Design returns with Faithless, their third studio album!

On Friday, 15 May 2026, Design return with Faithless, their third studio album. Previewed in recent weeks by the singles Red Dragon and Blame, the album will be released on LP, CD and digital formats via Overdub Recordings.

Faithless is an intense and deeply conceptual work that explores loss — both personal and symbolic — as a lens through which to interpret a present stripped of meaning. It stems from the absence of reference points, from the silence of God and the collapse of ideologies, but also from the human need to find, in love and self-awareness, the possibility of redemption. In this sense, the term faithless does not simply denote a lack of religious belief, but a broader and distinctly contemporary condition: a loss of faith in society and in a world that seems to have betrayed every promise of respect and equality.

The album unfolds as a dreamlike inward journey, in which the microcosm of mourning reflects the macrocosm of a suffocating, violent and often incomprehensible present. Within this space of disorientation, the individual may become overwhelmed, prey to superstition and unable to make sense of what surrounds them. The narrative arc culminates in the belly of the whale, the work’s central symbol: a place of refuge, waiting and confrontation with darkness. From Carlo Collodi and Herman Melville to George Orwell, the whale becomes a metaphor for the absolute, for grief and for suspension. Only by passing through this space — and emerging transformed — does Faithless open up the possibility of rebirth.

Sonically, the record sits at the intersection of post-punk, darkwave and electronic rock, favouring atmospheric depth and emotional intensity. Written between February and October 2024 and recorded in May 2025 in Castelfidardo, Italy, and Berlin, Germany, the album was produced, recorded and mixed by Enrico Tiberi, before being mastered in London by Pete Maher, whose credits include Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, The Jesus and Mary Chain, U2, Pixies and The Killers. Layers of synths and electronic textures intertwine with sharp-edged guitars and driving rhythms, shaping a direct, visceral sound that recalls the tension of Model/Actriz and the emotional suspension of ††† (Crosses), with an industrial edge reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails. Melodically, echoes of New Order and Depeche Mode surface, reworked through a contemporary lens free of nostalgia. The result is a solid, distinctive sound — restrained in its production choices and driven by dynamics, atmosphere and expressive urgency — with a clear international outlook.

The album’s visual identity sustains this same emotional tension. The cover of Faithless is dominated by a large block of marble photographed by Paolo Maggiani in his work Vette scalfite: stone as raw material, but also as a gravestone — a vessel of memory. Isolated and imposing, the marble becomes a metaphor for the individual at the heart of the record: a closed microcosm weighed down by emotional burden. Behind it, the faint outline of a whale, drawn by Sara Tringali, cuts across the image as a mental and symbolic presence. The dialogue between photography and illustration visually conveys the core of the work: a journey born of loss, moving through disbelief and silence towards the possibility of rebirth.

BIO

Formed in Italy in 2008, Design comprises Daniele Strappato (vocals and programming), Sara Tringali (bass), Nicola Cerasa (guitars and keyboards), and Roberto Cardinali (drums and programming). The band’s name reflects their intent to reinterpret and reshape what already exists — a creative impulse that has informed both their songwriting and sonic identity from the outset. Following the EP/demo 4 Little Hanged Toys (Copro Records/Casket Music), they released their debut album Technicolor Noise (Zeta Factory) in 2012, blending alternative rock, electronics and industrial influences. In 2015, Daytime Sleepwalkers (This Is Core) marked a darker evolution, weaving new wave elements more consciously into their sound. The following year brought DSRMX, a remix collection that further expanded the project’s electronic dimension. After a hiatus prompted by personal circumstances, the band returns in 2026 with Faithless on Overdub Recordings: an intense and politically charged record that signals a new chapter.

Stream / Buy / Download the album on Bandcamp

CREDITS

Daniele Strappato | Vocals, programming
Sara Tringali | Bass
Nicola Cerasa | Guitars, keyboards
Roberto Cardinali | Drums, programming
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Music | Design 
Lyrics | Daniele Strappato
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Production, vocal recording and mix | Enrico Tiberi @ Bellezebù Studio, Berlin (Germany)

Instrument recording | Enrico Tiberi @ Dyne Engine Studio, Castelfidardo (Italy)

Mastering | Pete Maher @ London (United Kingdom)
Cover and back cover photography | Paolo Maggiani

Artwork and layout | Sara Tringali

Promotional photos | David Fazzini and Lorenzo Francella

Design:

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Thank you very much PEYOTE

I am not the owner of the picture, video or original song. Therefore, all rights belong to their respective owners. If you are the owner of the picture, video or any of the songs, write me a private message located on the information page and I will delete the video, photos immediately!!

Photo by © David Fazzini and Lorenzo Francella