The most innovative design companies of 2026

FastCompany: Following the rise of modern AI , design will never be the same . It’s no wonder that a majority of our 2026 Most Innovative Companies in design stood out by either leveraging or enabling the technology in new ways. That includes the Chinese company Unitree ’s backflipping humanoid robots, and BioRender’ s statistics-crunching visualization software that’s quickly become the de facto tool behind published research. Canva is using AI to smash several different pieces of software into a unified interface, while the digital product agency consultancy Metalab helped build the way we use AI products like Midjourney.

Even BYD’s hair-flattening YangWang U9 Xtreme super car insists on flexing its AI prowess as it scans the road to literally leap over potholes. But on the other end of the spectrum, we’re acknowledging the countertrend of human experience. Netflix and Starbucks both make an appearance on our list for reinvesting in unique physical retail, while Nike has teased a wonderment of new technologies to keep people moving. Design will all get a lot messier in the age of AI before we see much clarity. In the meantime, grab yourself a piping hot cup of coffee in a plush seat while AI designs your next company’s pitch deck. 1.

BYD For adapting EV designs to fit every market around the world. The world’s largest EV manufacturer, BYD , is demonstrating an aggressive, research-led approach to challenge the status quo of car design, and drive electrification across the world. The company has invested more than $13 billion in R&D over the past seven quarters, and it continues to demonstrate the fruits of investing in future technologies that improve the experience of its electric cars. In 2025, BYD debuted a 1,000kW charging standard that can fuel a car for 250 miles of range in just 5 minutes—the fastest charging standard on the market.

And it’s since beaten that record . It debuted a 1,287 horsepower supercar called the YangWang U9 Xtreme that can read the road to leap over potholes. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, BYD has been focused on expanding its offerings for exports to other countries (no doubt, to claim market share outside of China’s fiercely competitive EV market). Rather than design one car for the world, it’s adapting EVs to fit into different driving cultures. So far, the plan seems to be working. Its exports grew 150% in 2025. Read more about BYD , honored as No. 16 on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2026 . 2.

Starbucks For bringing hospitality back to the hospitality industry As Starbucks stared down the barrel of six straight quarters where it was losing revenue, its new CEO Brian Niccol declared a daring new, old strategy: investing in its store design. Dubbed Back to Starbucks, the company is currently “uplifting” over a thousand of its stores to feel like warmer environments. It’s full of soft touches that will soon include a comfortable new chair and ceramic cup . Not so visibly, Starbucks is also adjusting the nitty gritty of how it handles its queue of digital orders. And it’s training baristas to engage more with customers.

While the changes have been bumpy—and not without union pushback—Starbucks is amidst one of the most aggressive redesigns in business history. Since implementing updates, it finally broke a two-year sales slump in the U.S. Same store sales are up 4% domestically and globally as of Q1 2026, and it’s reduced service times to four minutes or less in 80% of its cafes. It looks like Niccol’s big plan might get people back to Starbucks, after all. Read more about Starbucks , honored as No. 18 on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2026 . 3.

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The article highlights significant trends in design and branding driven by AI, which is highly relevant and impactful for the industry, while also presenting a moderately novel perspective on balancing technology and human experience.