The changing face of crypto
A more sophisticated approach to branding and marketing is bringing crypto to new audiences. But with a ‘crypto winter’ looming, should creatives be helping to legitimise what is still a highly volatile market?
The specialist studios tackling sustainable goals
We talk to two dedicated studios directly addressing sustainability about why they were set up and whether competitiveness is counterintuitive in this space
Felix Richter on his journey through adland
Droga5 New York’s former CCO discusses moving both agencies and countries for his new role at Mother London, and the lessons he’s learned along the way
Why social media loves chaos
Last month, a climate activist attacked the Mona Lisa with cake. The vandalism, which went viral, doesn’t tell us much about climate change, but it says a lot about the enduring appeal of chaos
Setting up a creative agency? Here’s some money advice
From upfront costs to whether it’s worth shelling out for a studio space, we chat to creative studios about the financial side of setting up shop
How can brands weather inflation?
Siegel+Gale strategy director Patrick Kampff shares his ‘four A’ guide to getting through inflation – and discusses why empathy and emotion is critical for brands to survive the economic crisis
Ryan Reynolds on how to make advertising fun
Speaking at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity last week, actor and marketer Ryan Reynolds shared his thoughts on humour, responding to culture, and managing anxiety; and also introduced his new talent initiative, Creative Ladder
How can we get better at talking about money?
When it comes to money in the creative industries, a culture of silence perpetuates pay gaps and leaves many shortchanged. We look at how creatives can navigate discussions and why a shift must come from the top down
Are creative budgets really shrinking?
In the face of rising inflation and an increasingly dicey economy, it’s little surprise that client budgets are one of the creative industry’s biggest gripes. But what’s really going on?
The big money questions: a guide for new creatives
Pay rises, day rates, dilemmas about prioritising money or creative opportunities – young creatives have a lot to get their heads around. We asked OMSE founder James Kape, copywriter Ellen Ling and the Talent Business partner Anna Green for advice
The delicate balancing act of creative and commercial work
Is it a creative industries myth that bigger budget client work can’t be creatively fulfilling? Design studio DR.ME, photographer Emily Stein and branding studio NB weigh in
My Breakthrough Moment: Doug John Miller
The architecturally trained artist discusses how his first commercial commission gave him the chance to explore an obsession with the futuristic cityscape of Chicago
What brands need to know about working with influencers
We chat to a digital agency, an ‘influencer marketing data tool’ and TikTok twin sensations the Neffati Brothers about the ins and outs of brand/influencer collaborations today
How Minor Figures learned to lean back
With its irreverent illustrated characters and laidback personality, coffee products brand Minor Figures is offering a fresh take on the often divisive plant-based market. Co-founder Stuart Forsyth talks to us about challenging the challenger brand narrative
Did somebody say Just Eat?
McCann London discusses how it made one of the most recognisable — and polarising — pieces of sonic branding around today
Starface is the viral skincare brand normalising acne
We speak to the team behind Starface about how it is using creativity, collaborations and a killer TikTok strategy to become the skincare brand of choice for Gen Z
What role should photographers play at protests?
Jeremy Jeffs has spent years capturing a huge variety of protests, and he believes photographers are critical to documenting the changing state of democracy and holding power to account
The return of Cannes Lions
Next week marks the first Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity since 2019. Our ad correspondent, Ben Kay, ponders what might be different this time around
Reinventing Interview mag for a new era
Speaking at magCulture Live in New York, Interview’s editor-in-chief Mel Ottenberg and editorial & design director Richard Turley discussed how they are injecting a bit of fun back into the cult magazine
The changing role of the ad agency CCO
ECD, CCO, CEO, COO: the ad industry is awash in three-letter jobs. But beyond the acronyms, what is the role of senior teams in shaping creative work and establishing agency culture today? BBH’s Alex Grieve and Helen Rhodes discuss
Is originality an outdated concept?
We talk to the Public Domain Review’s Adam Green about his new book, which draws links between 2,000 years of visual culture, and why we’re obsessed with originality
The many faces of William Klein
The photographer and filmmaker’s exhibition at the ICP in New York celebrates the multifaceted nature of his practice over the course of nearly seven decades
Exposure: Justin J Wee
After getting his first commission for the New York Times in lockdown, photographer Justin J Wee has created a mix of editorial and commercial projects, including powerful documentary work addressing the impact of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US
Chidy Wayne on balancing commerce and art
The Barcelona-based imagemaker shares how he navigates the ‘boundaries’ of being a commercial illustrator and a fine artist – and his thoughts on the perceived divide between the two
Why brands need to let go of minimalism
Minimalism is the go-to design route for many brands. But by taking this safe option, they could be missing the opportunity to really stand out, says monopo London creative director Melanie Hubert-Crozet
Dionne Kitching on why play is better than perfectionism
The Manchester-based artist tells CR how embracing the element of chance, and stopping the endless quest for perfection, restored her love of illustration and gave her work a new lease of life
Why Ustwo became employee owned
We speak to the studio’s CEO, Carsten Wierwille, about its journey from being founder-run to becoming an Employee Ownership Trust, and how it hopes to inspire other creative businesses to do the same
The creative potential of 3D billboards
The humble billboard is evolving as creative uses of 3D imagery are being used to sell everything from movies to video games to sneakers. Here, Alex Wilson, ECD at brand experience agency Amplify, examines what they offer for brands