Tesco bans Santa’s naughty list for 2020
Pandemics are no laughing matter, as we know all too well. Yet Tesco has managed to eke out the funny side of 2020 for its Christmas ad, which also sees Santa’s naughty list binned
B Corp: Good for business?
As the B Corporation movement grows, we look at why brands and agencies might engage with the process beyond the obvious social and environmental benefits – and whether others will be left behind if they don’t follow suit
John Lewis and Waitrose’s Christmas ad shows a little kindness goes a long way
Directed by Oscar Hudson, the charming mixed media spot and an accompanying fundraising film encourage the public to ‘Give a Little Love’ during what is set to be a festive season like no other
Anime Architecture celebrates iconic fictional cityscapes
A new book from Thames & Hudson explores the stories behind the elaborate cities and buildings of cult anime movies including Akira and Ghost in the Shell
Introducing director duo The Coyle-Larner Brothers
Ben Coyle-Larner – better known by his musical moniker Loyle Carner – is branching out from rapping to directing with his brother Ryan. Here, the duo discuss their mission to tell stories with humanity at their heart and why working with family cuts out the bullshit
How I Got Here: Forest Young
Wolff Olins’ first global chief creative officer discusses his circuitous path to creativity, and why he believes failure is the secret ingredient for success
Pinterest
Five creative ideas that reimagined Christmas for top brands
Revealed: the inspiring results of Pinterest’s festive talent search with The Dots
Pentagram gives banking a fresh face in Virgin Money rebrand
Following its merger with CYBG, Virgin Money’s new identity follows in the footsteps of design conscious fintech brands including Monzo and Starling
magCulture Live goes virtual for 2020
Replacing its annual London conference, the online edition of magCulture Live features creatives from across the magazine spectrum, including Atlantic creative director Oliver Munday and Empire editor-in-chief Terri White
Feast your eyes on the complete works of Dieter Rams
Phaidon has collected together every single product ever designed by Rams, in a hefty catalogue made in close collaboration with the designer himself
Coca-Cola’s Christmas ad is an epic struggle against the elements
The spot, by Jojo Rabbit director Taika Waititi, still features the familiar Coca-Cola Christmas truck, but in other respects marks a shift in tone for the brand
StreamTime
How to run a healthier design agency
Finding the perfect balance between your bottom line and your team’s wellbeing is key to making your agency the best it can be
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