How I Got Here: Shelley Smoler, Droga5
Droga5’s newly appointed executive creative director Shelley Smoler talks to us about how growing up in South Africa shapes her work, tapping into culture, and learning the importance of bravery in advertising
How Abba and Beyoncé can help you write
Creative inspiration can come from many sources: sometimes it’s best to look far outside your field for new methods of working, writes CR’s ad correspondent Ben Kay
Paul Peter Piech’s literary linocuts are on display in Wales
A new exhibition at the National Library of Wales is celebrating the work of artist and designer Paul Peter Piech, whose linocut posters depict literary heroes including Katherine Mansfield, Emily Brontë and Ted Hughes
Beer brand Caravelle gets a graphic facelift
Barcelona studio Hey created new packaging for the craft beer range, which makes playful use of geometric patterns and fluid shapes
Masked illustrations are welcoming shoppers back to Europe’s malls
Face masks feature heavily in this campaign by Sid Lee Paris, which uses cheerful illustration to mark the reopening of Europe’s shopping centres
Burberry embraces social media for new retail concept
The luxury brand’s new store in Shenzhen, China brings social media ever closer to the retail world with a virtual experience for shoppers both at home and in-store
How art is helping cities and towns recover from Covid-19
Towns and cities are using art and design to add a much-needed shot of positivity and optimism into city centres as they cautiously reopen for business
Verizon Media
5G and the future of content
Verizon Media’s in-house production studio has been working with brands and entertainment companies to explore the creative potential of 5G. We talk to Senior Director Geoff Goodwin about how companies can use 5G to create richer and more immersive content
Nike’s split screen ad is an epic ode to togetherness
Editors sifted through thousands of clips to create Nike’s You Can’t Stop Us, which celebrates the unifying power of sport
Why it’s time to decolonise the creative industries
The cultural canon has been the subject of recurring debate over the years, but has taken on new significance in light of recent events. CR speaks to publisher Sold Out and photo editor and LISTO founder Sara Urbaez about why decolonisation should be a movement, not a moment
Ai Weiwei examines the magnitude of warfare in explosive artwork
The artist has worked on a new site-specific work for the Imperial War Museum that exposes the scale and history of conflict through the medium of bombs
Time for change
The Black Lives Matter movement has led to a shake-up of some design’s oldest organisations and clubs. Such change is long overdue, writes Patrick Burgoyne
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