Principal Game Product Manager - Cosmetics, Teamfight Tactics
About the job
- At least 8 years of Product Management experience in the games industry, with a strong focus on live-service games where cosmetics and virtual goods are core to the product.
- Proven experience owning product vision, strategy, roadmaps, and commercial outcomes while leading cross-functional teams through influence.
- Deep expertise in cosmetics, live-service monetization, and player-facing content, with experience shaping product portfolios and driving long-term strategy.
- Deep understanding of cosmetics-driven free-to-play games and the player motivations, progression systems, and live-service mechanics that drive long-term engagement.
- Proven ability to shape product decisions through player insights, data, commercial thinking, and creative judgement.
- Experience partnering with artists, designers, creative directors, and Production to translate creative vision into successful product strategy.
- Strong analytical skills, using product performance, player behaviour, experimentation, and market trends to drive strategic decisions.
- Define the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for TFT's cosmetics portfolio, driving player engagement and commercial success.
- Lead the multidisciplinary cosmetics team by defining product priorities and aligning partners around them.
- Collaborate with artists to create content that resonates deeply with players, elevating their creative vision to achieve product goals.
- Manage product KPIs, leveraging performance reporting, experimentation, revenue models, and deep dive analysis and research to improve decision making.
- Identify product challenges and opportunities, including cosmetics research and development, formulate strategies and plans, and build stakeholder buy in.
- Develop decision frameworks, product briefs, and other artefacts that guide downstream decisions and create clarity across teams.
- Partner with Production to translate strategy into executable plans, including roadmap sequencing, capacity planning, prioritization, and sustainable live operations.
- Navigate the broader TFT and Riot organization to drive cohesive action across Marketing, Regional Publishing, IP and League Creative, Brand Partnerships, and other cross functional partners.
- Experience working in Agile production environments.
- Experience working in a cross-geographical, multi-team environment.
- Active Teamfight Tactics player with a deep understanding of the game's systems, player base, and cosmetics ecosystem.
About the company
Riot Games develops and publishes online multiplayer video games, with League of Legends as its flagship title. The game is free-to-play and supported by in-game purchases like cosmetic items and skins, while competitive play drives engagement through its esports ecosystem. Riot Games also runs Riot Forge, a publishing arm that partners with third-party developers to create new games within the League of Legends universe. The company earns revenue from cosmetic microtransactions, esports events, sponsorships, and merchandise. What sets Riot Games apart is its emphasis on building a large, global community around its titles and expanding its universe through collaborations with external developers. The goal is to create enduring, connected gaming experiences that sustain a vibrant community and a growing esports ecosystem around its flagship franchises.
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
$15M
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
Founded
2006
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Riftbound: Radiance launches October 23, 2026, expanding Riot beyond digital game revenue.
- HEARTSTEEL Live My Life skins arrive October 7, 2026, monetizing music fandom.
- Valorant Champions Shanghai 2026 and Balenciaga deepen premium sponsorship demand around Riot's esports.
What critics are saying
- Riot laid off about 80 2XKO staff on February 9, 2026, then ended support.
- Riot cut 12 publishing jobs on February 26, 2026, signaling further restructuring.
- League of Legends still anchors Riot; any franchise slide undermines every other bet.
What makes Riot Games unique
- Riot owns League of Legends, VALORANT, and Riftbound, turning champions into a flywheel.
- Its virtual music brands, HEARTSTEEL and K/DA, sell skins, songs, and merchandise.
- Riot builds competitive ecosystems, not standalone games, with Worlds, Champions, and organized play.
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Benefits
Healthcare
Family Care
Open Paid Time Off
Retirement
Play Fund
Donation Matching
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
18%1 year growth
18%2 year growth
18%Teamfight Tactics to undergo massive technological overhaul with migration to Unreal Engine and new standalone PC client scheduled for 2026. Riot Games has officially announced a monumental shift in the underlying architecture of its hit strategy game, Teamfight Tactics (TFT). As part of a comprehensive roadmap reveal for 2026, the development team confirmed that the title will transition from its current Hextec engine to Unreal Engine. This migration is set to coincide with the launch of the game's 18th set, which is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026. In addition to the engine overhaul, Riot Games is accelerating the development of a long-requested standalone PC client, which is expected to debut shortly after the Set 18 launch. This dual-pronged technological evolution marks the most significant infrastructure update in the game's history since its surprise release in 2019. The evolution of Teamfight Tactics: from experimental mode to global phenomenon. To understand the weight of this announcement, one must look back at the origins of Teamfight Tactics. Launched in June 2019 during the height of the "auto-battler" craze, TFT was developed in a remarkably short timeframe - roughly eight weeks from concept to prototype. Because of this rapid development cycle, the game was built directly into the existing League of Legends (LoL) ecosystem, utilizing the Hextec engine. This engine was specifically designed for the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) requirements of League of Legends, focusing on high-speed inputs, click-to-move precision, and specific map layouts. While the integration allowed TFT to leverage the massive existing player base of League of Legends, it also tethered the game to the technical limitations and "spaghetti code" of a decade-old engine. Over the past five years, TFT has grown from a experimental game mode into one of the world's leading strategy games, boasting millions of monthly active players and a thriving global esports scene. The decision to move to Unreal Engine represents Riot Games' commitment to the title's longevity, acknowledging that the current framework can no longer support the ambitious features planned for the next decade of play. Breaking free from Hextec: the technical necessity of Unreal Engine. The Hextec engine, while robust for the needs of League of Legends, has often created friction for the TFT development team. Every time the LoL team updated core engine components or shared assets, there was a risk of unintended consequences within the TFT game state. Conversely, the TFT team was limited in how much they could innovate with visual effects, 3D environments, and complex unit interactions without potentially destabilizing the LoL client. By migrating to Unreal Engine, Riot Games is effectively decoupling the two titles at a fundamental level. Unreal Engine, developed by Epic Games, is a world-renowned industry standard known for its high-fidelity rendering, advanced physics, and modular development tools. For TFT, this transition means the ability to create more immersive arenas, more complex animations, and a level of visual polish that was previously unattainable within the constraints of Hextec. Furthermore, the shift allows the TFT team to build proprietary tools tailored specifically to the auto-battler genre. While League of Legends will continue to evolve on the Hextec engine, the separation ensures that both development teams can implement changes, bug fixes, and feature updates independently. This autonomy is expected to result in faster development cycles and a more stable experience for players of both games. The standalone PC client: A new era for the PC experience. Perhaps the most anticipated aspect of the 2026 roadmap is the confirmation of a standalone PC client. Since its inception, PC players have been required to launch the League of Legends client to access TFT. This has been a point of contention for players who exclusively play TFT, as the LoL client is often criticized for its resource-heavy nature and cluttered user interface. The new standalone client will provide a dedicated home for TFT, featuring a user interface designed specifically for strategy gaming. This includes optimized social features, a more streamlined shop, and a focused hub for the game's competitive and cosmetic progression. Riot Games has clarified that while the migration to Unreal Engine begins with Set 18, the standalone client will follow a few patches later. This phased approach is intended to ensure that the engine transition is stable before introducing a completely new platform for player interaction. Timeline of transition: Set 18 and the 2026 roadmap. The transition to Unreal Engine is not an overnight process but a multi-year engineering feat. According to the official developer update, Set 18, which features a "Wild" or "Savage" theme, will serve as the debut platform for the new engine in mid-2026. Chronology of the Technological Shift: * 2024-2025: Behind-the-scenes development and asset porting to Unreal Engine. * Early 2026: Final internal testing and mobile beta optimizations. * Mid-2026 (Set 18 Launch): Full migration to Unreal Engine for PC and Mobile. Large-scale update for PC players; seamless app transition for mobile users. * Late 2026 (Post-Set 18): Official launch of the standalone TFT PC client. Riot Games has noted that players may not see a radical visual transformation immediately upon the launch of Set 18. Instead, the team plans to increase the integration of Unreal's advanced capabilities gradually over subsequent sets. This ensures that the initial migration focuses on stability and performance parity before pushing the boundaries of the new engine's graphical potential. Mobile optimization: A seamless transition. For the millions of players who access Teamfight Tactics via iOS and Android, the transition is designed to be as frictionless as possible. Unlike the PC version, which will require a significant update, the existing mobile application will essentially be "swapped" for an Unreal Engine-based version through a standard app store update. Riot has assured the mobile community that they will not need to uninstall or reinstall the game manually. Once the Unreal Engine update is applied, subsequent updates are expected to return to their standard size. The use of Unreal Engine on mobile is particularly significant, as it offers better cross-platform parity. This means that mobile players can expect performance and visual fidelity that more closely mirrors the PC experience, narrowing the gap between the two platforms. Strategic implications for Riot Games and the auto-battler market. The move to Unreal Engine is a clear signal to the market and the competition. While many other titles in the auto-battler genre have faded or moved into maintenance mode, Riot Games is doubling down on TFT. This investment suggests that Riot views TFT not just as a successful game mode, but as a core pillar of its intellectual property portfolio alongside League of Legends, Valorant, and 2XKO. From a recruitment perspective, moving to Unreal Engine also benefits Riot. Unreal Engine is taught in universities and used by a vast majority of game developers worldwide. By utilizing an industry-standard engine, Riot can more easily integrate new talent into the TFT team, as specialized knowledge of the proprietary and aging Hextec engine will no longer be a prerequisite for technical roles. Impact on League of Legends: A mutual benefit. While the headlines focus on TFT, the League of Legends community also stands to benefit from this separation. For years, the LoL client has carried the weight of TFT's assets, social systems, and store modules. As TFT moves to its own client and engine, the League of Legends client will eventually become leaner. This could lead to improved loading times and fewer technical glitches within the LoL client, as the two games will no longer be competing for the same internal resources. The "mutual benefit" mentioned by the developers underscores a broader strategy at Riot Games: specialized engines for specialized games. Just as Valorant was built on Unreal Engine from the start to ensure tactical shooter precision, TFT is finally receiving a foundation that respects its unique needs as a high-fidelity strategy game. Conclusion: A future built on stability and innovation. The announcement of the 2026 technological overhaul represents a "coming of age" for Teamfight Tactics. By moving to Unreal Engine and establishing a standalone PC client, Riot Games is addressing the technical debt that has hindered the game's growth while setting the stage for a new era of innovation. While the "Wild" theme of Set 18 will bring new champions and mechanics to the board, the true transformation will be happening under the hood. For the players, this means a more stable game, a dedicated PC home, and the promise of visual spectacles that were once thought impossible. As the industry looks toward 2026, Teamfight Tactics is positioning itself to remain the definitive leader of the auto-battler genre for years to come.
Riot Games and SoundCloud launch remix contest for True Damage's Worlds anthem. Oct 9, 2026 Riot Games and SoundCloud have launched a remix competition for 'Know My Name', the True Damage song chosen as the official anthem of the 2026 League of Legends World Championship. According to a release, the campaign opened on October 9th, with Riot making the track's official instrumental stems available to download on SoundCloud. Stems are the individual layers of a recording, such as the drums or bass, which producers can pull apart and rework. SoundCloud is a music streaming and sharing platform where artists upload their own tracks, while Riot Games is the developer and publisher of League of Legends. League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game in which two teams of five characters, known as champions, try to destroy each other's base. True Damage is a virtual hip-hop group set within the game's universe, and it debuted seven years ago with the single 'GIANTS'. 'Know My Name' marks the group's return. How to enter the remix contest. Riot has left the brief open. Vocalists can record an original verse over the instrumental, while producers are free to move the beat into another genre or rebuild it from scratch, with the release describing the track as an 'open canvas' for entrants. "We put everything we had into 'Know My Name'. Now, we wanna see what you can bring to it," Ekko, one of True Damage's members, said in the release. Ekko added that creators could "add your own verse, flip the beat, remix it, tear it apart, and build it back up however you want to make it yours." Entry runs entirely through SoundCloud. According to the release, entrants need to: * Download the stems from the official Riot Games x SoundCloud Remix Hub * Unlock access to the files, which are hosted for subscribers to SoundCloud's Artist Pro plan (non-subscribers can claim a free trial with the code KNOWMYNAME26) * Create a track using the stems, whether by adding vocals, chopping up the parts or producing a new version * Upload the finished track to SoundCloud with the hashtag #KNOWMYNAME26 between October 9th and October 28th Submissions close on October 28th at 11:59 PM ET, which gives entrants just under three weeks. The release did not explain how the winning tracks will be chosen. What the winners will receive. The contest has one grand prize and two runner-up places. The grand prize winner will receive: * Two tickets to the 2026 League of Legends World Championship * True Damage Know My Name skins for the champions Qiyana, Senna and Yasuo * A True Damage 'Know My Name' seven-inch vinyl record Both runners-up will get the same three skins and the vinyl, but not the tickets. Skins are cosmetic items that change how a champion looks in League of Legends, and they have no effect on gameplay. Riot Games and SoundCloud in music. SoundCloud said the campaign is part of an ongoing initiative to give emerging artists and producers a 'low-friction entry point' and access to high-quality source material. Founded in 2007, the platform says it hosts over 400m tracks from more than 40m artists in 193 countries. Music is one of several ways Riot has expanded League of Legends since the game launched in 2009. Its other music projects include K/DA, and the company has also taken the game into comic books, board games and Arcane, its Emmy-winning animated series. The League of Legends World Championship, often called Worlds, is the game's annual international tournament. Riot describes it as the most widely viewed esports tournament, and it sits alongside the company's other major events, such as the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) and the Teamfight Tactics (TFT) Open. I write. I rap. I run. That's pretty much it.
Riot launches Worlds 2026 merch collection ahead of Brooklyn final. Riot Games has released the official League of Legends Worlds 2026 merchandise collection as the season's biggest international tournament approaches. The new range combines traditional esports apparel with designs inspired by New York and Brooklyn, where the World Championship concludes on November 14. Players can choose from jackets, jerseys, hoodies, shirts, accessories, plushies and the returning Worlds Unlocked Collector's Edition. Brooklyn shapes the Worlds 2026 collection. Riot describes this year's Worlds theme as "This Is Our Moment." The merchandise follows the same idea and places a strong emphasis on the tournament's return to North America and its final stop in Brooklyn. Several pieces incorporate design elements associated with New York. The headline apparel includes: * Worlds 2026 Denim Jacket - €137.99 * Worlds 2026 Baseball Jersey - €73.99 * Black and Grey Zip Hoodies - €84.99 each * Worlds 2026 Long Sleeve - €63.99 The Baseball Jersey is particularly tied to the host city, with Riot describing it as a reference to New York's baseball heritage. Denim Jacket is the most expensive apparel piece. The Worlds 2026 Denim Jacket sits at the top of the standard apparel range. Priced at €137.99, the jacket uses a classic denim silhouette combined with embroidered Worlds details. It is available in sizes from S through 2XL. The jacket clearly positions itself as the premium fashion item of the collection rather than a standard esports jersey or event shirt. The Baseball Jersey offers a more conventional sports-inspired alternative at €73.99. Riot also sells both a black and grey heavyweight Zip Hoodie for €84.99 each. | Item | Price | | Denim Jacket | €137.99 | | Baseball Jersey | €73.99 | | Black Zip Hoodie | €84.99 | | Grey Zip Hoodie | €84.99 | | Long Sleeve | €63.99 | | Short Sleeve | €31.99 | The Short Sleeve is the least expensive standard clothing item at €31.99. Teemo appears on the Worlds Short Sleeve. The Worlds 2026 Short Sleeve puts Teemo at the center of its design. Riot describes the shirt as a way to celebrate Worlds with one of League of Legends' most recognizable champions. The shirt uses 100% cotton jersey material with screen-printed graphics on the front and back. It is available from size S through 2XL. The combination of direct Worlds branding and an iconic champion makes the shirt one of the more traditional pieces in the lineup. Cap and accessories expand the range. The collection is not limited to clothing. Riot has also released a Worlds 2026 Cap for €31.99. The structured six-panel snapback includes a 3D embroidered front crest alongside additional embroidered graphics and patches. Other accessories and collectibles include: * Worlds 2026 XL Mousepad - €25.99 * Worlds 2026 Pin - €10.99 * Worlds 2026 Cap - €31.99 * Soap Studios League of Legends Keycap Blindbox - €12.99 These lower-cost items provide alternatives for fans who do not want to spend more than €70 on apparel. Tibbers and Poro plushies join the collection. Riot is also leaning heavily into collectibles. Both Worlds 2026 Tibbers and the Worlds 2026 Poro Plush are priced at €36.99. The Tibbers plush is listed with an estimated shipping time of up to two weeks after purchase. The Poro Plush is sold as a collectible product rather than a children's toy. This is consistent with Riot's broader approach to Worlds merchandise, where event-specific apparel is increasingly accompanied by collectible items tied to League characters. Worlds Unlocked Collector's Edition returns. The largest bundle in the collection is Worlds Unlocked 2026. The Collector's Edition costs €99.99 in Europe and requires buyers to log in with a Riot account before purchasing. It includes several physical items. Among them are a Worlds 2026 Teemo Bobble Head, Elder Dragon Plush, Poro Bag Charm Blind Box, Red Bull stainless-steel tumbler, Worlds Pin, Pennant and HyperX XL Mousepad. Digital rewards are also included. These include: * Season 3: Worlds 2026 Pass * Yasuo Champion Shard * Exclusive Worlds emotes * Worlds Unvaulted Capsule 2026 * True Damage Know My Name Yasuo content arriving October 21 The bundle is presented by Opera GX and combines physical merchandise with in-game League of Legends rewards. True Damage connects to Worlds 2026. The merchandise launch also coincides with Riot's wider Worlds campaign around True Damage. The virtual group returned for this year's Worlds anthem, while True Damage Know My Name Yasuo serves as the tournament's featured skin. That cosmetic is also included in the Collector's Edition alongside an exclusive chroma. Riot additionally released a limited-edition seven-inch "Know My Name" vinyl on October 9. The timing links Worlds merchandise, music and in-game cosmetics into one coordinated campaign. Assessment. The Worlds 2026 collection is broader than a standard tournament apparel drop. Riot is combining high-priced fashion items with cheaper accessories, plushies and a Collector's Edition that mixes physical and digital rewards. The Brooklyn influence gives this year's lineup a distinct visual identity, particularly through the Baseball Jersey and pinstripe-inspired designs. Pricing varies considerably. The €137.99 Denim Jacket is aimed at collectors or fans looking for a premium clothing piece, while the €31.99 shirt and cap provide more accessible options. The Worlds Unlocked bundle arguably offers the widest range of content for €99.99, especially for players interested in both physical collectibles and in-game rewards. With Worlds 2026 beginning on October 15 and the final heading to Brooklyn on November 14, Riot's latest collection arrives directly alongside the tournament's main promotional push. John Parker
2026 LoL Worlds 'know My Name' MV captures 'Faker' history. Oct 8, 2026 Riot Games has released the music video and track for "Know My Name," the theme song for the 2026 World Championship. Performed by virtual hip-hop group True Damage in their first return in roughly seven years, the video captures Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok and T1's journey leading up to their third consecutive World Championship title. YouTube content is unavailable. The track was released simultaneously on the official League of Legends YouTube channel and music streaming platforms on October 9 (KST). It marks the 13th World Championship anthem and the first time a virtual artist created by Riot Games has taken on the theme song. The music video follows the path Faker took as T1 achieved a three-peat World Championship run from 2023 to 2025. T1 completed the three-peat last year by defeating KT Rolster 3-2 in the finals, allowing Faker to build a record six World Championship titles, adding to his victories in 2013, 2015, and 2016. The video features key play highlights of Ahri, Ryze, and Orianna, who led Faker to his Worlds titles in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Afterward, as Faker walks a lonely path through a long period without winning the Worlds trophy, symbols of various Worlds champions appear behind him, starting with Samsung Galaxy. Then, as Faker prepares to continue his challenge alone once more, Gumayusi, Keria, Oner, and Zeus gather at his side. Faker takes on Worlds again with the "ZOFGK" roster. He delivers a standout performance on Akali to secure his fourth title, and then rescues a surrounded Zeus with Galio's Hero's Entrance to claim his fifth. After parting ways with Zeus with a smile following that victory, Faker faces KT Rolster. A battle ignited by Doran's Explosive Cask leads to Faker's stellar performance on Anivia, culminating in a three-peat and his sixth Worlds title. The video evokes nostalgic memories for fans by incorporating various iconic moments from Faker, T1, their opponents, and LoL Esports history in creative ways. Spotting these references adds another layer of enjoyment when watching the music video. Meanwhile, the track was performed by True Damage, who debuted at the 2019 World Championship Finals opening ceremony. True Damage is a virtual hip-hop group composed of five champions: Akali, Ekko, Qiyana, Senna, and Yasuo. SOYEON of i-dle once again provided the voice for Akali. Senna is voiced by R&B singer Coco Jones, Ekko by Chicago-based rapper Vic Mensa, Qiyana by Mexican singer Sofía Reyes, and Yasuo serves as DJ and producer. Maria Egan, Global Head of Music and Events at Riot Games, explained the artist selection, stating, "With this year's World Championship taking place in New York, we felt True Damage was the most fitting artist to perform the theme song". The 2026 World Championship begins with the Play-In stage in Los Angeles, USA on October 16 (KST), followed by the Swiss Stage and Knockout Stage in Allen, Texas, before concluding with the Finals on November 15 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. True Damage will perform "Know My Name" during the Finals opening ceremony. From the LCK, four teams - Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, T1, and Dplus KIA - will join the competition starting from the Swiss Stage on October 24. This article was originally written in Korean and translated with the help of AI. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by its newsroom. [Read Original]
ONE Asia challenges young creatives to 'Resist the Robot' in Kuala Lumpur. 0 18 2 minutes read adobo Creative Awards The One Club for Creativity's ONE Asia Creative Awards brings its Student MasterClass and portfolio review to Kuala Lumpur for the first time on 20 October, immediately following three days of 2026 ONE Asia judging in the city. The "Resist The Robot" MasterClass, which is free to attend, will gather six award-winning creative leaders to speak on a tension every creative person now faces: how to harness AI without surrendering the human judgment, instinct and original thinking that separate good work from AI slop. Top creatives confirmed to speak at the MasterClass include: * Pathida Akkarajindanon, Chief Creative Officer, BBDO Bangkok * Simon Au, Executive Creative Director, The Kitchen North America, Toronto * Rizza Garcia, Founder & Chief Designer, Lennon Group Manila * Gigi Lee, Founder & Principal Designer, Klinik Gigi, Kuala Lumpur * Asheen Naidu, Group Executive Creative Director, LEO Singapore * Nick Noh, Creative Director, Rethink Toronto The event is organised by ONE Asia/The One Club for Creativity and Level Up Professional Training, and supported by 4As Malaysia, Cotra Enterprises, Directors Think Tank, Wow Broadcast, and Rtist Creative Platform. Along with the MasterClass, the day will include valuable one-on-one portfolio reviews with creative leaders from the region. Students will get direct feedback on their work from some of Malaysia's most respected voices in the industry, including: * Mo Nazmi Ahmad, Senior Creative Director, Leo Malaysia * Shireen Ang, Creative Director, Havas Malaysia * Chee Wee Choo, Creative Partner, MUMA Malaysia * Christyna Fong, Creative Director, Chariot * Jaz Lee, Executive Creative Director, Leo Malaysia * Kekfeng Lee, Founder & Designer, Studio Kekfeng * Claudia Low, Creative Director, Ampersand Advisory * Loo Swee Mei, Senior Creative Director, NagaDDB * Justin Phang, Former Global Group Creative Director, Riot Games * Surya Salleh, Executive Creative Director, VML Kuala Lumpur The portfolio reviews are a rare opportunity for student creatives to show their work to the people who hire and shape the industry. Entry is free for all lecturers and students, but portfolio review spots are limited and require registration. The "Resist the Robot" Student MasterClass and Portfolio Review take place on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, 9:30 am-3:30 pm, at Limapulo, Tong Shin Terrace, 27 Jalan Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, located 10 minutes from Bukit Bintang MRT, Gate A. "Resist the Robot" handcrafted visual identity. The theme of the MasterClass is reflected in the visual identity created by Borderless and Klinik Gigi, both based in Kuala Lumpur. " 'Resist the Robot' is about using AI responsibly", said Edward Ong, Founder and Creative Director at Borderless. "It's a great tool and helper, but if we're not careful, our work will start to look and sound the same, and we will slowly lose our ability to ideate and develop original thought." Gigi Lee, Founder and Principal Designer at Klinik Gigi added: "AI can enhance creative ideas, but it shouldn't replace our thinking, and certainly not the ideas we show clients. For young people, it can be very tempting to use AI for everything. Not using AI can be hard work. It's lonely, difficult and time-consuming. But developing that ability to think for yourself will benefit you in the long run." Rather than relying on AI-generated imagery, the team commissioned a hand-drawn illustration by Klinik Gigi designer Shin Shin that's filled with deliberate AI-related symbolism that rewards close attention: The robot has six fingers and wears different rings for every execution, its head is a box as a rejection of inside-the-box thinking, and the signal above its head reaches all four corners of the globe, acknowledging that AI is inevitable and inescapable. adobo Magazine is an official media partner of the 2026 ONE Asia Creative Awards.