Overpowered album sleeve, art directed by Scott King. Photography: Jonathan de Villiers
It’s that time of the year, when all the papers and magazines are filled with endless lists of the highlights of the past 12 months. Which got me thinking about what I’d choose. And the first thing that came to mind were these – the sleeves for Roisin Murphy’s Overpowered album and singles. Any idea that can be described as ‘Ziggy Stardust in Wimpy Burger’ gets my vote…
Dougal Wilson and Shelley Parker
Subway Sect is a new radio series, produced by Maria Bartolo and CR’s Eliza Williams, which is airing on Resonance FM, London’s art/experimental radio station. The shows aim to explore the complex relationship between art and music and take the form of a series of conversations between artists, musicians, writers, designers, DJs and music video directors.
The shows go out each Wednesday at 1pm on Resonance (104.4 FM or online at www.resonancefm.com) and we’ll also be bringing you transcripts of highlights from the shows each week on the CR blog.
This week’s Subway Sect sees music video and advertising director Dougal Wilson in conversation with DJ and artist Shelley Parker. The two discuss Wilson’s videos for musicians including Jarvis Cocker and Bat For Lashes, while Parker explains the differences between DJing at Tate Britain compared to Fabric, and describes her new record label, Structure. The conversation took place earlier this year at Wilson’s production company offices, Blink Productions.
Tony Soprano as drawn by illustrator Noma Bar
Israeli illustrator Noma Bar depicts the faces of the famous using only a few lines, colours and drawn objects. But the key to the success of the London-based artist’s work is how the objects he assembles to create each face immediately relate to the particular person in question: evoking their personality, reputation or, even, their ideology.
Bjork, Declare Independence, Director: Michel Gondry, Production company: Partizan
To help you through the last few moments of the working week, here is a selection of the wonderful work that we’ve been looking at in Creative Review towers over the last week or so… First up is Michel Gondry’s hotly-awaited video for Bjork’s new track, Declare Independence.
Scenes from the Bible have been imagined by countless artists over the centuries, but never quite like this. God’s Eye View portrays four key Biblical events as if captured by Google Earth. Above, The Crucifixion.
Jeremyville
A group of third year graphic design students from Salford University have come up with a scheme to make money for their end-of-year show by asking top designers to create a Christmas card for them, which they are selling online. And with the likes of Jeremyville, Parra and Paul Davis involved, the results make for the nicest Christmas cards we’ve seen in a while. Here’s a taster of the collection – the rest can be viewed online at http://cardboardsu.blogspot.com/ and can be ordered there in packs of five for £4.50 or as single cards for a £1. Bargain!
For those of you who are fed up with all the cutesy gifts that appear at this time of year, and yet are still on the hunt for that elusive Christmas present, we might have just the thing for you – the Roadkill teddy.
Picture: LAb[au]
In Brussels at the weekend (the family and I having decided to test out the St Pancras Eurostar experience), the chips, the chocolate and the Atomium were all good fun, but the highlight (forgive the pun) was the Dexia Tower – 38 floors and 150,000 LEDs equal one hell of a light show.
Young people aren’t interested in magazines anymore? Well, if they don’t like reading them, they at least still enjoy designing them as I found out at a recent workshop.
The new and, we hope, vastly improved Creative Handbook website launches today. Creative Review bought the Creative Handbook back in the summer. Since then we have been working with Bureau for Visual Affairs to produce the most comprehensive and easy to use directory of its kind on the web, with details of thousands of photographers, illustrators, designers, ad agencies and other creative companies
This glitzy new campaign for Sony PlayStation 3, from TBWALondon, sees the introduction of a more theatrical feel to the brand’s advertising
To promote a new model Walkman that has a TV programme recording function, Sony Japan has launched the Rec You campaign
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
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
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
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
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
Kelly Grovier’s new book charts the artist’s persistent dialogue with classic and contemporary art
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
The Pentagram partner has created the titles for the acclaimed new Netflix show, which reimagines the Greek myths in a contemporary setting
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
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
We explore how the 90s, an era the UK looks favourably upon for its thriving culture, are continually inspiring a stagnated creative industry
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