Once Upon a Time
The upcoming Memory Palace show at the V&A tackles storytelling, design and illustration in an ambitious way. Its curators talk us through its creation
Is everyone a designer now?
In an update to his classic essay On Unprofessionalism, Michael Rock examines the web’s democratising impact
The power of speech
The increasing use of speech bubbles in identity systems reflects brands’ desire to be more conversational
A modern Prometheus
CR’s art director pays tribute to a master of special effects whose talent for monsters lives on across the generations
Go on, tweet yourself: where Twitter can be good for work
Twitter can be a distraction but it can often lead to new work, new relationships and, yes, useful hashtag punnery
How can we improve the CR iPad app?
We’re keen to hear how we can improve your experience of the CR iPad app and we’d love to know if you have comments or suggestions. Your feedback means a lot!
Unit 9’s lifesaving app
The UK Resuscitation Council and production agency Unit 9 have launched an interactive app that combines live action film and interactive gameplay to teach users how to deliver CPR.
Enzo of the Antarctic
Italian photographer Enzo Barracco is known mainly for his fashion and portrait work but last year, inspired by a book on British explorer Ernest Shackleton, he self-funded a trip to the Antarctic
Station symbols a secret delight
Next time you visit a main station in a major UK city, look out for a rather beautifully-designed graphic symbol representing your location. You might have to search quite hard though
Polycell’s unsightly crack
It seems like a punning opportunity so good that we’re amazed it hasn’t been exploited before but a new ad for Polycell gleefully cashes in on the fun to be had with the coincidence of builders and ‘unsightly cracks’
The keyboard shirt
Being reserved types, we don’t go a bundle on ‘wacky’ shirts here at CR but the latest design from Gijs Sierman’s Someshirt label caught our eye with its pattern derived from a computer keyboard
Yves Saint Laurent meets NASA, apparently
Design company Burgopak was given an unusual brief for its latest project: it was asked to create packaging that channelled Yves Saint Laurent and NASA for new “artisan electronic device”, Lapka.
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 Leaders Issue is out now!
The Autumn 2024 issue of Creative Review looks at the brands and individuals who are pushing creativity forward on their way to the top
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
Jessica Walsh ventures into the world of type
As the &Walsh founder launches her agency’s new offshoot Type of Feeling, she discusses why typography’s ability to evoke emotions makes it one of the most powerful tools at a brand’s disposal
Can neuroscience make you a better creative?
Kinda Studios is tapping into the emerging field of neuroaesthetics to help creatives and brands make more impactful work that benefits people’s wellbeing