10/15/2026
A Lovely Library
If you’re anything like your design nerd pals at Axio, you’ll be pleased to know that good old-fashioned creative is alive and well, particularly in the world of consumer media. Physical products are again having a bit of a moment — uniquely the juxtaposed opposite of all things AI. The result has been a refreshing surge in bespoke, creator-driven packaging design in video games, vinyl albums, home video and particularly deluxe-ified treatments of books. Take a trip to your local bookseller and you’ll see rows of titles adorned with foiled covers, rich illustrations, and most surprisingly—accessible pricing. The examples highlighted in this post from Penguin Random House check all three of those boxes. This speaks to a very strategic, humanistic refocus on the joy of reading, the ritual experience of curing up in a comfy chair with a good book, and the collectability of its volumes. Sign us up!