This is Liverpool
A stone’s throw from the multibillion pound developments of Liverpool One and the Albert Dock, a vibrant independent creative scene is thriving in Liverpool. Cr took a tour with one of our readers
Boom and her books
Whether big, small, fat or thing, the publications created by Dutch designer Irma Boom are seldom less than extraordinary. Eliza Williams meets her
New from old
Dentsu may have been founded in 1901 but its London outpost has one of the most radical new agendas in advertising
The decisive moment
Magnum Contact Sheets reveals what went into achieving the perfect photograph in the years before the digital revolution
December Hi-Res
KesselsKramer founder Erik Kessels has created an art installation featuring print-outs of all the images uploaded to Flickr in 24 hours
Who’s winning the brand identity turf war?
The British Gas logo was recently updated by CHI&Partners: is such work best suited to brand specialists or will we see more done by communications agencies?
Cut, fold, glue and play
Forget vinyl, with the next generation of designer toys all you have to do is cut, fold, glue and play
THe future’s dark, pitch dark, in fact
An integral part of a competitive industry, or like fighting for steak amid a pack of hyenas – pitching is life or death for all involved
Wolpe, Albertus and Faber’s classic covers
In 1958, Faber & Faber asked a young German typographer to create a series of bold covers for its new paperbacks. He didn’t disappoint
Selling Europe back to the Europeans
With its Helvetica-based logo, US homeware brand Crate & Barrel brought European style to the US. Now it’s heading across the Atlantic
The magpie
Edward McKNight Kauffer looked to the avant-garde for inspiration in his commercial practice. A new exhibition celebrates his heady blend of advertising and art
Design finds a voice, but what does it have to say?
Graphic Design: Now in Production, the Walker Art Center’s look at recent graphic work, raises questions about the profession’s future
Creative Review’s Annual Awards 2025 are officially open for entries
One of the most respected and trusted awards for the advertising and design industries are back for 2025. Run, don’t walk to get your entries in before the Early Bird Deadline on 25 October
How to scale your design business
Growth is a dream for many businesses, but it comes with challenges. Daisy Crowder, brand and marketing director at design recruitment agency Craft, offers advice on how to navigate the change and keep staff on side
Cultivating community with Ganni
The Danish luxury fashion label has spearheaded the characterful evolution of Scandi style. Here, chief brand officer Priya Matadeen discusses its approach to collabs, the pressures of being a responsible brand, and how Ganni Girls grew from a hashtag to a badge of belonging
Why are brands apologising so much right now?
Brands are saying sorry at a more rapid rate than ever. CR’s advertising columnist Ben Kay delves into why sorry is no longer the hardest word and whether this is an effective strategy for winning audiences
How Guinness embraced social
By loosening its approach to advertising, and engaging with its audience directly, the drinks brand has transformed with the times and won a whole new set of fans
Tracing Banksy’s art history remixes
Kelly Grovier’s new book charts the artist’s persistent dialogue with classic and contemporary art
How Lego creates meaningful brand experiences
We speak to Lego’s VP of global brand development Alero Akuya about the brand’s rare ability to straddle the physical and virtual worlds with ease – whether through its immersive new art exhibition in Paris or collaborations with Epic Games and Nike
Matt Willey brings a human touch to Kaos titles
The Pentagram partner has created the titles for the acclaimed new Netflix show, which reimagines the Greek myths in a contemporary setting
A visual history of movie posters
A new book from Reel Art Press collates the first comprehensive history of film posters. We explore why they remain an underappreciated area of cultural design
The Monthly Interview: Rob Lowe, aka Supermundane
Mark Sinclair talks to the artist and designer about his new book, Lost Ordinary Magic, and the importance of recognising the power of simplicity and the everyday wonders that surround us
Unravelling adland’s obsession with 90s nostalgia
We explore how the 90s, an era the UK looks favourably upon for its thriving culture, are continually inspiring a stagnated creative industry
Building the visual world of Fontaines DC
The band’s surreal new album visuals explore a darker, more grotesque side of romance. We speak to the creative team behind the campaign about challenging the visual tropes of rock music