The best ads of 2020
From Burger King’s stomach-churning Moldy Whopper to Tesco’s festive spot reassuring us that there’s no naughty list during a pandemic, here’s our top ten campaigns from the last 12 months
The visual evolution of Bombay Bicycle Club
A decade on from the release of one of indie music’s seminal albums, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, we take a trip down memory lane with Bombay Bicyle Club frontman Jack Steadman and frequent collaborators Anna Ginsburg and Joe Prytherch
Marvel celebrates superhero nurses with The Vitals
Forget Thor’s hammer or Captain America’s shield, these Marvel superheroes are armed with latex gloves, masks, and scrubs
Absolut
How IRL conversations help spark change
Young people crave real-life connections, and Absolut is empowering Gen Z consumers to engage with the causes that matter
The best record sleeves of 2020
Our favourite album designs from the past year include intimate portraits, flammable record sleeves and the ‘Photoshop interface of the future’
Trends of 2020: The year in photos
In 2020, people turned to photography for support, inspiration and sustenance, as well as to document their experiences of the pandemic and of the many protests that took place. Here, Diane Smyth looks back on a year that will be impossible to forget
The best movie posters of 2020
It may have been a tough year for cinemas, but there’s still been plenty of excellent movie posters. Our design correspondent Daniel Benneworth-Gray chooses his favourites
Trends of 2020: The year in branding and logos
From clever responses to Covid to a visually revitalised financial sector and a renewed understanding of heritage, we look back on the last 12 months of branding
Creative Review Annual 2021 is open for entries!
Our showcase of world-changing creativity is open for entries now – with a deadline of January 15. Find out all the details of how, why and where to enter here
Reporters Without Borders ad articulates the vital role of journalism
A new ad for the non-profit organisation Reporters Without Borders viscerally demonstrates the important role that journalists play in the world
Trends of 2020: The year in advertising
We look back at a year when the advertising industry was shaken to its core and when calls for change could no longer be ignored
Trends of 2020: The year in government design
Government design and messaging is essential during a pandemic, to ease public concerns and communicate vital developments. So how did the UK government’s approach to Covid-19 shape up?
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