Cannes 07: UK Finds Golds Hard to Come By
British agencies managed just two Golds at the Cannes Press and Cyber Lions, announced on Wednesday night. Cue much soul-searching on the Carlton Terrace.
Cannes 07: This Used To Be A Football Club…
“Manchester United is pleased to invite brand, marketing and communications leaders to a relaxed drinks occasion in the presence of their legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson CBE”.
So read a full-page ad in yesterday’s edition of Lions Daily, the Cannes advertising festival newspaper. Perhaps irked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich ‘s conspicuous swanning about on his super yacht, the self-styled “world’s greatest football club” now have a big boat of their own, and they have parked it in Cannes for the duration of the ad festival.
Nice Pflums
Meet the face of PFLUM FORM – an installation based on a modular typeface designed by Central Saint Martins students, Thorbjørn Ankerstjerne and Jonas Lund. Installed in a darkened room as part of their degree show, the series of white triangular modules are displayed to form a “face” and also the letters “R”, “U”, “O” and “K” when coloured light is projected onto them. It’s a mesmerising effect.
Music, Sweet Music
Boy Scout Recordings sampler CD and patch, designed by Paul Flack
We’ve seen some lovely music-related artwork land on our desks this week at CR towers, which is great, though slightly frustrating as our July issue, complete with Music Showcase section has gone to press (it’s out in the shops this week). So we thought we’d post up some of the things that won’t appear in the magazine, but that we really like. Please note some of the content in this post is not “work safe”…
A Month In The Life Of A Graphic Designer
Over the next month, Michael C Place of Build and Creative Review will be conducting a unique experiment. We are going to document one month in the life of a graphic designer.
Send a Postcard
Regular readers will remember our post a few months ago about a book of postcards called Lost Heroes by illustrator Ian Stevenson, published by Concrete Hermit. Now the independent publisher has released three new postcard size volumes by three more illustrators: Sweaty Goolabs by Jon Burgerman, Monstruos & Maestros by Motomichi and Von by Hellovon (covers shown above)…
Penguin Design Award Winners Revealed
The winning cover of the inaugural Penguin Design Awards, by student Ara Youn
Penguin Books, with its history of innovative and elegant book covers, is renowned for its support of graphic designers and this has recently extended to the launch of the publishing company’s first design award. Aimed at final year designers on a degree or HND art or design course, the award offers the chance for the students to experience real jacket design briefs, by designing a cover for a Penguin title. The judging panel of the first award included author Ali Smith, Deyan Sudjic, director of the Design Museum, and Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett.
Fresh off the Factory Floor
Behold, the FAC51-Y3. No, it’s not a late addition to the musical catalogue of Mancunian record label Factory Records, clearly, but a highly limited trainer from Y-3 (the brand created by adidas and Yohji Yamamoto), devised especially to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of legendary Manchester nightclub The Haçienda. The shoe’s design is a collaboration between Peter Saville (the original Factory Records graphic designer), Ben Kelly (the architect who designed the original Haçienda interiors) and Joy Division/New Order bass player, Peter Hook…
Sending out an SOS
Airside’s animated SOS contribution
SOS, a film campaign to help promote the Live Earth global concerts held on July 7, saw Dilly Gent commission 60 films to be made in just five months.
Stamp of approval
Although stamps are a form of graphic design that we interact with daily, it is rare that we ever get to see the faces of those that have created them. This makes a recent commemorative miniature sheet of stamps particularly significant, for it bears the face of Arnold Machin, the artist behind the iconic image of the Queen that has graced the UK’s stamps since 1967. The stamps were released last week on June 5, 40 years after the first stamps went on sale.
Rubbery Jubbly
Introducing the designer toy that aims to “stop the dictatorship of vinyl” and bring DIY ethics into this fashionably niche market: the humble balloon. Yes, as anyone who’s ever drawn a face onto an inflated balloon knows (and believe me, I do) it’s a strangely satisfying task, often resulting in hilarity for all concerned. A new book brings together several illustrators’ attempts at creating some cheeky, freaky inflatable heads…
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 Leaders Issue is out now!
The Autumn 2024 issue of Creative Review looks at the brands and individuals who are pushing creativity forward on their way to the top
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
Jessica Walsh ventures into the world of type
As the &Walsh founder launches her agency’s new offshoot Type of Feeling, she discusses why typography’s ability to evoke emotions makes it one of the most powerful tools at a brand’s disposal
Can neuroscience make you a better creative?
Kinda Studios is tapping into the emerging field of neuroaesthetics to help creatives and brands make more impactful work that benefits people’s wellbeing