Catalyst The evolution of design: With Mark Curtis
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Feb 10, 2026 
Mark Curtis, strategic advisor and co-founder of Fjord turned founder of Full Moon, reflects on three decades of design and technology. He talks about the rise of service design, how AI changed consumer expectations, and why human authenticity still matters. Short, thought-provoking takes on trend-spotting, branded AI agents, and the evolving role of designers.
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How Fjord Began And Scaled Through Mobile Work
- Mark Curtis described founding Fjord after leaving Razorfish and partnering with colleagues including Olaf and Mike to focus on mobile and cross-platform design.
- Early work with Nokia and banks helped Fjord grow into a leading design firm by solving mobile complexity with an "elegant simplicity" mantra.
Complex Interaction Modes Drove Service Design
- The rise of varied interaction modes (touch, location, voice) created systemic complexity that demanded service design, not just UI work.
- Service design connects interfaces to underlying systems like customer service and supply chains to deliver "elegant simplicity."
Planet Patrol Taught Content Needs Community
- In 1995 Mark led a project for Allied Domecq to create Planet Patrol, a gay community bulletin board that revealed users wanted conversation as much as content.
- The team learned "content is king, community is queen," shifting their focus from publishing to enabling interaction.