November brought plenty of movement across design, development, and digital marketing—but not all change is worth reacting to. Platforms are evolving, AI is settling into real workflows, and brands are being pushed to communicate with more clarity than ever before.
In this edition of Zaapr’s Industry Insights, we’ve focused on the shifts that actually impact how brands are built, discovered, and experienced. These insights aren’t about chasing updates. They’re about understanding where systems, tools and expectations are heading—and how brands can stay relevant, scalable, and confident as they move forward.
If you’re planning growth, refinement, or reinvention, these are the signals that matter.
Key Takeaways for Design
Highlighting key updates and observations from the design world, spanning graphic design, packaging, branding, visual storytelling and platforms.
1. Canva launches its own Design Model and expands AI and Productivity Tools
THE SHIFT
Canva now offers editable, layered designs instead of flat images, while its AI assistant gets smarter with new updates. The platform rolled out new tools for forms and email design, connected its spreadsheet and app features, launched the marketing platform Canva Grow, and made Affinity free while integrating it seamlessly into the Canva ecosystem.
WHAT IT MEANS
Canva is evolving into a full-scale creative and marketing suite. Editable AI-generated designs give users more control, while the smarter AI assistant improves speed and usability. Canva Grow signals a clear move into marketing analytics, and making Affinity free significantly strengthens Canva’s appeal to professional designers. Together, these updates position Canva as a serious alternative to Adobe.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
Canva is clearly aiming to be a one-stop platform for design, content creation, marketing, and analytics. The shift to editable AI-powered designs is especially important, since it solves a common limitation that many tools still face. By integrating spreadsheets, apps, and Affinity, Canva is becoming more useful for teams looking to combine design and workflow tools in a single platform.
SOURCE
Read more via TechCrunch
2. ATP introduces a New Logo and Brand Identity
THE SHIFT
The ATP has released a new logo, replacing the tennis player icon for a dynamic swoosh that captures a ball in motion. The update removes the word “Tour”, making the identity feel modern and aimed at younger fans. Designed by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, the new look supports ATP’s plan to make the sport feel more digital, expressive, and engaging.
WHAT IT MEANS
The ATP is refreshing its visual identity to keep tennis relevant for newer audiences. Moving from a player silhouette to a sleek motion swoosh shows a move toward cleaner, modern branding. The redesign aligns with ATP’s recent marketing efforts on platforms like TikTok and its push to present tennis with more energy, speed, and a fresh, digital-first vibe.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
The new logo reflects simplicity and a modern visual language, giving ATP a versatile symbol that works seamlessly across digital platforms and fits current trends in sports branding. While longtime fans might miss the classic player icon, the redesign positions ATP to connect with younger audiences and present tennis in a more dynamic, energetic way.
SOURCE
Read more via ATP Tour
3. Heinz creates Sports-Themed Tomato Ads for China’s National Games
THE SHIFT
Heinz released a new campaign in China that turns tomatoes into playful sports icons. Created by Heaven & Hell Shanghai, each tomato is designed with leaf shapes that mimic athletes from different National Games sports. Featuring 34 unique tomato characters, the campaign will roll out across social media and outdoor spaces in Guangdong.
WHAT IT MEANS
Heinz is tapping into a major national sporting moment with a simple yet clever visual idea ahead of a major national event. The approach shows how minimal design can still deliver strong storytelling and standout impact. It helps Heinz present itself as fun, approachable, and culturally aware.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
The campaign succeeds by turning a familiar ingredient into a fresh, engaging idea. The tomato-leaf athletes are simple, charming, and memorable. The concept shows that even thoughtful, minimal design choices can create strong appeal and make a brand feel more local, relevant, and engaging.
SOURCE
Read more via Creative Bloq
4. 90 Years of Penguin: A Legacy Built on Typography
THE SHIFT
Penguin is celebrating its 90th anniversary and reflecting on how typography defined its brand from the start. Early designs focused on clarity and structure, later refined by Jan Tschichold’s guidelines and the iconic tri-ban system. Over the decades, Penguin evolved its type choices, from Gill Sans to Helvetica to more expressive styles, while staying rooted in its core values of clarity, consistency, and respect for the reader.
WHAT IT MEANS
Penguin’s history shows the power of strong typographic systems that can create a long-lasting brand identity. The company adapted to cultural and technological change without compromising on clear communication. Penguin’s approach shows how design can shape reading habits and extend a publisher’s cultural influence over time.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
Penguin’s 90-year story underscores the value of design discipline. Its typographic rules created a stable framework for brand consistency while leaving room to create and evolve. Even as reading shifts to digital formats, Penguin’s commitment to clear, reader-focused typography remains a powerful reference for brands looking to grow over time without losing their identity.
SOURCE
Read more via Creative Boom
5. PepsiCo unveils Dye-Free Doritos and Cheetos with Bold, Minimal Packaging
THE SHIFT
PepsiCo introduced the Simply NKD range of Doritos and Cheetos, made without dyes or artificial flavors. The line features bold white packaging that puts the clean-label message front and centre and sharply contrasts the brand’s usual high-energy colours. Launching December 1st, 2025, the packs are designed to stand out instantly in the snack aisle.
WHAT IT MEANS
White packaging signals a major shift in how PepsiCo wants shoppers to view these snacks. The design aligns with the growing push in the United States to remove synthetic dyes from food, driven by changing consumer expectation and increasing regulatory pressure. Because the packs look different from traditional packaging associated with Doritos and Cheetos, they are likely to draw attention on shelves while reinforcing the promise of simpler ingredients.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
This launch shows how packaging alone can clearly communicate a clean-ingredient story, without complicated messaging. The sharp contrast between the white NKD packs and the classic colorful versions makes the positioning instantly clear. As industry and regulatory pressures grow, similar design-led cues may become more common as brands try to show transparency and build consumer trust.
SOURCE
Read more via Packaging Digest
Key Takeaways for Development
Exploration and observations from the development process, covering web design, UX/UI, and the tools that power our workflow.
1.Google launches Gemini 3 Pro with Strong New AI Development Benchmarks
THE SHIFT
Google has launched Gemini 3 Pro, positioning it as its most capable model yet. It is now available in Search, Vertex AI and the new Antigravity tool. It leads key benchmarks like LMArena Leaderboard and reportedly scores higher than GPT 5.1 on the GPQA Diamond test.
WHAT IT MEANS
This isn’t about raw intelligence alone. Gemini 3 Pro brings stronger multimodal reasoning, improved visual outputs, and the ability to generate animations in real time. Developers get deeper integrations with tools like Cursor and GitHun, plus a new client-side bash tool for agent-style workflows. Pricing now starts at $2 per million input tokens, with Google also signalling a forthcoming “Deep Think” version focused on more advanced reasoning use cases.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
Google’s focus on IDE integrations and long-running tasks shows a clear shift toward real-world developer use, not just experimentation. While price increase is noticeable, the gains in accuracy, nuance, and reduced “overconfidence” address some of the model’s earlier limitations. The planned “Deep Think” release hints at a tiered model strategy with more advanced capabilities reserved for teams working on complex, high-value problems.
SOURCE
Read more via The New Stack
2. Figma Sites CMS goes Public, enabling Dynamic, Content-Driven Websites
THE SHIFT
Figma has opened public beta access to its Sites CMS, enabling designers to build blogs, portfolios, and content-driven pages with dynamic content that updates automatically through CMS collections and pre-built blocks.
WHAT IT MEANS
This update brings content management directly into the design workflow. Designers can manage and update website content inside Figma without reworking layouts every time, reducing friction between design and content teams.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
This makes Figma Sites more useful for marketing websites and portfolios. By keeping both design and content within Figma, teams can move faster, reduce dependencies, and push updates live with greater speed and confidence.
SOURCE
Read more via Figma
3. Gemini 3 Pro now supports Figma Make
THE SHIFT
Figma has added Gemini 3 Pro as an experimental model within Figma Make. Early tests include an animated Thanksgiving board using SVGS and Supabase, a Y2K-themed RSVP page, and a FigJam feature built with UI3 components. Showing how advanced models can support more expressive, functional builds inside Figma.
WHAT IT MEANS
The model helps turn prompts into fully functional prototypes while keeping layouts and interactions precise. It reduces manual work, supports quick style changes, and speeds up the journey from concept to usable draft.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
This update shows AI is becoming useful for real design tasks. It speeds up prototyping, allowing teams to explore more ideas with less effort. For agencies, it’s a change to streamline workflows, test concepts faster, and reduce production time on client projects—all without compromising quality.
SOURCE
Read more via Figma Blog
4. Material 3 Expressive: Google fixes key Usability Issues of Flat Design
THE SHIFT
On May 13th, 2025, Google rolled out Material 3 Expressive, a major update to its design system. While praised for the bold visuals, the update mainly addresses long-standing flat design challenges like unclear cues, low readability, and higher user confusion. The goal is to make interfaces easier to scan, reduce click uncertainty, and improve overall user clarity.
WHAT IT MEANS
M3E targets the 22% slowdown reported by the Nielsen Norman Group, where users took longer to complete tasks due to missing visual signals. Key updates include clearer contrast for import actions through containment, rounded containers to group items and reinforce boundaries, and stronger, brighter colors to make buttons stand out on light surfaces. Together, these changes make interfaces more intuitive, helping users navigate faster and with greater confidence.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
Google is correcting the oversimplified flat design trend by putting clarity first. Apps like Gmail and Google One, now feature clearer structure and more intuitive navigation. The update is a reminder that strong visual guidance and task efficiency should matter more than minimalistic trends.
SOURCE
Read more via UX Collective
5. Elementer 3.33 introduces Variables Manager, improved Custom CSS, and new Visual Tools
THE SHIFT
The update adds a central Variables Manager, safer element-level Custom CSS, new Blend Mode options, enhanced media export controls, and a cleaner Top Bar layout. Together, these features support smoother workflows and give more control within Editor V4.
WHAT IT MEANS
Elementor is streamlining its system to keep design settings organized and accessible. Variables are simpler to manage, Custom CSS is safety contained, Blend Modes offer more creative flexibility, and media expert is more dependable. The updated Top Bar also speeds up navigation.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
This update is useful for anyone managing multiple pages or client sites. The Variables Manager and isolated CSS give greater control, while Blend Modes add more creative possibilities. Media export improvements smooth out common workflow hiccups. Editor V4 is still in beta phase, but moving in a very promising direction.
SOURCE
Read more via Elementor Blog
Key Takeaways for Digital Marketing
Exploring the latest trends, strategies, and insights in digital marketing that are shaping how brands connect, engage, and grow online.
1. Adobe’s $1.9B Move for SEMRush reshapes SEO in the AI Era
THE SHIFT
Adobe is set to acquire SEMRush for $1.9 billion, bringing the SEO and digital marketing platform into its Experience Cloud in early 2026, pending approvals. This move strengthens Adobe’s marketing ecosystem, giving brands deeper insights and more robust tools for managing their digital presence.
WHAT IT MEANS
SEO, brand visibility, and GEO are becoming central parts of large marketing systems. Adobe aims to leverage SEMRush to boost visibility across search results and AI-generated answers. Current SEMRush users can expect tighter integration with Adobe tools, and with potential changes in pricing, packaging, and product independence. Regulatory approvals and Adobe’s integration strategy will influence how workflows and APIs change over the next year or two.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
This acquisition signals that search visibility and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) are now integral to overall customer experience strategies. For enterprises, the move suggests a future where content creation and search performance data within a single platform. That said, businesses using these tools today should keep an eye on potential changes to pricing, access, or functionality as the software pivots toward an enterprise-first model.
SOURCE
Read more via The Wall Street Journal
2. AI Overviews Gain Ground: Present on 21% of Search Queries
THE SHIFT
Ahrefs analyzed 146 million SERPs and found that AI Overviews now appear on 21% of keywords, mostly informational queries. They’re triggered most often for questions (58%), long-tail searches with 7 or more words (46%), and almost all informational searches, while shopping, news, and local queries show very low rates.
WHAT IT MEANS
AI Overviews tend to appear for informational, long-tail, non-branded, and YMYL topics, with medical queries seeing particularly high triggers. In contrast, transactional, navigational, news, NSFW, and local searches rarely trigger them. The categories most affected include science, health, pets and animals, and people or society, while shopping, real estate, sports, and news rank much lower.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
Data indicates that AI Overviews predominantly serve informational and long-form queries, particularly in health and science sectors. Businesses in these spaces need to focus on authoritative, high-quality content to stay visible. On the other hand, commercial and news-driven businesses can stick to traditional SEO strategies, as AI coverage in those areas remains limited.
SOURCE
Read more via Ahrefs Blog
3. Silverback Digital Marketing updates its Online Advertising Framework
THE SHIFT
Silverback Digital Marketing has introduced an advertising framework designed to give organizations clearer ways to read campaign data, plan ads, and compare results. The approach focuses on consistent measurement, smarter planning, improved placement review, deeper audience insights, timing analysis, creative evaluation, and long-term performance tracking.
WHAT IT MEANS
This gives advertisers a more structured way to understand performance beyond surface-level platform metrics. Instead of relying only on platform metrics, teams can better assess interactions, placement quality, timing, creative effectiveness, budget behavior, and long-term trends—leading to more informed decisions and stronger optimization.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
This update gives brands a more steadier and reliable approach to interpret campaign performance. By reducing confusion across different platforms definitions, it helps teams make decisions based on clearer, comparable data. The added focus on planning, context, and long-term analysis should help organizations run ads with fewer blind spots.
SOURCE
Read more via The Patriot Ledger
4. New Wave of Google Ranking changes hits in Early November
THE SHIFT
In early November 2025, many SEOs reported sharp spikes and drops in Google rankings. Community discussions and tracking tools suggested a ranking update, even as recent changes to Google’s reporting made official confirmation harder to pin down.
WHAT IT MEANS
Google appears to have rolled out another ranking adjustment in November, with many sites experiencing noticeable traffic swings and unstable results. The volatility adds to a broader pattern of frequent fluctuations in search performance, keeping SEO teams on alert as they try to understand shifts in visibility and rankings. These kinds of updates underline how dynamic Google’s algorithms remain, and why ongoing monitoring is essential for maintaining search presence.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
This was another phase of unconfirmed ranking volatility affecting a broad range of sites. With frequent algorithmic adjustments becoming the norm, SEOs should focus on longitudinal data—tracking performance across weeks and months rather than reacting to short-term fluctuations. Maintaining technical health, content quality, and stable optimization practices is likely to be more effective than making rapid changes in response to temporary ranking swings.
SOURCE
Read more via Search Engine Roundtable
5. ChatGPT turns Product Research into Guided Shopping Conversations
THE SHIFT
OpenAI has added a new shopping research feature for all ChatGPT users on the web and mobile. The tool builds personalized buyer guides by asking clarifying questions and pulling in prices, availability, reviews, specifications, and images from the web. Users can further refine results using feedback options like ‘Not Interested’ or ‘More Like This’.
WHAT IT MEANS
Powered by a shopping-focused GPT-5 mini model, the feature performs well in categories like electronics, beauty, home, kitchen, and sports, delivering higher accuracy than standard ChatGPT Search. Merchants can apply to an allowlist to improve visibility, while user chats remain private and results are sourced from public websites. A direct checkout option may follow, but for now, users should still verify details on the seller’s site, as some information may be incomplete or inaccurate.
ZAAPR’S POINT OF VIEW
Retailers should prioritize joining the OpenAI allowlist and optimizing structured product data to improve visibility in AI-generated buyer guides. As product discovery shifts toward conversational interfaces, detailed reviews, accurate specifications, and clean data will play a direct role in influencing recommendations.
SOURCE
Read more via Search Engine Journal
Closing Insights
Across development, design, and digital marketing, one theme stands out: brands that win aren’t reacting faster, they’re building smarter. Clear systems, thoughtful workflows, and strong creative direction are becoming the foundation for scale, not optional extras. As tools evolve and platforms shift, the advantage lies in knowing what to adopt, what to ignore, and how to bring it all together into a cohesive brand experience.
If you’re planning your next phase of growth—refining your digital product, strengthening your brand, or improving how you’re discovered—this is where we come in. We partner with ambitious teams to turn insight into action and build work that lasts.
