The Trump administration has announced the appointment of Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb, to a pivotal new role in the federal government. Gebbia will be leading the recently established National Design Studio, an initiative specifically created to overhaul and modernize the appearance, structure, and functionality of federal websites. Serving under the title of Chief Design Officer of the United States, Gebbia is expected to bring a design-forward philosophy to public digital platforms, with the goal of making them dramatically more accessible, visually refined, and enjoyable for everyday citizens to interact with.
On Saturday, Gebbia shared details about his upcoming responsibilities through a post on the social media platform X. In his message, he emphasized that one of his foremost priorities would be to transform the digital services offered by the government so that they provide not only technical efficiency but also an experience that mirrors the ease and polish typically associated with top private-sector companies. He specifically referenced the Apple Store as a model, highlighting its reputation for combining attractive visual presentation with seamless usability and software infrastructure that constantly reflects the latest technological standards.
This announcement comes in direct connection with a larger governmental initiative called *America by Design*. The program was formally established through an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on August 21. According to the administration, the purpose of this initiative is to dramatically improve the quality of interactions that American citizens have with their government. The focus begins with digital access points such as federal websites, which are often criticized for being outdated, confusing, and unattractive. As detailed in the official mandate, *America by Design* seeks to breathe new life into these online spaces, updating not only their technical capabilities but also their underlying design language so that it is both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing.
In announcing his new role, Gebbia encouraged interested professionals, designers, and technologists to apply for positions within the National Design Studio. At present, the studio’s online presence consists primarily of an introductory website that provides a sign-up form so visitors can register their email addresses to receive updates and notifications about future opportunities. While sparse for now, this online launch signals the early stages of what the administration hopes will evolve into a long-term design-driven transformation of public services.
Beyond his well-known role in co-founding Airbnb, a company that revolutionized the vacation rental industry, Gebbia has accumulated extensive experience in design-focused entrepreneurship. He created *Neighborhood*, a furniture design enterprise dedicated to modern office spaces, and spearheaded *Samara*, an experimental subsidiary of Airbnb dedicated to building accessory dwelling units with innovative architectural solutions. Moreover, Gebbia has expanded his influence into the broader technology and automotive sectors by serving as a member of Tesla’s board of directors, bringing design-centric thinking into conversations about sustainable transportation. He was also involved in Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiative known informally as the DOGE project, which executed widely debated budget reductions across various federal agencies.
Taken together, these roles illustrate Gebbia’s consistent pursuit of merging design innovation with practical problem-solving—an approach that aligns directly with what the U.S. government now seeks to achieve. By placing him at the helm of the National Design Studio, the administration is signaling a willingness to embrace private-sector creativity and user-experience excellence as a guiding principle for federal digital services. For millions of Americans who interact with government online systems every day, this could potentially mark the beginning of a bold shift from cumbersome and outdated portals to a more streamlined, elegant, and human-centric era of digital governance.
Sourse: https://www.cnet.com/news/politics/the-white-house-wants-to-beautify-us-websites-this-airbnb-co-founder-is-in-charge/#ftag=CAD590a51e
