Building the visual world of Adele
Following the release of Adele’s latest album, creative director and long-time collaborator Phil Lee discusses what it’s like to help create a brand for one of the world’s biggest artists
The best film posters of the year 2021
It’s been another bumpy year for cinemas but that hasn’t got in the way of some beautiful movie posters being produced. Daniel Benneworth-Gray rounds up his favourites of the year
Annie Atkins curates Christmas at Guinness Storehouse
The designer mined the Guinness archives to create graphics for its seasonal display in the Dublin brewery experience, including a modular Christmas tree installation
Zeitgeist: Eric Hart Jr
Enjoying a meteoric rise in the industry while still at college, Eric Hart Jr is discovering the power that photography has for self-discovery
Zeitgeist: Thalía Gochez
Mexican-Salvadorian imagemaker Thalía Gochez talks about growing up as a child of immigrants, how photography came out of her love of styling, and why being a good person can make you a better photographer
Red Cross ad asks supporters to react in dollars rather than emojis
Created by Wunderman Thompson, the React For Real campaign clocks up how much money could be raised to help the people of Afghanistan if we put our money where our likes and shares are
Pantone’s 2022 Colour of the Year is periwinkle
For the first time, the colour experts have created a brand new hue for the annual announcement – and it’s a lilacy blue that speaks to the future of fashion as well as the metaverse
On fact and fiction in photography
Two recent projects have illuminated the ways that photography can be used to confuse and manipulate. Patrick Burgoyne investigates what this might mean for the future of media
New Stella Artois campaign from Mother rewards drinkers who say please
With rudeness to hospitality staff on the rise, the beer brand is reminding people to be polite by changing its iconic branding for the Christmas season
How McSweeney’s zags where other publishers zig
The American publisher has spent the last 23 years defiantly doing the opposite of everyone else in the book and magazine world. Here’s how McSweeney’s creates its distinctive and often daring tone of voice
Meta
Great Work: Cyberpunk 2077 embraces augmented reality
Cyberpunk 2077 fans were delighted when AR filters brought the game’s post-apocalyptic aesthetic to life on Instagram
An Oral History of John Lewis’ The Long Wait
It was the Christmas ad that launched a thousand Christmas ads, and established John Lewis’s festive branding tropes for a decade to come. Director Dougal Wilson and adam&eveDDB co-founder Ben Priest remember how The Long Wait was made
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