2018 in review: the year Trump stole the magazine cover
Two years after his election, Donald Trump is still a rich source of ridicule for magazines, and never more so than when he’s the cover star
Ads of the Year 2018
Here are the ten ads that surprised and delighted us the most in 2018
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
On Brief: Papier x Thomas Harnett O’Meara
Our On Brief project pairs emerging creative talent with startups to produce scroll-stopping visuals for Facebook and Instagram. Here we take a look at Thomas Harnett O’Meara’s collaboration with stationery brand Papier
What is beauty?
In his latest column, Perry Nightingale, Executive Creative Technologist at Grey London, looks at how our relationship with new technology is changing our perceptions of beauty, in potentially harmful ways
The Wait by Samuel Napper
Photo series The Wait by Samuel Napper celebrates the people whose responsibility it is to wait. Shot entirely in Cape Town, this series receives a Best in Book award in CR’s Photography Annual 2018
Zeitgeist: Katie BretDay
Katie BretDay is one of the winners of the Zeitgeist awards in CR’s Photography Annual 2018. The awards recognises rising stars of the photography world; artists who have captured the mood and our imaginations this past year
Some news about CR
After 20 years as Editor, Patrick Burgoyne will be leaving CR in February. Our current Managing Editor, Eliza Williams, will take over
Pentagram’s super smiley identity for Happy Face pizzeria
Partners Luke Powell and Jody Hudson-Powell have created a cute smiling face mascot for the London-based, 1970s Italy-inspired restaurant, along with a host of other illustrated characters
Zeitgeist: Eva O’Leary
Eva O’Leary is one of the winners of the Zeitgeist awards in CR’s Photography Annual 2018. The awards recognises rising stars of the photography world; artists who have captured the mood and our imaginations this past year
Formicophilia by Lydia Whitmore
Giant black insect replicas and a model adorned in fetish gear both playing starring roles in a photo series titled Formicophilia by Lydia Whitmore. It receives a Best in Book award in CR’s Photography Annual 2018
Honouring VNIITE and its place in Soviet design
The Russian organisation VNIITE strived to better Soviet society through design. While remarkably ahead of its time, few of its designs reached the wider public, and until recently much of its work threatened to be forgotten. A new book by Unit Editions tracks its history
Uber’s festive campaign lets car-lovers relive childhood Christmases past
This Christmas Uber users can hail themselves one of the app’s adult-sized toy farm trucks or unicorn-adorned camper vans, as part of a collaborative stunt with DDB Paris
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