A few years ago, I published a piece on STRV’s blog asking which design trends would shape the future.
Looking back, some ideas still hold up: the need for personality in digital products, the blurring line between product and brand, and the responsibility we carry as designers to make things that work and make people feel something.
2025 proved just how true that last one is.
This was a year of growth for STRV Design. In people, in momentum, in ambition. We welcomed five new designers to the team, took on dozens of projects across industries, and continued to blur the line between product and brand. Some of our concepts turned heads. Others made it into the wild. All were anchored in function and craft.
We brought that same thinking to brands, from scrappy early-stage startups to high-visibility platforms with millions of users. The work stretched us in the best ways.
A standout moment: publishing our MLS case study. It was a team effort across the company, and the design story resonated. The launch reminded us of the scale we’re capable of and what it looks like when design leads the way. We’re wrapping the year with a new showreel to match that energy.
Internally, we kept the creativity sharp. Our Deep Dive sessions became a space to dissect design from unexpected angles. Creative workshops turned into testing grounds for new techniques. And Design Nights brought together voices across STRV to celebrate the discipline in all its forms.
We also leaned into AI this year. Not as a replacement, but as a partner. We explored how it can support our work without compromising quality or intention. Used well, AI lets us focus more on the creative questions that matter. And that’s where we thrive.
Looking ahead, we’re not here to chase whatever’s trending. We’re here to shape what comes next. That means asking smarter questions, staying hands-on and keeping design grounded in clarity, personality and purpose. If 2025 was a year of growth, 2026 will be about sharpening that growth into something even more meaningful.
See you there.
— Lukas
Designing Together: 2025 In Review
As we wrap up 2025, I’ve been thinking about how this year’s events helped bring the Czech design community closer and pushed our creative boundaries in all the right ways. Here’s a quick look back and a peek at what’s brewing for 2026.
We kicked off with Behind the Design: Sports Edition, spotlighting our work on MLS and Mustard. Ria walked us through the MLS journey, showing how nearly every designer had a hand in it and how even unused concepts shaped the final product. Veronika joined from the product team to share what collaboration really looks like when done right, from aligning on requirements to applying insights where they matter most.
In July, we circled up to talk design and AI. From AI as your new dev teammate to replacing stock photography and rethinking workflows, the conversation was electric. So were the tacos. And your questions, as always, made it even better.
We closed the year with a first for us: a hands-on workshop designed to push everyone, us included, outside our comfort zones. Limited time. Unfamiliar prompts. Big results. Based on your feedback and those five-star reviews, it worked. You showed up ready to create, not just listen. That confirmed what we hoped: there’s serious appetite for events that go beyond the usual talks and networking.
So, what’s ahead?
Design Academy is officially making a comeback. A multi-week deep dive into the foundations of design, with past grads like Jiri Diblik, Vit Schlesinger and a few familiar faces from STRV. We’re also bringing back Portfolio Reviews in February after the strong turnout last time and exploring fresh ideas like Design Picnic and another round of Design Lab.
More to come. For now, keep an eye on DSGN Drop and STRV socials.
Thanks for being part of it all. See you in 2026.
— Adam
Come, Join Us
We’re looking for a product designer to join our team. So, if you’ve been meaning to polish or finally finish your portfolio, now’s the time! Send it our way. It might just be the perfect fit and the start of something incredible.
