An oral history of Take On Me by A-ha
We talk to Thomas Robsahm, director of a new documentary film about A-ha, and music video director Steve Barron about the iconic animation he created for the band’s 1985 smash
An oral history of the London 2012 Olympics branding
As the Tokyo Olympics approaches, we look back at one of the more controversial Olympic identities, Wolff Olins’ London 2012 branding, which prompted a storm of press and public opinion. CEO Sairah Ashman and chairman Brian Boylan remember the project
An oral history of the Old Spice ads
First launched in 2010, Wieden + Kennedy Portland’s shirtless one-shot ads for P&G brand Old Spice turned heads and spawned a cascade of spinoffs. We retrace how the ads were made with the creatives as well as The Man himself, Isaiah Mustafa
An oral history of Lidl’s ‘Big on quality, Lidl on price’ slogan
First launched in 2017, the slogan aimed to reinforce the supermarket’s positioning as a quality supermarket. CR talks to the writer of the punny line to find out what went into its creation
An oral history of… Creative Review
Four decades on from the first issue of Creative Review, we hear from the editors who have helped make it what it is today. They discuss CR’s production journey – from typewriters to the internet, via the CD-Rom – and the joy of covering the worlds of design, ads and more
An oral history of Comic Sans
Comic Sans occupies a dubious position in the design community, but there’s no denying its place in visual culture. CR sat down with creator Vincent Connare to discuss the rebellion that drove Microsoft in the 90s, and his thoughts on making the world’s most disputed typeface
An oral history of the London Calling cover
As The Clash’s seminal punk rock album nears its 40th anniversary, we look back at how the iconic cover artwork came to be and its lasting legacy as a symbol of “universal angst”
An oral history of Wipeout
When Wipeout landed in 1995, it blew away the competition with its mix of futuristic gameplay, banging techno and crisp graphics – courtesy of The Designers Republic™. Here we delve into the story behind the title’s visual identity
An oral history of the Apple logo
Apple’s logo burst onto the scene in 1977, instantly standing out from its drab competitors. Its creator Rob Janoff explains the design’s links with counterculture, why the money men hated the logo, and what it was like working with Steve Jobs
An oral history of Skittles’ Taste The Rainbow
It’s been 15 years since TBWA\Chiat\Day New York unleashed the singing rabbit and sentient beard on the world. We find out how it tapped into Skittles’ surreal alternate universe, and why it was never just about being weird for the sake of it