Nike’s split screen ad is an epic ode to togetherness
Editors sifted through thousands of clips to create Nike’s You Can’t Stop Us, which celebrates the unifying power of sport
Why women’s football needs a fresh approach
Women’s football offers a wealth of opportunities for brands, say Matthew Bennett and Julia Denby-Jones of creative agency Zak. Just don’t approach it like the men’s game
How Covid-19 has changed the future of esports
As physical sports across the globe were grounded by the pandemic, esports continued to thrive, and captured the attention of traditional sports fans along the way. This provides unique opportunities for brands to get involved, says Landor’s Rebecca Benson
Iceland’s national football team gets a new identity
With an angular typeface and a logo inspired by Icelandic folklore, Brandenburg’s identity for Iceland’s national football team pays homage to the country’s “fighting spirit”
Building a brand for an Olympic athlete
JKR has created a playful identity for gymnast Courtney Tulloch, inspired by his signature moves. We talk to JKR and Tulloch about the project and how branding can help athletes grow their following and build a career beyond competitive sport
How Joe Wicks became the nation’s PE teacher
Joe Wicks has inspired millions of people to keep active during lockdowns with his live workout videos. We talk to Nikki Wicks, Head of Content at The Body Coach, and Koto, the studio behind its branding, about creating PE With Joe
Rick Banks’ new book explores the art of football lettering
An updated edition of Rick Banks’ hugely popular Football Type book (first released in 2013) features extra historical detail and a much wider range of kits
Studio Dumbar rebrands Brugge’s women’s soccer team
The club’s new identity pays homage to local pub owner and fan Yvonne Lahousse and combines contemporary type with a black-and-white colour palette
Karan Singh creates vibrant visuals for the Southeast Asian Games
Australian artist Karan Singh has created a striking set of visuals for the tournament, using rainbow brights and graphic patterns to depict a range of sports
The Story Behind the Paris 2024 Olympics Logo
Last month the Paris 2024 Olympics logo was released, to a mix of praise and outrage. In an exclusive for CR, Jean Grogan talks to its makers and discovers its eco credentials
Paris 2024 logo presents “a homage to female athletes”
The logo combines a gold medal, an Olympic torch and Marianne – a symbol of the French republic
Creating a new identity for AC Milan
DixonBaxi has created a new identity for AC Milan, based on the concept of the football club’s crest as a “beating heart”. We talk to the agency about the project
The history of the open plan office
From its surprisingly radical roots to its role post-pandemic, Jennifer Kaufmann-Buhler – assistant professor of design history at Purdue University – talks CR through the legacy of the open plan office
Inside the design boom at ad agencies
We talk to Wieden + Kennedy Portland, Droga5 London and Mother Design about bringing together design and advertising work under one roof, and the perception of design work produced at ad agencies
Inside the surreal world of Slowthai
As Slowthai reveals his introspective side with new album Tyron, we speak to frequent collaborators Crowns & Owls about the album art’s attempt to crack the glossy veneer of fame, and why the Northampton-born rapper is still the voice of a generation
CR’s pick of the 2021 Super Bowl ads
While the pandemic inevitably ushered in some changes to this year’s Super Bowl, we saw some familiar trends in the advertising around the big game
Lakwena on belief, mythology and making a statement
The London-based artist discusses the motivation and process behind her epic painted murals, which combine vibrant colour palettes with uplifting messages that are rooted in spirituality
Twitter’s new identity reflects the messiness of life online
Created by Twitter’s in-house team and French studio Irradié, the social media platform’s refreshed branding features an “intentionally imperfect” aesthetic and new brand font, Chirp
Oliver Jeffers on changing plans
The artist and children’s book author shares how Covid derailed his travel and career plans and how he’s adapted his life and creative practice as a result
The changing nature of book cover design
Donna Payne, Faber’s creative director, explains her creative process when designing a cover, and touches upon the impact of the pandemic and the boost in online sales it’s prompted
How I Work: Bukola Garry, adam&eveDDB
The ad agency’s new head of diversity, equality and inclusion talks to us about her experiences in advertising, her plans for the role, and why it isn’t about being the ‘PC police’
Denizen Works: in praise of off-kilter creativity
Murray Kerr, founder of architecture practice Denizen Works, shares his purposefully ‘naïve’ approach to design and discusses the challenges of leading his studio off the beaten path
Reverting to Type exhibition features protest posters by 100 letterpress artists
The online exhibition features a mix of famous names and less-heard voices, who all use letterpress techniques to express their feelings on a range of contemporary issues
The evolution of street art
While art shown indoors may have temporarily lost its audience to the pandemic, street art is on the rise. Here, Hazel Davis reflects on how the medium is growing ever more part of the art establishment, yet can still be used as a force for change
Behind the scenes of Burger King’s juicy rebrand
JKR executive creative director Lisa Smith explains why the fast food giant ditched the glossy buns and embraced a bit of nostalgia, to become “how you imagine BK to be on its best day”
Jack Forrest’s daily poster project puts an emphasis on bold typography
Having just graduated, the designer experiments with different styles and imagery in his posters to challenge himself and connect with the design community
How crucial is luck in making great work?
Lucky Generals founding partner Andy Nairn talks to us about why brands and organisations should embrace strategies to encourage a stroke of luck – and also recognise the positives in bad fortune
Seesaws along US-Mexico border named the Design Museum’s top pick of 2020
Teeter-Totter Wall has been announced as the overall winner of the Beazley Designs of the Year, while category winners include a Covid-19 visualisation and a portable school
Anthony Burrill has designed a seven-storey-high mural for Leeds
Black and white lettering stretches 88ft high in the designer’s biggest artwork so far, which adorns the end of a historic canal-side building in the city
How to survive 2021: A Guide for Creatives
With the uncertainty and challenges of 2020 following us into the new year, we talk to a number of industry experts about the ways that creatives can survive – and even thrive – in 2021
How the tech revolution failed creatives
Tech firms once claimed they could set us free. But, as a new book points out, for those working in the creative industries, the offering has proved a particularly bad deal
