Things I wish I’d known before going freelance
Freelancing is becoming an increasingly popular choice in the design and ad industries. Here, designer and art director Michael Bow offers some advice to get the most out of being a gun for hire
How to design a giant, inflatable Trump Baby
Ahead of the US President’s visit to the UK, a group of protesters have come together to reimagine Trump in toddler form, complete with nappy and constipated grimace. We speak to the designer behind the campaign, Matt Bonner, about bringing the baby blimp to life
Go See: Monet, the Modest Revolutionary
To be accepted as a Creative Genius, is it necessary to cultivate the image of one? The National Gallery’s Monet and Architecture show suggests that, if the work is good enough, it can speak for itself, says Paul Cardwell
Design in the UK: a success story, but…
A new Design Council report depicts a high value, growing industry in the UK with a productive, skilled workforce that is out-earning its peers in other sectors. But one that is still beset by gender inequality and struggles to impact some regions and sectors
Grey London and Volvo redesign family parking icons for Pride
Same sex couples and single parent families are depicted in the new parking symbols at Westfield London shopping centre
Meet Sable, a game for people that don’t like games
If a comic book came to life, it might look something like indie game Sable, which immerses players in a world of sand, sky, and imaginary architecture. Here, creator Shedworks explains why gaming needs a new visual language
The Alphabet Museum celebrates our greatest form of communication
The Lettering Arts Centre’s latest show features contemporary pieces of work based on the many iterations of the humble alphabet that have developed over the last 5,000 years
Making a mag: Lessons from Riposte’s Danielle Pender
As women’s magazine Riposte publishes its tenth issue, we speak to editor Danielle Pender about working with advertisers, keeping readers interested and the changing nature of women’s media
A new identity for Edinburgh TV Festival from Nalla
The Edinburgh International Television Festival has become Edinburgh TV Festival with a new visual identity “drawing inspiration from the past, present and future of television”
In partnership with EIZO
How to make technically better images: From a non-tech perspective
Our sponsor EIZO has asked creative agency Peter and Paul to write about the story behind the tech of their monitor screens and what all that expertise really means for the work we make every day
How I Got Here: Patrick Duffy
Designer Patrick Duffy has worked everywhere from ad agencies like Fallon through to in-house teams at Airbnb and Dice, where he’s just taken on the new role of creative director. Here he explains how he got there
Which? embraces campaigning past in new print ads
Its reputation might revolve largely around product reviews, but a new set of ads is reminding consumers of Which?’s campaigning victories
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