Rapha on why community is more than a trend
As the cycling brand turns 20, we speak to CMO Tom McMullen about how it’s helped inspire a whole generation of design and community-led brands in the world of sport
How Guinness embraced social
By loosening its approach to advertising, and engaging with its audience directly, the drinks brand has transformed with the times and won a whole new set of fans
How Lego creates meaningful brand experiences
We speak to Lego’s VP of global brand development Alero Akuya about the brand’s rare ability to straddle the physical and virtual worlds with ease – whether through its immersive new art exhibition in Paris or collaborations with Epic Games and Nike
Why are brands apologising so much right now?
Brands are saying sorry at a more rapid rate than ever. CR’s advertising columnist Ben Kay delves into why sorry is no longer the hardest word and whether this is an effective strategy for winning audiences
How Birkenstock became an accidental style icon
Birkenstock’s chief communications officer explains why the multi-billion-dollar brand has never needed a marketing department in its 250-year history
Asia’s creative ascent
Wayne Deakin, global principal at Wolff Olins, reports from the recent Mad Stars festival in South Korea where he found inspiration, innovation and exciting creativity
How verb is shaking up the world of brand experiences
US-based experiential company verb is adept at creating unusual, fun and experimental moments for brands from Airbnb to Amazon. It’s time everyone knew their name
A visual history of movie posters
A new book from Reel Art Press collates the first comprehensive history of film posters. We explore why they remain an underappreciated area of cultural design
The Monthly Interview: Rob Lowe, aka Supermundane
Mark Sinclair talks to the artist and designer about his new book, Lost Ordinary Magic, and the importance of recognising the power of simplicity and the everyday wonders that surround us
How Stone Island is using design to look forward
Once associated with British football fandom, the brand has been foregrounding its roots in technical craft – an emphasis carried through to its new website experience. We speak to CEO Robert Triefus and R/GA about using ecommerce for storytelling while fulfilling practical needs
Unravelling adland’s obsession with 90s nostalgia
We explore how the 90s, an era the UK looks favourably upon for its thriving culture, are continually inspiring a stagnated creative industry
Jessica Walsh ventures into the world of type
As the &Walsh founder launches her agency’s new offshoot Type of Feeling, she discusses why typography’s ability to evoke emotions makes it one of the most powerful tools at a brand’s disposal
Dumb ways to fly
Foolish brand ideas are often surprisingly successful. So let’s take the most stupid ideas seriously and see them soar, says We Are Pi’s Rick Chant
How to create a meaningful place
It’s become fashionable to talk about places as brands, but to create real meaning we need to be much more nuanced than this, says creative director Benji Wiedemann
Will ‘flatter’ companies fare better in the age of AI?
As AI reshapes the corporate landscape, design duo Vit Abramov and Holga Balina believe businesses are overdue a structural shake-up too
Why brands can’t be everything everywhere all at once
The purpose of brand strategy is to provide brands with direction and meaning. So why are agencies and marketers so eager to keep brands open-ended?
Can neuroscience make you a better creative?
Kinda Studios is tapping into the emerging field of neuroaesthetics to help creatives and brands make more impactful work that benefits people’s wellbeing
What IGOs can learn from the Olympics about branding
Intergovernmental organisations are desperate for a rebrand, says Saffron Brand Consultants CEO Jacob Benbunan, to better engage and unify the public behind their work. They would be wise to look to the IOC for guidance on how it can be done
Duolingo on why brands are becoming more human
We speak to Duolingo’s global head of social media Katherine Chan about managing the team behind its lauded social strategy and how people’s perceptions of brands are shifting in the era of individual clout
Raw Materials on the benefits of being unusual
At just a year old, the design agency was awarded D&AD’s design agency of the year. Here CR speaks to the founders to understand what they’re doing differently and how it’s impacting their work
The Monthly Interview: Gary Vaynerchuk
We speak to the founder, investor, author, speaker and internet personality about creative entrepreneurship, the underrated power of optimism, and why his agency will never – ever – go public
What can brands learn from Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign?
CR speaks to Teemu Suviala, global chief creative officer at Landor, about how Harris is cutting through the political noise, and what lessons brands can take from her bold approach
The hidden carbon costs of making an ad
We might reassure ourselves that there are for worse industries for the planet than advertising, but that’s before you break down all the steps involved. Maybe it’s time to do things differently?
How brands can respect sports with subcultural roots
The Olympics has brought sports such as skateboarding and breaking to new mainstream audiences. We speak to artist and breaker Frankie Perez and cultural strategist Skyler Hubler about how can brands can get involved while honouring the origins of these sports
Meet the most creative people you’ll ever hire
As Disability Pride Month draws to a close, That Lot ECD Paul Hewitt questions why the creative industries are still failing to recognise the true value of what disabled and neurodiverse talent bring to the table
Anya Hindmarch on the power of nostalgia
The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch is back for a third year. Here CR speaks to the founder about reworking the familiar into something extraordinary and how she’s utilised the rich history of food brands
Are the creative industries facing a skills crisis?
We speak to creative leaders from the worlds of advertising and design about the industry’s most glaring skills gaps and how agencies are attempting to plug them through a different approach to hiring talent
What does the new creative workplace look like?
As the creative industry wrestles with the pros and cons of hybrid working, new office models are emerging to cater for a range of needs