With its apparent distaste for any names not traditionally ‘British’-looking, the computer spellcheck illustrates a wider issue: that our supposedly neutral technology is skewed by the bias of those who built it, says Hannah Ellis
From social media to fixed odds betting machines, designers are intimately involved in feeding our addiction to the screens that dominate our lives
The creative industry views Brexit as a Bad Thing. But what if its resulting skills shortage prompts us finally to address a much older issue – the lack of access to a creative career for those without a privileged background?
“Like a band that stays together forever,” says Browns’ Jonathan Ellery in a new film about design studio Why Not Associates made for their 30-year retrospective show at Sheffield Institute of Arts. At the opening of the show, Hannah Ellis reflects on what makes the studio tick and the affection with which its founders are held by their peers
Kingston has become the latest institution to reclaim the title ‘School of Art’. Is this trend merely a rebranding exercise or does it herald a more ambitious re-examination of the role of art and design within higher education?
At Ideas on Revolt, the third annual Graphic Design Educators’ Network conference, there were calls for students to become more involved in resistance and rebellion. But perhaps their teachers should be leading by example, suggests Hannah Ellis
Star speakers, networking and bad coffee – is this all we want from a design conference? Or, asks Hannah Ellis, could smaller events such as Copenhagen’s POST point the way toward a more enriching, two-way model?
As degree show season comes to an end for another year, Hannah Ellis asks whether it’s time to rethink a concept that favours the spectacular over the thoughtful and fails to accommodate many aspects of design practice
In the UK General Election, support for progressive politics is far more visible in the creative community than pro-Conservative messages are. Yet surveys reveal that not all creative people are left-leaning. Hannah Ellis goes in search of designers on the right and examines the contradiction inherent in an industry predominantly ‘of the left’ that spends much of its time enabling an economic system that is at odds with many leftist ideals
With publishers turning away from the traditional monograph, a new form of self-written design book – part showcase, part ‘studio portrait’ – has emerged. Hannah Ellis wonders what their lasting value will be
GBH’s self-penned monograph promises a deep dive into the branding and design studio’s psyche. But while the book is good on the ‘how’ it works for its clients, it has less to say on the ‘why’ or even the ‘should we really be doing this?’ of modern design practice
In the first of a new interview series, Anna Higgs talks to Glenn Kitson about combining a career as an ad director with being a ‘meme lord’, and his strategies to stay centred and fresh in a world which can often just want more of the same
Aubrey Plaza stars in a spelling bee contest through the ages as part of a new short from Loewe, which addresses the long-standing confusion over how to pronounce the fashion brand’s name
Non-fungible tokens experienced a gold rush a couple of years ago, before mainstream interest waned and the market went into decline. Artist Robert Alice, who has edited an extensive new book on NFTs, talks to us about one of the most elusive, and divisive, web3 developments
After years of championing gleaming white, perfectly straight teeth, the dental brand is now embracing the beauty of gaps
The Anatomy of a Movie Poster exhibition brings together the award-winning designer’s portfolio of posters for films including The Silence of the Lambs, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Grand Budapest Hotel
Opening Line founder Zosia Swidlicka discusses why the world of brand language remains so misunderstood, and how it inspired her to create her new publication Between the Lines
An exhibition and accompanying monograph sheds light on the work of the photographer, designer and art director, who transformed the pages of Harper’s Bazaar over nearly a quarter of a century
It’s easy to assume that making the leap into movies is the holy grail for those in advertising, but the path between the two industries is far from one way
Shifting online success into the real world requires a delicate balance of staying authentic to the digital community while allowing space for others to join, says Paul Tynan, creative director at I-Am
Following creative agency Otherway’s acquisition by Common Interest, founder Jono Holt discusses what it means for the company’s future and what he’s learned along the way
Artisans and influencers have been involved in the museum’s new campaign, which revolves around bespoke objects hidden in locations ranging from a metal detector site to the video game Grand Theft Auto
AI is addictive fun for creatives, but without having a seat in the boardroom of its development they risk being exploited by it. Here’s why we need to start reading the T&Cs, says Food co-founder Iain Tait