Are creatives out of touch?
The advertising and design industries have long been criticised for not engaging enough with real people. But have growing geopolitical differences and national lockdowns made divides even more pronounced?
Ekow Eshun curates an exhibition inspired by activism and agency
The writer, curator and broadcaster has collaborated with the Fund for Global Human Rights on an exhibition in London that brings together work by photographers whose practice centres on community and collaboration
Youting Lin uses humour to help bring her designs to life
Using animation to communicate her ideas, Youting Lin often takes inspiration from everyday conversations for her short films and graphics
Could coronavirus spell the end of the big agency?
Is the ongoing crisis the death knell for major creative agencies, or is this a chance to embrace change and create happier clients and colleagues along the way? Stuart Davis, former COD at M&C Saatchi, explains why this is a now or never moment
Cold War Steve is taking his satirical artworks to the great outdoors
The surrealist artist, real name Christopher Spencer, is back with a 25-metre-long windbreaker on a Bournemouth beach, a giant Trump-shaped jigsaw puzzle in Liverpool city centre, and more
Monotype on redesigning Futura for the digital age
We take an exclusive look at Futura Now, Monotype’s ode to Paul Renner’s original design created in 1927, which has a “digital-first” focus
Pup-arazzi: Walter Chandhoha’s collection of canine photography
In the long anticipated sequel to his book on cats, Chandhoha’s Dogs captures the spirit of his photography and his enduring legacy as the 20th century’s greatest pet photographer
Penguin’s Great Ideas series is back
It’s been ten years since the last set of Great Ideas books was published, but Penguin Classics has returned with 20 new additions to the series
Can great ads come out of difficult times?
With recession and an ongoing pandemic, we are living in fearful times. But, argues our advertising correspondent Ben Kay, these pressures may just result in some outstanding creative work
Illustrator Reuben Dangoor’s quick-witted take on Britishness
As political as he is playful, London-based illustrator Reuben Dangoor isn’t afraid to shine a light on the complexity of what it means to be British today
Nightmares on Wax mark 25 years of Smoker’s Delight with new film
The entertaining short, created to celebrate the rerelease of the seminal album this year, was apparently inspired by a real dream of Nightmares on Wax’s George Evelyn
Hackney Church’s rebrand reflects its place as a “cathedral of creativity”
London studio Omse has designed a new identity that expresses the many ‘sub-brands’ of Hackney Church, which runs a gig venue, brewery, charity and apiary, as well as a place of worship
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