Matt Colangelo's Design Observer piece links tech disenchantment to rising nostalgia and cultural revival

In an opinion piece for Design Observer, Matt Colangelo, the senior strategy director at Athletics, contends that a growing disillusionment with technology is fostering a cultural return to nostalgia, which reflects a widespread rejection of AI and its consequences. He interprets this as a dismissal of the "fifth industrial revolution," integrating skepticism towards technology and anti-authoritarian ideas into a strategic approach for brands. Colangelo draws on William Wordsworth's critique of materialism from 1802, likening it to the current overstimulation from platforms such as Instagram. He posits that this nostalgia could endure longer than previous trends, mirroring the Romantic-era reactions to industrialization. Additionally, Design Observer's newsletter features an interview with Larry Miller dated April 23, 2026, along with a podcast on AI's influence on design.