Locket, the #1 app in Apple’s App Store, uses a trick hiding in plain sight

I’ve never understood widgets. In theory, sure. They’re these bite-sized apps living on your home screen or desktop, providing just the information you need, right when you need it. But beyond time and the weather, what do you really need? Well, a widget that hit #1 in the App Store this week, called Locket, has an answer: Photos. Photos from only the closest people in your life, that appear on your screen automatically. It’s the cross between a digital photo frame and a barebones social network. Locket is the latest viral sensation in social media. But you know what? Its best ideas are here to stay. Read my story here. —Mark Wilson, @ctrlzee   co.design Locket, the #1 app in Apple’s App Store, uses a trick hiding in plain sight The photo sharing app isn’t just a viral sensation. It figured out how to use widgets the right way. READ MORE   impact Berlin is planning a car-free area larger than Manhattan The citizen-driven plan that the city is considering now would create the largest car-free area in a city anywhere in the world. READ MORE   work life Parents are in crisis. It’s time to reinstate pandemic paid family leave When school abruptly goes virtual or a family member needs to quarantine, paid leave can be the only way for millions to keep their jobs. READ MORE

With this $125 million investment, there’s about to be a lot more mushroom leather As fashion brands look for more sustainable alternatives to leather, the Bay Area-based biotech startup Mycoworks is perfecting a version made from mycelium, the root-like part of mushrooms. The company, which just announced a $125 million Series C funding round, is now scaling up production. READ MORE

the great resignation Is the Great Resignation BS? Statistics show it’s not all that The next time you hear about the Great Resignation, a senior lecturer of the Questrom School of Business at Boston University says it’s important to understand it isn’t quite as great as it seems. READ MORE   co.design The U.S. electric grid is horrifyingly outdated. Here’s how to modernize it To tackle the climate crisis, the grid needs to be transitioned to carbon-free wind and solar. READ MORE   leadership This little-known leadership principle can provide clarity during uncertain times Two of Verizon’s leaders maintain that too many leaders fail to appreciate the nuance that leadership demands, overemphasizing authority and control instead of autonomy and support. They share a management philosphy that offers a better way forward. READ MORE   remote work 5 ways to help remote employees find connection, and thrive Remote workers who have never been in the same room with their managers and coworkers can face extra challenges with connection and culture. READ MORE   impact Companies need to confront how work conditions affect the well-being of their employees To build a healthier future of work, employers need to stop offering cosmetic wellness programs and instead make sure work itself is promoting wellness. READ MORE   co.design What devastating floods look like once you remove cities from the equation Not nearly as bad. READ MORE   NEWS Why global leaders are terrified about ‘social cohesion erosion’ According to a new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF), “social cohesion erosion” is the fastest-growing threat to our planet since the COVID crisis struck. If you think it sounds scary, you’re not alone. According to the WEF, it’s “perceived as a critical threat to the world across all time spans . . . and is seen as among the most potentially damaging for the next 10 years.”  Social cohesion worsens upon rising divisions and polarization in society—as income inequalities are exacerbated by the pandemic’s lopsided recovery, for example. Put simply, it’s the crumbling of civil society.  However, risk-mitigation efforts do exist, including those for poverty alleviation, human health crises, and basic resources security. Check out the latest news stories here. FREE SPONSORED E-BOOK OF THE DAY Business Writing For Dummies, 3rd Edition ($15.00 Value) FREE for a Limited Time – Expires 1/18/2022.  Click here to download your free e-book.     Thanks for reading! Have questions or comments? Email us at newsletters@fastcompany.com. Have a great day! SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER   Support Our Journalism for as Little as $1.99/Month Join Fast Company Premium   If you don’t want to receive Compass anymore, unsubscribe here If you were forwarded Compass and like it, subscribe here View this newsletter online 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007-2195