Is the advertising industry rigged?
House of Oddities was set up to challenge the more problematic elements of the traditional agency model. We speak to its founders about why they think the odds are still stacked against small indie agencies
Journeying through 500 years of Black music in Britain
An expansive exhibition at London’s British Library unpacks Black British music history through archival materials and new commissions, including a five-channel film installation in collaboration with Touching Bass
Bumble reveals new campaign and key changes to its app
The dating app is launching its new design and features with a campaign that addresses the exhausting admin involved in finding a match
Are we entering the era of independent agencies?
The last few years have seen independent creative agencies rise up to take on the might of the networks. Here, Sam Smith, who has spent time on both sides of the fence, examines why their offering is right for the times
Thandiwe Muriu’s book is a ‘living archive’ of ankara fabrics
The Kenyan artist’s debut book, Camo, brings together her vibrant, intricately layered photographs, which are painstakingly created without digital manipulation
KFC embraces the reality of the British summer in new campaign
The new Ultimate BBQ Burger launches with a campaign by Mother that offers a taste of summer no matter the weather
Venice Biennale stunt reminds people of the daily reality of war
Ukrainian agency Bickerstaff.734’s latest campaign saw it distribute posters across Venice pointing out where the city’s historic bomb shelters are based
Rebranding Atlantic Records for a new era
We speak to Atlantic Records’ creative director and Explorers Club Studio about the challenge of redefining one of the world’s biggest record labels to keep pace with a rapidly changing music industry
A deep dive into the complexity of brand purpose
Nick Asbury’s new book examines how brand purpose intoxicated the marketing world, and the negative impact he feels it has wrought. Here he introduces the book’s central themes and implores us all to think differently about the trend
Why brands need to stand out, not fit in, on social
In the battle for attention, brands who choose to entertain audiences rather than mimic the production values of socially native content will ultimately win, says head of We Are Social Studios Dan Keefe
Aruba Conservation Foundation’s rebrand gives nature a voice
Created by How&How, the charity’s new name and visual identity is targeted less at tourists visiting the Caribbean Island and more at the local community
How Heineken is using AR to help preserve Irish pubs
LePub and Publicis Dublin collaborated with the beer brand to turn historic watering holes across Ireland into virtual ‘Pub Museums’, making them eligible for the financial benefits given to cultural institutions
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