An Inside Look at Every’s Design Philosophy - Ep. 55 with Lucas Crespo
Apr 9, 2025
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Lucas Crespo, the creative lead at Every, shares insights on blending classical aesthetics with modern design. He discusses harnessing AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney to craft captivating visuals and enhance user experiences. Lucas emphasizes the importance of art direction in a world of uniformity, advocating for a curated, organic aesthetic that captivates emotions. He also explores the role of AI in transforming design careers and the exciting potential of interactive AI characters in user engagement.
Lucas Crespo emphasizes the importance of melding classical design with modern aesthetics to create visually engaging experiences that resonate emotionally.
The podcast advocates for a shift from minimalist to maximalist web design, arguing that richer, more expressive environments enhance user interaction.
AI tools are revolutionizing communication in the workplace, enabling professionals to craft clearer messages and promoting greater empowerment and responsibility.
Deep dives
Transforming Newsletter Aesthetics
Many newsletters conform to a similar minimalist aesthetic, often presenting text on plain backgrounds that can feel uninspiring. The approach taken in this episode emphasizes the importance of creating a unique visual experience that breaks away from this norm. By incorporating elements of art direction, such as vibrant colors and engaging designs, newsletters can evoke emotional responses and draw readers in. This transformation aims to provide a narrative that reflects a more dynamic and inviting atmosphere, moving from a sterile, traditional presentation to one filled with warmth and creativity.
The Role of AI in Enhancing Communication
AI tools like ChatGPT have revolutionized the way professionals manage written communication, particularly for those whose language skills may need improvement. For example, one contributor discusses how AI tools have made their sales emails clearer and more polished, thus fostering greater responsibility and independence in the workplace. This level of improvement highlights the liberating potential of AI as it enables users to express their thoughts more accurately and confidently. By transforming communication dynamics within the team, AI also encourages a shift in how roles and responsibilities are structured, promoting empowerment.
Balancing Old and New Design Elements
The aesthetic philosophy discussed combines elements of classical design with modern vibrancy, referring to it as neoclassical pop art. This unique blend draws on traditional artistic motifs while injecting them with energy and modernity to resonate with contemporary audiences. By incorporating classical elements like columns and statues, the design aims to evoke a sense of nostalgia while remaining relevant to today's digital culture. The goal is to create a visual experience that is not only eye-catching but also engages viewers on a deeper emotional level.
Maximalism in Modern Web Design
There is a strong belief that the internet and web design should embrace more maximalism rather than strictly minimalist trends. The discussion points out that as digital environments have trended towards simplicity, they may have lost some of the emotional richness and complexity found in everyday designs. By advocating for a more expressive approach, designers can create engaging experiences that stand out in a crowded digital landscape. This maximization can lead to more enjoyable user interactions and a deeper connection to the content presented.
Redefining Web Experiences with Unique UX
The episode posits that websites should feel more like immersive experiences rather than mere digital brochures or flyers. By introducing storytelling elements and engaging visual details, web design can evoke a sense of exploration and discovery similar to wandering through an art gallery. This creative force shapes how users perceive and interact with online content, ultimately transforming mundane tasks like email management into delightful narratives. The drive for innovation in web design highlights the potential to merge functional usability with artistic flair, leading to more meaningful user experiences.
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Lucas Crespo is the mastermind behind Every's visual vibe—and he does it one prompt at a time.
As our creative lead, Lucas uses tools like native image gen in ChatGPT and Midjourney to generate the cover images you see every day. He also designs the interfaces for our products—Cora, Spiral, and Sparkle—and makes everything on our site feel as thoughtful and delightful as possible.
We get into:
Why Every’s aesthetic feels familiar and new at the same time. Every’s aesthetic plays with the tension between the old (like Greek statues and Baroque symbols) and the new (like saturated colors and modern motifs) to make the glamor of the past feel fresh.
Art direction matters more than ever today. As AI makes it easier to generate images, Lucas says the real work of design is shifting toward art direction, specifically, curating an aesthetic that feels “organic;” on his X timeline that’s showing up as clouds, earthy landscapes, and textures.
Reimagining what a website can be with AI. Lucas compares most websites to identical buildings—predictable, efficient, and forgettable—and wonders how AI can help us break that mold by designing experiences that prioritize serendipity over speed, and curiosity over control.
Behind the scenes of Cora’s visual aesthetic. How Lucas designed the landing page and launch video for Cora by rooting it in the product’s philosophy: turning the inbox from a source of chaos into something that feels calm, thoughtful—like stepping into spring.
The future of internet interfaces. Lucas believes the future of digital interfaces will be curated with the same care as a film set or ad campaign, where every detail is chosen with intention.
Lucas also walks us through how he created the headline image for Every’s consulting page—a human and robotic hand fist-bumping—using Midjourney to iterate from rough prompt to polished visual.
This is a must watch for anyone interested in the future of design and making the internet a little more beautiful every day.
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