Our top stories of the year
At about this point in the calendar websites traditionally review the year gone by. We thought it would be interesting to share what have been the most popular stories of the past 12 months on the CR site
A monster New Year
Stefan G Bucher has created a charming musical New Year’s message featuring his trademark Daily Monsters
New website and logo for Elysée Palace
The Elysée – the office and official residence of the President of France – has just launched its new website designed by the Parisian multimedia design agency, Textuel La Mine
Christmas in the Hi-ReS! kitchen
If you haven’t yet visited the Hi-ReS! interactive kitchen wall from the comfort of your own desk, then the studio’s special Christmas instalment also offers the perfect chance to check out the artists who have participated in the project to date
Six minutes for creativity
At 11am UK time this morning, the #includedesign campaign to have creative subjects included in the UK Government’s new Ebacc qualification is asking everyone in the creative industry to devote six minutes of their time to raising awareness of the issue. CR is supporting this initiative by writing to Secretary of State Michael Gove
When penguins go bad
Director Woof Wan-Bau’s latest animated short for Penguin Books retells the tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde starring the publisher’s famous flightless bird
INSA animates Stanley Donwood on XL offices
This is how the XL Records offices in LA now look thanks to a collaboration between UK artists Stanley Donwood and INSA to create a series of animated ‘gif-iti’ pieces for the launch of the new Atoms For Peace album
Thonik puts HKU on the grid
From January, the Hogeschool van de Kunsten Utrecht (Utrecht School of the Arts) is to be renamed HKU and will introduce a dynamic grid-based identity created by Amsterdam studio Thonik
Some nice work for charities
As the season of giving reaches its climax, these charity campaigns caught our eye.
The book of bad graffiti
As a counterpoint to the coffee table books of gallery-friendly graffiti art, a new collection records the more familiar – and less refined – writing styles as seen on the streets of Detroit
Type City website
Currently in his final year on the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication course at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Dan Cooper has created Type City, a web platform that collates documented lettering from around the UK’s cities, from shop signage to public notice signs
Valentino: Master of Couture
The Somerset House show on the work of Italian fashion designer Valentino has an appropriately elegant identity, exhibition graphics and accompanying catalogue courtesy of Studio Frith
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