Why Duolingo Won't Add More Ads
Language learning app Duolingo could raise revenue by showing more advertisements to users of its free product. But the company's focus on long-term thinking over short-term results has led CEO Luis Von Ahn and CFO Matt Skaruppa to resist the temptation. They explain their reasoning to Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Chief Future Officer.
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It didn't make sense, because Frank Lloyd Wright certainly designed for each of his individual projects—he created something new, something that expressed the individual forms of the project, the needs of the client. So there was a great awareness of wanting to continue that legacy through the work that we did on the trailer.' The two teams ultimately homed in on the concept of Usonian design, a style that aimed to democratize design via small, affordable homes with a focus on efficient floor plans, functionality, and modularity. In other words: an ideal fit for an Airstream. COLLAPSIBLE CHAIRS AND CLERESTORY WINDOWS When you approach the trailer, the connection to Wright is immediate on the custom front door featuring the Gordon leaf pattern, which the architect commissioned his apprentice Eugene Masselink to design in 1956. It's a tip of the hat to nature, presumably an Airstreamer's destination, and can be found subtly throughout the trailer in elements like sconces and cabinet pulls—but not too much, per the design mission at the outset. ('At one point we had a lot more of that Gordon leaf in there,' Wheeler notes. 'We dialed that way back.') With the push of a button, the bench seating converts into a king-size bed—one of Wheeler's favorite elements. It is the largest bed in any Airstream, and is a first for the company, he says. Another convertible element, in line with that focus on modularity, is the living space at the front of the trailer. Here, a dining table, desk, and seating inspired by the slant-back chairs that Wright used throughout his career collapse into a wall cabinet. Wheeler says Airstream used to deploy clever features like this in the midcentury era, before modern preferences trended toward built-in furniture. 'So in some ways, this is a bit of a flashback to an earlier design in the '50s, which is appropriate.' The teams also honored Wright's focus on natural light, relocating Airstream's usual overhead storage in favor of clerestory windows, which are prominent in Usonian homes. Meanwhile, the overall color palette comes from a 1955 Wright-curated Martin-Senour paint line. Russell says the team selected it for its harmonious blend with the natural settings where the trailer is likely headed, featuring ocher, red, and turquoise. Ultimately, 'It's like a Frank Lloyd Wright home, where you walk into it, and it's a completely different experience from any other building,' Russell says. 'I hope that he would be very happy to see that design legacy continue, because he certainly did that with his own fellowship and the apprentices that he worked with.' USONIAN LIFE Starting today, the limited-edition, numbered trailers will be available for order at Airstream dealerships. Wheeler says the company was originally going to release just 100 of them, but got so much positive feedback from dealers and others that they doubled the run. On the whole, the collaboration comes in the wake of a boom time for Airstream, which is owned by Thor Industries. Airstream experienced a surge during the pandemic, resulting in a 22% jump in sales in 2021 as people embraced remote work or realigned their relationship to the world. 'We've come back to earth now, and now we're much more tied to actual market retail rates, which is what we know,' Wheeler says. In its third-quarter financials, Thor reported $2.89 billion in revenue (up 3.3% from previous year). While the company declined to provide Airstream-specific numbers, its overall North American towable RV division is up 9.1% from the same period in 2024. But there's a problem afoot: The current administration's tariffs, which Wheeler says made settling on the price for the Frank Lloyd Wright collaboration tricky. He adds that the company is struggling with shortages caused by the disruption in the supply chain, and high interest rates are also a problem. 'Look, we're 94 years old,' he says. 'We've been through more of these cycles than we can count, so we're fine, and we'll continue to trade on authenticity, quality, great service and support, a great dealer network, and a brand that really has become part of the fabric of the U.S. traveling adventure.'
