In praise of silliness
Providing the perfect antidote to our serious times, Leanne Rule’s illustrations and animations have caught the eye of everyone from femcare brand Libresse to the makers of Love Island
The beauty and chaos of the UFC brand
In 30 years, mixed martial arts organisation Ultimate Fighting Championship has gone from scrappy upstart to entertainment behemoth, and a big part of that is down to branding
An overdue look at influential female sleeve designer Gee Vaucher
A new book titled Gee Vaucher: Beyond Punk, Feminism, and the Avant-Garde looks to celebrate her work for the likes of anarchist punk group Crass and more
Maira Kalman’s new book explores the many things women ‘hold’
Featuring her paintings and poetic commentary, Women Holding Things depicts the physical and metaphorical burdens women around the world carry
Magic saves the day in NRMA Insurance’s new ads
A runaway tyre and a field of fire-fighting water jets come to the rescue in a pair of beautiful new spots by ad agency Bear Meets Eagle On Fire
Creating an authentic voice
Accra-based photographer David Nana Opoku Ansah has carved out a style that is thoughtful and evocative. Here he talks about teaching himself his craft and the challenges facing African creatives
Why small projects can be beautiful
Since graduating in 2020, Manchester-based designer Alice Fraser has forged a path in research-driven design, and in advocating for a more inclusive industry
Tesco’s Christmas ad is a cheeky swipe at the UK’s political permacrisis
The supermarket offers up a new political solution in its ad, in the form of the Christmas Party, which promises to ‘stand for joy’
What marketers really want from agencies
A survey of 500 CMOs by Dentsu Creative will make salutary reading for agencies, but also reveals how central creativity and design are to business, says Patricia McDonald, chief strategy director at Dentsu Creative
Lidl’s festive ad stars a shrunken Christmas jumper and a deadpan teddy bear
The spot sees the aptly named Lidl Bear fall victim to the trappings of fame before returning to his rightful home – just in time for Christmas, of course
Aliens are among us in Fridays for Future’s new campaign
The climate action collective has partnered with Fred & Farid on a set of vintage sci-fi-style posters, which tell a different kind of story about extraterrestrials
Rachel Fleminger Hudson on defying labels
This month at Creative Review, we are talking to some of the best new talent in the industry. We begin with photographer and filmmaker Rachel Fleminger Hudson, who discusses her process, and the pressures and challenges facing young creatives
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