs. effectiveness: What happens when design ditches big tech? - It’s Nice That
The fear of quitting - Desired Landscapes newsletter by Natassa Pappa
Podcast
One podcast that stood out was a two-part conversation between Netflix’s Content Chief, Bela Bajaria, and journalist-host Matthew Belloni. It almost felt like a social experiment – an aggressive interviewer facing off against a highly trained, confident interviewee. A fascinating cultural study and a back-and-forth between someone who ‘knows it all’ and a corporate heavyweight.
It was an open and insightful discussion, offering curious details about Netflix’s budgets, planning, and strategy. It’s intriguing to hear how they actively position themselves differently within the category – focusing on global expansion and engagement. Regardless of where you stand, the way communication played out here was quite fascinating. You’re in for a treat. ;)
Ep1: Netflix vs. Everyone With Content Chief Bela Bajaria, Part 1 - The Town with Matthew Belloni
Ep2: What’s Next at Netflix With Content Chief Bela Bajaria, Part 2 - The Town with Matthew Belloni
Video
How the colours around you impact your mood - by Dagny Thurmann-Moe on TedX Talk
I follow Dagny on Instagram and appreciated her honesty about not feeling great about her TEDx performance (though I found it incredibly genuine) – yet the feedback was really positive. After watching it, I can confirm the positive feedback, and can’t unthink or unsee the buildings that shape our cities and the impact of colour. Colour is a hot topic on my desk right now.
Print
Magazines
Family Style - I got this magazine recommendation at Casa Magazines in New York (where Playground is sold too!) and brought it back with me. I really like its premise around gathering and how it strikes a thoughtful balance between ‘indie’ and ‘commercial.’ It’s a title that’s beautifully carving out its own space in the market.
Erotic Review - I had the chance to sit next to magazine’s Director & Editor Lucy Roeber at the MagCulture Live event in London, and the energy was so fantastic that I bought her title immediately. Designed by the brilliant Studio Frith, this magazine is a pure pleasure to read and explore. In a market increasingly filled with publications on dating, sex, and desire, this re-launched title is definitely one to watch.
Books
In Writing by Hattie Crisell is an inspiring exploration of creativity, featuring conversations with writers like Maggie O'Farrell, Will Storr, and Elif Shafak. Honest and insightful, it delves into the craft of writing – its pain, joy, and the tricks of the trade (applicable to any creative work, really). [note: have 10% left]
Monsters: What Do We Do With Great Art By Bad People by Claire Dederer is a fascinating exploration of a pressing topic in today's world of controversy and cancel culture. I find myself thinking and talking about this book often – it’s interesting how many conversations naturally steer in this direction. [note: currently listening on Audible]
Others
For Starters newsletter by Daniel Giacopelli is your go-to Friday read about starting & running a small business!
Get your monthly dose of independent magazine from Stack, fuelling us monthly, or grab a copy from Coffee Table Mags. If you haven’t read, we still have final stock of Issue 2 of Playground here!
Thanks Auste!
Thanks for including me in this great list <3