How brands are shaping the face of pickleball
We speak to the brands and creatives who are helping carve out a refreshingly accessible visual language for one of the world’s fastest growing sports
Bringing minimalism and modernism to games brands
Graphic designer Cory Schmitz is a distinctive voice in the games industry, turning his love of corporate logos into work for indie studios, major titles and tech companies. He discusses the ever-more sophisticated brand worlds of games and their makers
If brands want to appeal to Gen Z, why do so few agencies talk to them?
Tag Agency takes the logical, and community-driven, step of connecting brands with young people and giving them a much-needed platform to get their voices heard
Exposure: Diego Moreno
Photographer Diego Moreno subverts traditional family albums to explore his painful upbringing, in turn creating a set of striking and unsettling images
Behind the scenes at Queer Britain
We speak to the co-founder of the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum about the challenges of bringing it to life, and how brands can support queer communities without rainbow washing
How photography became gamified
We talk to the curators of How to Win at Photography, now on show at the Photographers’ Gallery in London, about how imagemaking turned into a numbers game and why artists are using humour to examine it in their work
Micaela Alcaino on the complexity of book cover design
Market researcher, avid reader, trend analyst, social media strategist – the modern book designer wears many hats, says multi-award-winning Micaela Alcaino, who’s capitalising on a renewed interest in beautiful covers. And she always reads the manuscript
What’s the value of awards?
The design and advertising industry has a plethora of award schemes. Here we examine what part they play in the industry and in the success of creative businesses
Martin Wecke on why we’re approaching the metaverse all wrong
The Berlin-based designer and developer also suggests we might be seeing a return to MySpace-like styles and values in web design
Will Netflix spark a rebirth in great ads?
Netflix has recently announced that it will offer a lower-priced subscription featuring advertising. Here, Ben Kay explores what opportunities it might offer the ad industry
How should designers address the cost of living crisis?
With a potential global recession on the horizon, brands are facing complex decisions, which will offer both challenges and opportunities for designers, says Design Bridge’s Tom Gilbert
Exposure: Steph Wilson
Steph Wilson’s photography uses humour and wit to explore our relationship with our bodies. Gem Fletcher talks to her about her work
How brands are embracing the noughties revival
Nostalgia marketing is rearing its head once again with a spate of brand comebacks and collabs that are channelling the Y2K aesthetic. But what role should brands be playing in the trend, if any?
Examining Virgil Abloh’s legacy
Following the opening of Figures of Speech, a retrospective of Virgil Abloh’s work at the Brooklyn Museum, curator and collaborator Antwaun Sargent talks about Abloh’s wide-ranging influence on culture
Designing for our obsession with sleep
From bed-in-a-box businesses to CBD supplements, the sleep wellness market has exploded in recent years. We explore how creativity is setting brands apart
Are drinks brands taking minimalism too far?
With San Pellegrino and Lilt embracing stripped back looks, we discuss what’s going on in drinks branding, the dangers of minimalism, and how brands including Full Circle Brew Co and Sprite are getting it right
Inside the Beano brain
While it remains a hugely successful weekly children’s comic, via its insights consultancy and content studio, the Beano brand is now also a valuable bellwether on the tastes of Gen A
What makes a brand collab work?
Brand collaborations can lead to fun, limited edition projects and fresh perspectives. But what makes (or breaks) a good collab?
How Habito is making mortgages less hellish
Since 2016, Habito has been on a mission to challenge the typical process of getting a mortgage. We explore how the brand is creating a more enjoyable and entertaining experience for homebuyers
Collina Strada: Reimagining fashion
Collina Strada is offering a new vision of what a fashion brand can be. Here, founder Hillary Taymour and co-creative director Charlie Engman talk about community, sustainability, and making ‘good trouble’
Unravelling the D2C brand boom
As the direct-to-consumer market’s rapid growth shows no signs of slowing down, we examine what role creativity plays in building a successful D2C brand
Brick by brick: Behind the scenes at Lego
From canny collaborations to a deep understanding of how kids interact digitally, Lego has evolved from a physical toy brand to an entertainment juggernaut – all while keeping the humble brick at the heart of what it does
The rise and rise of science fiction
Sci-fi is a dominant feature of the London exhibition scene at the moment, appearing in shows from the Hayward to the Barbican, Somerset House Studios to the Serpentine Galleries. Why does this genre speak to us so much right now?
Superette: A fresh take on cannabis retail
With its exuberant visual language and store designs, Canadian retail brand Superette is making its mark on the budding legal cannabis industry. Co-founder Drummond Munro explains how design has helped to shake things up
How brands can navigate a hybrid future
As new and exciting opportunities emerge in the digital space, brands need to connect the various worlds we live in more than ever. The only way to do this is to think in human terms, not transactional ones
How Dickies straddles work and play
As the American workwear brand marks its 100th anniversary, we speak to global CMO Sarah Crockett about how Dickies balances different customer bases
How Chilly’s is evolving into a lifestyle brand
The elegant design of Chilly’s has led the way in the reusable bottles sector. While its growth has been organic so far, it is now using new marketing techniques to expand
How New Balance went from dad shoe to cool
New Balance lifestyle marketing director Tom Henshaw explains how the sportswear maker embraced its dad shoe status to become one of the hottest brands of the moment