The Language of Luxury
In a sector full of linguistic inflation and manufactured mystique, copywriters struggle to find the right words, writes Nick Asbury in his recent article for CR’s Luxury issue.
Conversation my arse
As Andrex rolls out a handy guide to using its products, encouraging more talk of “clean bottoms” in the process, the brand has become great case study in modern marketing and represents the logical outcome of two of its most dominant – and problematic – trends
For Mash get Shake ‘n’ Vac
Despite regular reposts of its demise, the art of the advertising jingle has never quite gone away – just ask Gio Compario. Then cover your ears
The book of brandwriting
The art of writing for brands gains an authoritative new primer on the subject
David Abbott
David Abbott was one of the most prolific and versatile of all advertising copywriters, but there was one trick to which he repeatedly returned
Forgive us our ‘plagiarism’
The Nation’s Prayer, created for the England World Cup squad by Asbury & Asbury, proved remarkably ineffective. But after appearing in The Sun and elsewhere, it became a case study in the merits of sharing openly versus protecting intellectual property
Elephants Charging Towards Brazil!
FIFA recently unveiled the slogans that will appear on each of the team buses at the Brazil World Cup. They were chosen through a public contest sponsored by Hyundai, with predictably varying results. But for a copywriter, the whole thing is quite fun; the slogans equivalent of the Eurovision song contest
The grand old man of brand
Wally Olins is back with a new book on brands but his analysis isn’t helped by some inconsistent use of the term
Best Male Solo Marketer
Today’s release of Autobiography by Morrissey on Penguin Classics, normally the home of Chaucer and Milton, is a marketing move comparable to that of another master of pop branding – David Bowie
30 tones in 30 days
Today Yahoo! launched its new logo (above), following an experiment in which they released 30 logo variations in 30 days. Given the importance of brand language, Nick Asbury thought he’d explore a tone of voice equivalent – from ‘cloying’ and ‘hipster’ to ‘inexplicably tangential’
Long copy isn’t back
Apple has just released a series of long copy ads with the help of advertising agency TBWAMedia Arts Lab, USA. Does this mark a return to the heyday of long copy advertising? Sadly, but definitely, not
After Hours: setting problems, rules and limits
The After Hours exhibition at the Jerwood Space on London’s Bankside is a diverse compendium of personal projects from graphic designers working without a client or a brief. But are there any common threads to be found?
A new campaign spells out the reality of the sewage crisis
AMV BBDO’s campaign for COPI shines a light on sewage spills in UK waterways with the help of a faecal-inspired font
Adam Morse on his journey to directing
Since losing his sight at the age of 19, the filmmaker has gone on to write and direct his first feature film, shoot a Super Bowl ad for Google, and set up a non-profit to help the next generation of disabled creative talent
Creativity Sucks! podcast returns with an episode on humour
We ease you gently into the fourth series of Creative Review’s podcast with a discussion on humour in advertising, looking at what works and what doesn’t
How accessible wayfinding is going beyond the visual
Speaking to experts in architecture and design, CR looks into how accessible wayfinding has improved by subtly tapping into other senses, and what it needs to do to be truly inclusive
The Monthly Interview: Glenn Kitson
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
Loewe’s brand film finally explains how to pronounce its name
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
What happened to NFTs?
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
Dawn Baillie’s famous movie posters go on display
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
Why brand language matters
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
Tracing the influence of prolific art director Alexey Brodovitch
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
From advertising to Hollywood and back again
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
How to bring online fandom into the real world
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