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Good morning, creatives.
I’ve spent the past week buried in Adobe and Apple leaks, banana-shaped AI logos, and a possible comeback for glassy icons. So basically, it’s been a designer’s fever dream.
Let’s get into it.
— Grayson
Mysterious Affinity Update: October 30
Affinity announces “Creative freedom is coming” October 30 across social channels.
Popular design software Affinity has officially announced that something major is happening on October 30, and the design community is holding its breath.
Why the tension? This will be the first real update since Canva acquired Affinity, and rumors suggest it could introduce AI tools for the first time.
That possibly worries users for two reasons:
AI backlash – After Adobe’s terms of service controversy and ongoing debates over artist data being used to train models, many creators want Affinity to stay clean of AI.
Subscription fears – If AI tools arrive, it might mark a shift to a subscription model, breaking Affinity’s long-time appeal as a one-time-purchase suite.
This update could redefine Affinity’s identity. Whether it’s the next big leap forward or the moment it becomes “Canva 2.0,” we’ll find out in just a few weeks.
Apple’s Leaked October Event
Apple’s New M5 iPad Pro
Apple’s next big product reveal might be the least secret event in company history.
The latest leaked FCC filings all but confirm new M5 MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models, and that’s before you even count the unboxing videos already floating around YouTube.
You read that right: full hands-on videos of unreleased Apple devices are appearing weeks before Tim Cook steps on stage.
So what’s going on? The once–airtight Apple marketing machine seems to be springing leaks left and right. Some blame regulatory filings, others say creators and supply chains are just moving faster than Apple’s PR cycle. Either way, the mystique is gone.
At this point, watching an Apple event feels less like a reveal and more like a recap.
Sora 2 Has Arrived.
Sora is OpenAI’s video generation software, and it just released a big update.
The new version introduces Cameos, letting you create video dubs using your own (or someone else’s) face and voice. It’s shockingly convincing.
Creators have already started experimenting, and my friends have already sent me this viral Instagram clip of a dog getting pulled over by the cops. The wild part? They didn’t know it was completely AI-generated with Sora 2.
We’ve officially reached the point where AI video and real footage are indistinguishable. The real question now isn’t “Can AI do it?” but “What happens when you can’t tell the difference?”
What are your thoughts on AI tools?
Quick hits from around the creative world:
Adobe MAX kicks off October 28 in Los Angeles and for free online.
Google’s Gemini Nano Banana image generator — yes, that’s the real name — has now been integrated into Adobe’s Generative Fill and Kittl’s AI tools.
Microsoft drops new Liquid Glass icons across the Office suite
Jimmy Fallon releases On Brand, a reality show some are calling “insulting to our industry”
Starburst rebrands with agency Straight Forward, centering on “unwrapping joy”.
My Latest Video: The 7 Levels of Designers
This week I explained every level of designer, from procreate girls to Jony Ive.
Next week, I’ll be diving into 2026 Design Trends (and I think I’m onto something no one else is considering…)
Check it out:
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