Gary Card on living out his dream as a toy designer
Designing toys has become a seamless part of Gary Card’s practice, which has brought him dream collaborations and a host of weird and wonderful characters
Cas Holman on the possibilities of play
Cas Holman’s play experiences have inspired a whole generation of children to build their own worlds out of simple blocks and shapes – just don’t call her a toy designer
Hans Eijkelboom’s snapshot of Bristol
The Dutch street photographer’s first UK solo exhibition underlines the connections between us all, as shown across 750 images studying the passers-bys of Bristol
The creators of Bad North on where gaming is going
The duo behind hit strategy game Bad North discuss what it takes for independent games studios to stand out, and how our definition and understanding of play is evolving
Predictions for the new decade: Perry Nightingale
To mark the start of the 2020s, we’ve asked a selection of our regular columnists to offer up some predictions of what lies ahead for the creative industries. Here, creative technologist Perry Nightingale outlines some wildcard moments in tech that may happen this decade
Can play make you a better creative?
The act of playing is one of the hallmarks of childhood, but could it also be the secret to success and happiness in our working lives? CR investigates
Ed Cheverton on the joys of toy making
Illustrator and toy maker Ed Cheverton uses found objects and silly faces to create toys that are a collectible extension of his artistic practice
The changing state of play
During the 20th century, the concept of play blossomed as its creative and educational benefits were revealed. We talk to Shamita Sharmacharja, co-curator of Play Well, an exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London, about its evolution
Junyi Xiao’s short film imagines the last man on earth meeting an alien
In Junyi Xiao’s funny animation, the last man on earth is hungry and learning how to cook aliens online: lucky for him one crash lands right outside his house
How to nurture new talent
The creative industries can feel bewildering for newcomers, who rely on the wisdom of more experienced practitioners to find their way. Here we explore how to support creatives who are just starting out, from giving constructive criticism to helping people refine their ideas
Drawings of People with Signs: a zine that does exactly what it says
In Erlend Peder Kvam’s zine, his hand-drawn characters use simple signs to express their opinions about themselves and the world
Trends of 2019: Social Media and Creativity
This year saw increased analysis and reflection over the impact that social media has had on creativity, from the dangerous lure of the likes to the way that social channels could be designed for the better. Here are the key points to catch up on
The Year in Music
As society’s tensions with technology and identity continue to rage, figures in the music industry tackled them with an open mind, making 2019 a year of great complexity but even greater creativity
Thinh Nguyen explores loneliness and rejection in his kooky animation
In Tom Has a Plant, Thinh Nguyen’s graduation film, the title character tries to give plants away to those he cares about but things don’t go quite to plan
Trends of the Year: Creativity and Tech
It’s been a jittery year in tech. As we discovered more about the insidious ways that technologies track us, questions of ethics abounded. But there was the odd fun moment too in amongst the gloom
Movie posters of the year 2019
It’s been another glorious year for movie posters, which has seen illustration in particular rise to the fore. Here, CR’s design correspondent Daniel Benneworth-Gray picks his ten favourites of 2019