Trump Appoints Joe Gebbia as First Chief Design Officer
President Donald Trump has appointed Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb Inc., as the United States’ first Chief Design Officer. This role is part of an initiative to modernize federal digital services and physical locations. The announcement follows the signing of an executive order titled “America by Design,” which aims to tackle significant usability issues within the federal digital infrastructure.
According to a report by The Hill, Gebbia’s appointment is intended to address critical deficiencies highlighted in the executive order’s fact sheet. Currently, only 6% of approximately 26,000 federal websites receive “good” ratings for mobile performance, while 45% of these sites lack mobile-friendly functionality. Gebbia emphasized the need for an experience that reflects excellence and simplifies life for American citizens, drawing a comparison to the user-friendly design of an Apple store.
National Design Studio to Focus on Usability
The newly established National Design Studio will be based at the White House, with Gebbia reporting directly to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Federal agency heads will be required to consult with Gebbia on design improvements, with a mandate to produce initial results by July 4, 2026. This temporary organization will operate for three years, concentrating on websites and physical locations that significantly impact the daily lives of Americans.
Trump’s executive order aims to streamline design processes to “reduce duplicative design costs” and enhance public trust in essential service providers. Gebbia’s vision includes creating a more cohesive and aesthetically pleasing digital experience for users interacting with government services.
Gebbia’s Background and Influence
Joe Gebbia brings a wealth of experience from the tech sector, holding approximately 7% equity in Airbnb and possessing an estimated net worth of $8.14 billion, according to Bloomberg. His position on the board of Tesla Inc. since 2022 and his connection to CEO Elon Musk may have played a role in his selection for this influential government role.
As part of his new responsibilities, Gebbia aims to ensure that federal digital services not only meet functional standards but also provide an enjoyable user experience. He envisions a system that prioritizes design excellence, much like that of leading technology companies.
In related financial news, Airbnb’s stock closed at $129.92, up 2.76% on the previous Friday, reflecting positive market sentiment. The company, valued at $80.74 billion, trades around 4.84 million shares daily and has a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.46.
The appointment of Joe Gebbia as Chief Design Officer marks a significant shift in how the federal government approaches digital services, potentially transforming the user experience for millions of Americans.
