Annual 2021 winners announced!
The Creative Review Annual is one of the most respected and trusted awards for the commercial creative industries. We celebrate the best work of last year across design, advertising and more
A new book is delving into a century of all-American toy ads
Written by Steven Heller, the book traces the fascinating story of the 20th century toy boom, as well as addressing the industry’s chequered past when it comes to issues such as perpetuating gender stereotypes
The changing face of the car industry
The car sector is going through a period of enormous change – in everything from product design to branding. Here, Patrick Burgoyne explores the wonders of a battery-powered future
Work Will Set You Free is a carefully orchestrated glimpse of North Korean life
Images of pastel-coloured Pyongyang subways and synchronised gymnastics performances are all part of photographer Ted Lau’s efforts to uncover everyday life in the country – now brought together in a book published by Daylight
Latest from CR
Does Design Twitter need a code of ethics?
Snarky comments do little to help the creative industry, but can Twitter be salvaged as a place for useful design discourse? Nicole Phillips and Craig Oldham discuss how to deal with negativity, and whether design Twitter needs a dose of online etiquette
Simon Bailly creates striking images set in a retro-future world
Working mainly on commissions for newspapers, Bailly adopts a ‘ligne claire’ style to create crisp, clean-cut illustrations
Navigating a career as a self-taught creative
Photographer Luis Alberto Rodriguez and designer Jordi Ng both forged a career without a formal arts education. They reflect on how they learned their craft, coping with insecurity and what taking an alternative route has brought to their practice
Bloomsbury’s Greg Heinimann on creating beautiful book covers
Greg Heinimann discusses his career journey from Waterstones bookseller to Bloomsbury deputy creative director, plus the secret to designing an eye-catching book cover
Creatives on the books that shaped them
We speak to figures from the worlds of design, advertising, and more about the books they’ve learned the most from over the course of their careers
Who will win the online education arms race?
E-learning, bootcamps and workshops are all booming, but what does it take to survive long term in the world of learning? Mastered’s Perri Lewis and SuperHi’s Rik Lomas discuss the big questions education providers face
One Hundred Years tells the story of Hackney through the ages
Published by Hoxton Mini Press, Jenny Lewis’ new photo book features 100 portraits of 100 Hackney locals – from a newborn through to a centenarian
How I Got Here: Hillary Coe, AKQA
Designer, drag racer and analogue astronaut Hillary Coe has joined AKQA as principal of experience, following a position as director of design at SpaceX. She talks to us about creating roles for herself that didn’t exist and embedding adventure into her life and work
The Fandangoe Kid on creativity as catharsis
Artist Annie Nicholson, aka The Fandangoe Kid, shares how grief has shaped her practice, and discusses the complexities of using creativity to work through trauma
Polly Irungu on creating Black Women Photographers
The platform Black Women Photographers was set up in 2020 to create a community that empowers Black women and non-binary photographers. Here Irungu discusses her motivations and the journey she’s been on
Penguin’s Len Deighton covers are a twist on classic 60s book jackets
A new Modern Classics collection of the British writer’s spy novels reinterprets the chevron graphics of Raymond Hawkey’s original Penguin paperback covers
Inside the VFX boom
The VFX artists behind Disney’s award-winning film The One and Only Ivan talk about tapping into their secret inner thespian and why VFX is in the midst of a golden period
Making sense of the NFT gold rush
NFTs have been all over the news, spreading a mix of confusion and excitement in equal measure. Here, James Britton, group managing director at Stink Studios, explores what opportunities they might open up for artists and designers
Donald Graham Burt on making a career in production design
The Oscar-winning production designer discusses his journey from night janitor to one of David Fincher’s most trusted collaborators, plus his work on the director’s latest film Mank
How design is bringing new places to life
The past year has created a new emphasis on our surroundings, leading to an acute awareness of whether areas really serve their communities. We explore how place branding and marketing have been adjusted to reflect this
Inter Milan introduces stripped back ‘I am’ logo
Bureau Borsche is responsible for the updated visual identity, which is tailored for digital environments and, according to the club, aims to “establish itself as an icon of culture as well as sport”
Why portrait photography is all about trust
CR speaks to three portrait photographers about why they were drawn to the art form, and the importance of trust and collaboration when working with a subject
Rachel Seidu’s photography captures what she sees around her
The Lagos-based photographer is inspired by her environment and favours close crops to capture the emotions of her subjects
Kara Haupt on art directing for daily news websites
Haupt is senior art director for the websites of NBC News, Today and MSNBC. Here she talks about the importance of commissioning and the pressure of millions of viewers every day
My breakthrough moment: Simon Buckley
“I wanted to be Ultravox, but sometimes I worry I’ve ended up like Joe Dolce.” Simon Buckley’s photograph of Manchester in the rain became a viral sensation in 2019. He explains what happened next
Creative Inspiration
Images and ideas to feed your imagination
Advice for Creatives
Expert tips on how to navigate a creative career
The Creative Workplace
How flexible working is changing the creative process
Creativity and Coronavirus
How the creative industries are responding to the pandemic
Tristan Bagot on creating absorbing digital experiences
Digital designer and coder Tristan Bagot creates digital platforms that are both engaging and memorable. He talks about his recent projects and the benefits of sitting across both design and development
New Extra gum ad celebrates the joy of life post-lockdown
Set to a rousing Celine Dion soundtrack, the film takes a lighthearted look at what life could be like when the UK returns to some semblance of normality
Formula E looks to inspire change in epic new ad
Created by Uncommon Creative Studio, the spot borrows the voice of 20th century sci-fi writer Arthur C Clarke to emphasise the role of sport as a force for good
Introducing Naked Bits’ curated line of naughty jigsaw puzzles
Created by designers Nicole Robinson and Delta Murphy, the brand taps into our newfound obsession with puzzles in the wake of the pandemic
The pros and cons of making merch
Leta Sobierajski, David Shrigley and Morag Myerscough weigh in on the ups and downs of making merchandise and products – from the joy of designing tangible objects to the challenges of getting it right
Anorak magazine wants to see your eyeballs
Creatives from across the world are being invited to share their eyeball artwork for the magazine’s Donate Your Eyes initiative, which hopes to raise awareness of childhood glaucoma
The power of long-term thinking
Successful brands need more than just an end line to capture audiences’ attention today. Here, Stephen Hancock, ECD at TBWA\Media Arts Lab in London, explains how establishing a platform for a brand allows for more creative freedom
Eddie Apollo’s illustrations feature a retro charm
Eddie Apollo’s illustrations and animations, which have recently caught the eye of Sadie Frost, feature a cartoon style reminiscent of Jamie Hewlett
Collins Modern Classics gives some much-loved books a new look
Titles including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah and Naomi Klein’s No Logo are included in the series, which promises to bring together some of the most significant books of recent times
Christian & Patrick on 20 years of directing
The director duo cut their teeth creating unusual animated visuals for artists like Björk as part of Lynn Fox. They reflect on how architecture influences their work, the elements that ads often overlook and the future of music videos
Kacey Jeffers wants people to feel seen in his photography
The photographer talks about the kind of stories he wants to tell, and how his experience as a model allows him to connect with his subjects
Carlota Guerrero’s subversive take on the female form
The Spanish imagemaker discusses the making of her debut monograph, her collaborations with everyone from Solange to Rupi Kaur, and the evolution of her mission to challenge the male gaze
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
On Brief: Museum of Happiness x Hannah Jacobs
Our On Brief project pairs creative talent with startups, non-profits and community groups to create scroll-stopping visuals for Facebook and Instagram. Here we take a look at Hannah Jacobs’ collaboration with Museum of Happiness
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Great Work: Defected Records’ virtual music festival
The house label surprised dance music fans with a series of live streams – starting with a 12-hour performance broadcast from Ministry of Sound
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Great Work: WWF’s Black Friday Twist
The wildlife charity put a new spin on Black Friday sales promotions, with a series of Facebook ads urging consumers to adopt animals which are endangered or at risk
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
On Brief: Help Refugees x Luis Mazon
Our On Brief initiative pairs emerging talent with startups, charities and community groups to create scroll-stopping visuals for Facebook and Instagram. Here we take a look at Luis Mazon’s work for Help Refugees
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Great Work: Specsavers, Don’t Lose the Picture
The optician chain used AR to illustrate the effects of common eye conditions in a campaign to promote free eye tests
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Charlotte May on her vibrant still lifes
Our New Talent series highlights visual creatives who are sharing great work on Facebook and Instagram. Here we talk to photographer Charlotte May about her colourful images
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
On Brief: Freddie’s Flowers x Charlotte May
Our On Brief initiative pairs emerging talent with startups, charities and community groups to create scroll-stopping visuals for Facebook and Instagram. Here we take a look at Charlotte May’s work for Freddie’s Flowers
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Oliver Sin on his playful animations
Our New Talent series highlights visual creatives who are sharing great work on Facebook and Instagram. Here we talk to Cheltenham-based animator and former designer Oliver Sin about his work
