Why magazines are re-embracing happiness
There’s a new wave of media brands that are breaking away from the negative news cycle and telling more uplifting stories about the world we live in – just don’t call them ‘fluffy’
BBC promotes iPlayer to younger viewers with comedic series of ads
The new spots feature BBC actors and comedians disguised as fictitious characters who give Gogglebox-esque reviews of their own shows in the amusing spots
Can creativity make us feel better?
Hospitals, for the most part, are dreary environments. Strip lighting, wipe-clean surfaces and miles of grubby paint do nothing to make us feel better. But can creativity change all that?
SomeOne tackles law’s “sea of sameness” with Simmons & Simmons rebrand
The murmurations of starlings inspired SomeOne’s identity for law firm Simmons & Simmons, which moves away from the navy blues and “boring” typefaces of legal sector branding
Mark Ronson on creativity and collaboration
One of pop’s biggest hit-makers, Mark Ronson is the brains behind everything from Amy Winehouse’s classic cover of Valerie to monster hit Uptown Funk. Here, he discusses the joy of working with other creatives, and why he got a tattoo of his latest album artwork
A new book on launderettes provides a colourful homage to a dying breed
Joshua Blackburn’s photo series hopes to capture the individual quirks of London’s final remaining launderettes – all 462 of them
Latest from CR
The Fear Issue
Our latest issue is all about fear, looking at its
impact in politics and entertainment, and on
our everyday creative lives
Print is dead heavy
Enjoy six heavyweight print issues a year, including The Annual and The Photography Annual, when you subscribe to CR. Always tip your postman.
Why Nam June Paik is more than ‘the father of video art’
Tate Modern’s retrospective of Korean-born artist Nam June Paik aims to go beyond his title as ‘the father of video art’ by showcasing his groundbreaking work that blurred the boundaries between tech and art and even predicted the internet
Thierry Noir on street art that brings hope
Three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Thierry Noir discusses how the colourful characters he defaced the wall with became a symbol of freedom for those it oppressed, and the lessons we can learn from it today
Moments of summertime paradise in Hackney
Tucked away in the depths of east London, Hackney Riviera offers relief from modern life in a natural haven, as documented by Nick Waplington in his new photo book
Life on set as captured by Jeff Bridges
The Oscar-winning actor is releasing a new photo book that reveals behind-the-scenes moments from True Grit, Iron Man and more, as he turns his lens back towards the set
Designing for wellness apps
In a sea of wellness apps claiming to improve your mind, body and soul, CR investigates trends in branding and design to discover what’s helping people feel good
How I Got Here: Lizzo’s Creative Director Quinn Wilson
Lizzo’s creative director Quinn Wilson tells CR how she went from doing makeup to directing music videos, and why big bouncing asses and real conversations really can work side by side
The game that aims to dispel the link between gun violence and, um, games
In the latest campaign from gun control group Brady, League of Legislators acts as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the debate around the root cause of America’s mass shooting epidemic
Canal+ unveils Netflix partnership with a trio of ads
To kick off a new streaming service and Netflix partnership, the French TV channel has created a series of adverts that take viewers through a decidedly awkward shoot
Is democracy always good for creativity?
It has become fashionable for agencies and studios to offer everyone a chance to share their views on projects – but does this make for better creative work? Our advertising correspondent Ben Kay is skeptical
Preparing for the nuclear war that never happened
A new book by Taras Young gathers Cold War-era posters, pamphlets and propaganda, which were designed to educate the British public on how to react to a nuclear bomb threat
Celebrating the spirit of British youth culture
As non-profit group Youth Club prepares to launch an online museum dedicated to youth culture, we talk to founder Jon Swinstead about the power and importance of images that capture the excitement of growing up
My Happiest Project: Yinka Ilori
Throughout October, we’re looking at the subject of happiness, and asking creatives to tell us about the projects they’ve most enjoyed working on. Here, artist and designer Yinka Ilori reflects on transforming an underpass in Battersea into Happy Street
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
On Brief: Yes Tribe x Oliver Sin
Our On Brief project pairs emerging creative talent with startups, non-profits and community groups to produce scroll-stopping visuals for Facebook and Instagram. Here we take a look at Oliver Sin’s animations for Yes Tribe
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Great Work: Time to Change’s mental health Messenger bot
Talking about mental health can be daunting – but Ogilvy & Mather and Facebook Creative Shop’s Messenger bot for Time to Change aims to make the process a little easier
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Great Work: Farfetch, The World Through Fashion
Farfetch created a wealth of Instagram content to promote its new initiative, Farfetch Communities, which allows shoppers to browse curated edits from a global community of creatives, including Adwoa Aboah and Riz Ahmed
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Great Work: KFC’s KFChill
Mother combined mindfulness and gravy in its January campaign for KFC, leading to news headlines and an appearance on a well-known US talk show. We talk to Mother’s ECD Hermeti Balarin and Digital Strategy Director Vairi MacLennan about the project
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Insights: How to brief for mobile
A good brief is key to creating a successful mobile campaign. But how should brands and agencies approach briefing for mobile? We take a look at three successful campaigns for Libresse, Snickers and M&M’s
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
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Insights: Engaging with sports fans on Instagram
Tips and advice for engaging with sports fans on Instagram and creating content that stands out
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Great Work: Ted Baker’s Instagram Stories
Ted Baker created a striking set of vertical videos to promote its Autumn Winter collection on Instagram Stories
