The ad agencies that launched during a pandemic
As part of our series about creative businesses set up during lockdown, we speak to three newly-launched ad agencies to find out why they took the risk and how they’ll do things differently
How Foundation empowers creatives to make money
As part of our series on creative businesses set up during the pandemic, we speak to Foundation, the auction platform for digital art and NFTs about how their digital-first approach is working for them
How to start a rum brand with purpose
For the next piece in our series on businesses created during the pandemic, Nic Akinnibosun and Rico Oyejobi talk about setting up their rum brand Saint Ogun while keeping their day jobs at Mother ad agency
How Anthony Nolan embraced digital during Covid-19
When the pandemic took hold last year, the stem cell charity had to adapt quickly. We explore how using digital channels paved the way to new donors and communities
Where does virtual clubbing go from here?
Digital experiences exploded throughout the global pandemic. As physical events are reintroduced in many countries, we talk to the people behind virtual nightclub Club Qu about drawing inspiration from gaming and why digital events won’t disappear
How tech is shaping luxury fashion and beauty brands
The pandemic has led luxury fashion and beauty brands to finally seize on the opportunities of creative technology. We look at how the accessibility of tech aligns with the exclusivity of luxury, and what it all means for the return of physical stores
How design is bringing new places to life
The past year has created a new emphasis on our surroundings, leading to an acute awareness of whether areas really serve their communities. We explore how place branding and marketing have been adjusted to reflect this
Saiman Chow on maintaining freedom in your work
The illustrator, animator and designer talks about personal style, the benefits of working digitally and the ways he’s ensured his creative independence
Why Covid-19 has expanded the creative sector’s horizons
The pandemic has brought much more than digital acceleration to the creative industries. It has shone a light on career opportunities that exist beyond the capital, and boosted accessibility and inclusivity, says Charlie Butterfield, partner at fst
Beat lockdown boredom with these walking guides to London neighbourhoods
Created by designer Stefi Orazi in the wake of the pandemic, Perambulations is a series of guided trails celebrating the modernist architecture of Barbican, Blackheath and more
Documenting NHS workers on the frontline of the pandemic
As the UK enters the third act of the coronavirus crisis, photographer Slater King reflects on what it was like to be at the forefront of the pandemic last year, when he began shooting portraits of NHS staff at London’s Whittington Hospital
How concerts went virtual for Covid-19
We speak to Kate Moross and Rob Sinclair about bringing the concert experience into people’s homes for Kylie Minogue’s recent Infinite Disco show, and how everything from streams to video games are changing our perceptions of what live music can look like
Five photographers interpret anxiety in Wellcome Covid-19 project
Wellcome commissioned five international image-makers to create a body of work in response to the mental health fallout of the coronavirus pandemic
David Byrne’s irreverent illustrations muse on life during Covid
Pace Gallery is hosting an exhibition both online and in its New York space showcasing 50 hand-drawn ‘dingbats’ created by musician and artist David Byrne
Could coronavirus spell the end of the big agency?
Is the ongoing crisis the death knell for major creative agencies, or is this a chance to embrace change and create happier clients and colleagues along the way? Stuart Davis, former COD at M&C Saatchi, explains why this is a now or never moment
How a side of Invisible Chips is supporting the hospitality industry
A menu item appearing on bar and restaurant menus around the country is helping to raise funds for hospitality workers impacted by Covid-19
How Good Measures is challenging clinical Covid signage
A new company dedicated to post-pandemic wayfinding has released a set of vinyl signs designed to help rather than hector
Why the modern office needs to be a destination, not an obligation
While the shift to working from home prompted by the pandemic initially seemed successful, many are now craving a return to the office. But, argues Aaron Taylor Harvey, we shouldn’t just go back to where we were before. What we need is a third way
How might pitching change post-lockdown?
Coronavirus has forced the creative industry to adapt overnight, but does that extend to pitching, or is it as wasteful and stress-inducing as ever? CR investigates what might change post-Covid
Can creativity build a better post-Covid city?
The pandemic has prompted cities around the world to reconsider everything from parks and public transport to the way high streets work. Emma Tucker explores why good design is the way forward for greener, more sustainable spaces that keep us all happy and healthy
Designing dating apps in the age of coronavirus
The pandemic may have made people wary of going on real-life dates, but dating apps are using the lockdown period as an opportunity to help us nurture our virtual love lives. CR investigates the unstoppable rise of digital dating
At the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York
Photographer Philip Montgomery was at the forefront of documenting the coronavirus crisis in New York. He reflects on the experience here, in a conversation with Gem Fletcher
New Snickers ad offers a witty reflection of lockdown life
The new ad from the chocolate brand, created by BBDO NY, light-heartedly reflects some of the unexpected perils that come with our emergence from lockdown
Masked illustrations are welcoming shoppers back to Europe’s malls
Face masks feature heavily in this campaign by Sid Lee Paris, which uses cheerful illustration to mark the reopening of Europe’s shopping centres
How art is helping cities and towns recover from Covid-19
Towns and cities are using art and design to add a much-needed shot of positivity and optimism into city centres as they cautiously reopen for business
How to make remote onboarding work
How do you start a new role when you’ve never even seen the office? And how do you handle WFH if this is your first job? We investigate how studios and agencies have managed the onboarding process during lockdown, and what it could mean for the future of remote work
Royal College of Art’s grad show goes virtual for the Class of Covid-19
The RCA2020 website features work by 850 graduates from around the world, and individual projects have been grouped together by theme with the help of high-profile guest curators including Es Devlin and Edward Enninful
Gucci tells the story of musician Kelsey Lu in new comic book Myristica
Terrell Villiers and Akia Dorsainvil of Masisi Studios have created the comic to coincide with art magazine Kaleidoscope’s new issue, translating experimental musician and cellist Kelsey Lu’s personal journey and style onto the page
How Framestore revived the past for British Vogue
Framestore has teamed up with British Vogue to put a new spin on classic fashion photos, working with the magazine to model new collections onto decades-old images for its August 2020 issue. We speak to Framestore about bringing the project to life
Good Reads: Limbo is a new kind of magazine for our turbulent times
Publisher Nick Chapin has teamed up with editor Francesca Gavin and The Gourmand creative director David Lane on the new non-profit arts publication, which aims to support out-of-work creatives during lockdown and beyond
Has Covid-19 stolen Christmas?
It might be the height of summer, but brands are typically getting their festive campaigns and ranges under way around this time of year. With the pandemic demanding more guesswork than ever, we explore how coronavirus is changing proceedings this time around
Jean Jullien’s colourful characters take to the great outdoors
The illustrator’s latest creations form part of annual arts festival Le Voyage à Nantes, where giant artworks and outdoor sculptures are dotted in and around the French city throughout the summer period
How coronavirus helped The Big Issue go digital
When the pandemic struck, The Big Issue lost 80% of its revenue overnight. As the magazine’s vendors finally return to selling on the streets, CR looks at how a combination of quick-thinking and creativity has helped them stay afloat during the crisis
Behind the scenes at Shangri-La’s VR festival Lost Horizon
With Glastonbury’s cancellation leaving a gaping hole in the music calendar this summer, Shangri-La creative director Kaye Dunnings was determined to create a virtual experience that festival-goers could enjoy from their homes. We speak to her about bringing Lost Horizon to life
How Covid-19 has changed the future of esports
As physical sports across the globe were grounded by the pandemic, esports continued to thrive, and captured the attention of traditional sports fans along the way. This provides unique opportunities for brands to get involved, says Landor’s Rebecca Benson
2020 gets a new, leaner calendar design
Christopher Doyle’s new calendar design for 2020 chops out four months in a bid to reflect how life has been put on hold during the pandemic
Does the creative sector need to hit reset?
With the creative industries experiencing seismic change, Stuffs founder Sophie Amono, Reset Sessions co-director Hanisha Kotecha, and creative activist Dan Burgess come together to discuss where brands, agencies and creatives can go from here
Is the future of theatre digital?
New technologies are increasingly used to enhance live performances – but can they ever replicate the real thing? Playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, Young Vic artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah and actor Adrian Lester discuss the role of digital in a post-Covid world
Ask Anna: How can I advance my creative career in lockdown?
Our agony aunt Anna Higgs advises a design graduate on how to get attention – and hopefully a job – while the usual avenues of networking are currently closed
Artists design charity masks to support homeless people
Camille Walala, Helen Beard, Craig & Karl and more have created designs as part of Masks for Meals, which is raising funds to feed homeless people in the UK
Charlie Clift documents how vital food banks have been during the pandemic
When Clift began volunteering at his local food bank, he wanted to document the realities of people struggling during this time but also the stories of hope
The challenges of making TV during coronavirus
From Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe to the first ever lockdown TV drama, we speak to the people behind some of the most popular shows to emerge during the pandemic about their shared mission to keep the nation entertained
Vogue Italia’s new issue swaps cover stars for children’s drawings
Following on from its blank white cover that arrived as the world began to lockdown, Vogue Italia’s new issue is both dedicated to and designed by children all over the world
How Airbnb is adapting to the new normal
When the pandemic struck, Airbnb was forced to make a quarter of its staff redundant. Here, we speak to the company’s chief design officer, Alex Schleifer, about the importance of transparency during these times, and the role creativity can play in helping brands get back on track
Refuge’s new film shows abuse victims they’re not alone during lockdown
Created by McCann Bristol and starring Maxine Peake as a victim of domestic abuse, the short film coincides with a 66% increase in demand for Refuge’s helpline amid the pandemic
The losses and gains of WFH
As lockdown begins to slowly lift, companies are considering how our working life will adapt. Here, James Britton, group managing director at Stink Studios in London, examines how our enforced WFH period may create permanent change, and what might be lost along the way
Pentagram’s new project shows the human side of stats during coronavirus
Created by Pentagram’s Giorgia Lupi and her team, Happy Data focuses less on daily death tolls and more on “small but mighty numbers”, spotlighting the inspiring stories that have come out of the pandemic
How coronavirus is redefining the magazine cover
From frontline workers turned cover stars to messages of hope, the pandemic has forced publications to rethink their covers in creative new ways. We speak to magCulture’s Jeremy Leslie and the Telegraph’s Kuchar Swara about the role of magazines in our current crisis
New Nike spot parallels sports resilience and hope with our challenging times
Titled Never Too Far Down, the LeBron James-narrated spot features epic sports comeback stories to offer hope and inspiration
What we can learn from New Zealand’s Covid-19 messaging
New Zealand has been leading the way in the fight against coronavirus with its simple but powerful communications strategy, which focuses on bringing its people together. We look at how it got the rhetoric so right, and whether countries like the UK should be following its example
Bill Posters creates deepfake music video for Lil Uzi Vert
The video, for track Whassup, aims to parody life under lockdown and ‘stars’ celebrities from Donald Trump to Rihanna, Elon Musk to Oprah Winfrey, before even the Queen pops in to say hi
ITV asks us to reach out in new mental health campaign
As part of the network’s ongoing Britain Get Talking campaign, Uncommon Creative Studio has created a series of spots that tap into the awkwardness of striking up new conversations in lockdown
How will coronavirus change events?
With the pandemic making large gatherings impossible, brands, festivals and cultural institutions have been planning online alternatives. We explore how creatives and organisers are responding to the crisis, and whether it could inspire new kinds of digital experiences
Seize the Awkward’s new ad is helping young people talk about mental health
To coincide with Mental Heath Awareness Month, Ad Council, JED and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention have released a refreshingly frank music video to kickstart conversations during lockdown
KFC stages a fried chicken comeback in new ad
As the fried chicken behemoth reopens 500 restaurants for delivery, it is taking the opportunity to thank its die-hard fans who have been making DIY KFC during lockdown
New Billie film tackles self-conscious apologies on video calls
With video calls now part of the new normal during Covid-19, beauty brand Billie asks us to stop saying sorry for how we look
Ikea has released instructions for building your own home fort
The furniture brand’s newest set of manuals are designed to stave off lockdown boredom, by teaching us how to build fortresses, caves and wigwams out of furniture and household items
Lisa Sorgini on photographing mothers and children in isolation
The Australian photographer’s intimate series, Behind Glass, captures the “lightness and darkness” of parenting during lockdown
Caroline Norbury on the creative crisis caused by Covid-19
The CEO of Creative England and the Creative Industries Federation talks to us about the disciplines worst hit by the Covid-19 crisis, why the system has never fit the creative sector, and why we need to address the present before heading into the future
The Nationwide Degree Show will display grad work on billboards
The Nationwide Degree Show is offering art and design graduates – who are left with no regular degree shows this year due to coronavirus – the chance to see their work displayed on billboards across the UK