Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia appointed as first Chief Design Officer of the US to lead federal design overhaul.

President Donald Trump has appointed Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, as the first Chief Design Officer of the United States. Gebbia will lead the newly created National Design Studio to overhaul government websites and improve user experiences, aiming to make them as satisfying to use as the Apple Store. His team will tackle nearly 26,000 federal interfaces that are not meeting public needs and expectations.

President Donald Trump has appointed Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, as the first Chief Design Officer of the United States. Gebbia will lead the newly created National Design Studio to overhaul government websites and improve user experiences, aiming to make them as satisfying to use as the Apple Store. His team will tackle nearly 26,000 federal interfaces that are not meeting public needs and expectations.

Gebbia, who has a background in graphic design and industrial design, will focus on modernizing federal services through a program called "America by Design." The initiative aims to make government services user-friendly, similar to the Apple App Store experience. The National Design Studio will function within the White House Office of the Executive Office of the President, with Gebbia serving under an administrator who reports directly to the White House Chief of Staff [2].

The executive order requires agency heads to consult with Gebbia to achieve initial results by July 4, 2026. The initiative will prioritize websites and physical locations that significantly impact the daily lives of Americans, including income tax filings, Social Security applications, Medicare enrollment, and immigration processes [3].

Gebbia's appointment follows the abolishment of the Obama-era digital design office, known as 18F. The new role is part of Trump's broader initiative to modernize America's outdated digital infrastructure, which has been plagued by fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult-to-navigate websites [1].

The appointment of Gebbia as Chief Design Officer underscores the administration's commitment to improving the quality of life for Americans by enhancing digital and physical experiences with government services. The National Design Studio will advise agencies on reducing duplicative design costs, using standardized design to enhance public trust, and dramatically improving the quality of experiences offered to the American public [3].

References:
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/24/joe-gebbia-trump-design-studio/
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/who-is-joe-gebbia-airbnb-co-founder-becomes-first-chief-design-officer-plans-to-make-government-services-as-seamless-as-the-apple-app-store/articleshow/123479789.cms
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/airbnb-co-founder-joe-gebbia-may-have-a-new-role-in-white-house-after-donald-trump-signs-order-for/articleshow/123450116.cms