Damn right it's by design! Look at a few of the tights they have. They're just following the same trends the ladies are wearing. At my gym many of the women's shorts 'fill the void' exactly (front to back). And since I don't discriminate between men and women when it comes to a nice ass... It's brilliant!
Seriously though... There is a difference between the workout shorts on the close out rack vs the expensive designer brands (especially on the gay forward brands). I buy my underwear from them because they fit amazing. Yes they are twice the price (or more), but you can't beat the fit. As I'm getting in better shape these days, I'm finding my workout shorts have shorter inseams and snug in the back. But I'm still building my glutes a bit as my ass has always been tiny for my size.
