To Instagram or not to Instagram
From battling algorithms to banned accounts, individuals across the creative industries are voicing frustrations with the platform. Is this the beginning of an Instagram exodus? And if so, what’s the alternative?
Why simplicity is the way ahead for social media in 2021
As We Are Social releases its annual trends report, chief strategy officer Mobbie Nazir reveals evidence of a move towards simpler and kinder social media habits that look to brands for assistance rather than aspiration
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Vertical video: creative tips from We Are Social
Our new video series, created in partnership with Facebook and Instagram, explores the art of vertical storytelling. Here we talk to We Are Social’s Gareth Leeding about creating dynamic content for Adidas
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
Social media and branding: what needs to change?
Facebook recently introduced a new logo. But is a rebrand enough to change people’s perceptions of the company? As social media enters an inflection point in its history, Koto’s James Greenfield examines the deeper changes these brands need to make
Stefan Sagmeister reflects on his Insta-based design clinic
For two years, graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister has been giving feedback on the work of his Instagram followers on a daily basis. CR speaks to the designer about why he does it and what he’s learnt about criticism
How censorship on social media can impact creative work
As part of our deep dive into all things social media, CR speaks to four creatives about how censorship on social media has impacted their work and the threat it poses to creativity
Can design fix social media?
This week on CR, we’re looking at the subject of social media. Here we ask creatives for their thoughts on how we can tackle some of the biggest problems facing social platforms, from echo chambers to addiction and extremism
Why creatives are jumping on TikTok
We speak to an illustrator, a filmmaker and a lettering artist who are making waves on TikTok about what it offers creatively that its competitors don’t already, and their advice for other creatives thinking about getting on the app
How much do creatives need social media?
As part of our deep dive into social media this week, CR explores to what extent designers and illustrators should rely on social media for finding work, and discusses some of the pressures and pitfalls that it’s opened up for creatives
What does the future hold for brands and social media?
This week on the website, CR is digging deep on all things social media. Here, experts from We Are Social and trend consultancy The Akin discuss how changing tastes in social media will shape how brands will use the channels in the future
The evolution of emojis
From crying with joy to the flirty aubergine, emojis have become engrained in our everyday discourse. We speak to Google’s emoji program Creative Director, Jennifer Daniel, about how they are helping shape keyboard culture
National Geographic on harnessing the power of social
National Geographic has successfully used social media to transform its fortunes. As a part of our Annual 2019 coverage, Tom Seymour looks at how it became the first brand to top 100 million Insta followers
The Messy Truth – social media and creativity
In the brutal world of social, artists and photographers can find themselves questioning their creativity and how they measure their success, writes CR columnist Gem Fletcher. How can we protect ourselves from the fallout?
You are what you see: M&C Saatchi’s Mimi Gray on the impact of our visual culture
As society gets to grips with the impact of social media on our sense of self, M&C Saatchi’s new project Visual Diet questions the value and impact of the images we’re exposed to. Head of Visual Content Mimi Gray explains how it works
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Insights: How Wonderbly uses Facebook to drive sales of its children’s books
Publishing startup Wonderbly has sold over three million books in the past five years, and claims Facebook has driven more sales than any other media channel. We talk to the brand about its approach to advertising on the platform
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Great Work: Cybersmile, #TrollingisUgly
adam&eveDDB and influencer Chessie King used Instagram Stories to call out trolling in a thought-provoking campaign for anti-cyberbullying charity Cybersmile
In partnership with Facebook & Instagram
Building a brand on Facebook and Instagram: Insights from Simba
How mattress brand Simba is using creative best practices and clever targeting to promote its products and engage with consumers
WWF’s #TooLatergram captures the world’s ‘lost’ landscapes
Travel Instagrammers are luring armchair tourists with snaps of fictional holiday destinations – to raise awareness of areas threatened by pollution.
How I Got Here: Edel Rodriguez
Often referred to by the press as ‘the pre-eminent illustrator of the Trump era’, Edel Rodriguez has given us some of the most provocative magazine covers of our times, and often sets the internet ablaze with his political imagery. Speaking at Design Indaba festival 2018 and in a follow up interview, Rodriguez told us about his fascinating creative journey.
Snap launches free AR tool for creating Snapchat lenses
Snap is the latest tech company to reveal its AR offering with Lens Studio: a free desktop tool that allows users to create lenses for Snapchat. Google, Apple and Facebook have all launched or announced AR platforms this year: Apple’s ARKit launched on iOS 11 in September, Facebook opened up its AR Studio tool to […]
Twitter through Trump’s eyes
The Washington Post has created Trump’s Feed, a Twitter account that replicates the ‘filter bubble’ through which the US President sees the world
Rewriting the rules of election campaigning
Last week’s UK General Election was unusual in many ways. We saw the abandonment of many election traditions, particularly in the way the various parties marketed and promoted themselves. Instead we saw creative and unusual ways of talking to the public, especially via social media channels. In this article, we focus on one such example, with Ella Saltmarshe of The Comms Lab explaining how she and a group of friends used creative thinking to encourage young women to vote.
The 2017 UK General Election in Ads, Memes and LOLs
Election day in Britain is here at last. As the country takes to the polls, we take a look how this bumpy and bruising battle has played out in advertising and on social media
The Annual & Social Media issue
This special double issue, in association with Arjowiggins Creative Papers, is our showcase of the outstanding projects of the year. In addition to the Annual, May is our Social issue with features on Kickstarter, Tumblr, Facebook and Instagram.