My name is Philipp and you are reading Creativerly, the internet corner where I unpack my musings, curate and write about noteworthy apps and software, and explore the latest trends in design and tech.


Hey and welcome to Creativerly 373 👋

The design landscape is shifting, rapidly, and sometimes relentlessly. In an era where technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping how we create, the pressure to adapt can feel overwhelming. Online conversations often emphasize the need for designers to expand their skill sets: to code, to ship faster, to leverage AI tools, and to constantly push the boundaries of productivity. But amid this push for versatility and speed, it’s worth pausing to ask: What does it truly mean to be a designer today?

For many, the essence of design lies in creativity, intentionality, and the pursuit of meaningful solutions, not just the ability to move quickly or adopt every new tool. The question isn’t just about keeping up with trends or mastering the latest software; it’s about understanding what truly drives impactful design. Does productivity always equate to better outcomes? Or is there value in slowing down, focusing on craft, and trusting the process? As the industry evolves, these are the conversations worth having, because the future of design shouldn’t just be about doing more, but about creating with purpose.


SPONSORED
CTA Image

The best new app for newsletter reading.

Meco is a distraction-free space for reading newsletters outside the inbox. The app is completely free and packed with features designed to supercharge your learnings from your favourite writers. Become a more productive reader and cut out the noise with Meco - try the app today!

Get started for free

This is an affiliate link to support Creativerly. If you are interested in putting your tool, product, or resource in front of over 2000 creative minds, consider advertising in Creativerly and book a sponsor or classified ad spot. Find all the important information at creativerly.com/advertise.


Fresh Updates & News

Fathom acquires Gauges

Fathom* just announced that they have acquired Gauges, the simple, real-time analytics product that paved the way for companies like Fathom itself. Gauges was founded by a small and mighty team called Ordererd List back in 2011. After shipping an incredible product which took off immediately, it got acquired by GitHub, nine months after launching. In 2017, Gauges changed owner again, as Github sold it to ReportGarden Inc, which kept it running for the next nine years. But recently, in March 2026, ReportGarden made the decision to sunset Gauges, as it was no longer feasible for them to maintain it. Since Gauges customers immediately emailed Fathom about importing their data, Jack Ellis, co-founder and CTO of Fathom messaged ReportGarden's CEO. And on 15th April, Fathom officially acquired Gauges.

Fathom offers already everything Gauges did, and more. With this acquisition, all Gauges customers will get migrated over to Fathom's platform, while preserving their historical data.


Mental Wealth

The Power of Possibility – “It’s rare that you get to see work that directly helps those who most deserve it, but I want to tell you about the opportunity we so seldom get to actually contribute in a way that we know will have real impact.”

How to hire people who are better than you – “If you don’t hire people better than you, the organization gets bigger, not better. But how do you hire for something you don’t understand?”

Dealing With Social Anxiety – “I am not a people person. Despite being a YouTuber and now a “professor”, I would much rather be away from people as much as possible. Of course, that’s not very healthy, so I try to put myself out there as much as I’m comfortable with.”

When moving fast, talking is the first thing to break – “When you make speed and “moving fast” the biggest priority on a project or in an organization, the first thing to breakdown is talking to each other. Talking takes time. Consensus is expensive and slow. In a pressurized environment there’s no time to schedule calls, get input from subject matter experts, or resolve key differences of opinion. ASAP makes a big assumption that all relevant parties are already in the room.”


Do not miss out on this ...

❉ Experience the ultimate vector editor for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Get started with Amadine*.

❉ Think tasks, not apps. Setapp* is you one-stop subscription to solving every task on Mac and iPhone.

❉ Fathom is cookie-free, GDPR compliant, privacy-first website analytics software. Get $10 off your first invoice and a 7-day free trial when you use this link*.

These are paid promotions or affiliate links to support Creativerly. If you are interested in putting your tool, product, or resource in front of over 2000 creative minds, consider advertising in Creativerly and book a sponsor or classified ad spot. Find all the important information at creativerly.com/advertise.


Appendix

❯ ICYMI

You’ve saved 500 articles, 200 videos, and 100 podcasts, promising to revisit them ‘someday.’ But will you? Explore the ‘save for later’ paradox: why we hoard digital content, the illusion of productivity, and how to embrace (or break) the cycle in an age of AI-generated overload.

❯ Quick Bits


Till next time! 👋‌‌‌‌

Support: Do you have a friend who is looking for inspiration, news about design, and useful tools and apps? Forward this newsletter to a friend or simply share this issue and show some support. You can also show some love by simply clicking the button down below and keep this newsletter a sustainable side-project by buying me a coffee. ☕️ 🥰



Some of the links in my newsletter and my blog posts are affiliate links. Those links are marked by an asterisk. If you buy something through the link, the product will not cost you anything more, but I will receive a small commission which not only supports Creativerly and my work but also helps me to keep this publication a sustainable side-project.

Creativerly is proudly published with Ghost*.