Exposure: Ada Marino
Ada Marino’s enigmatic photographs draw on symbols from her southern Italian heritage to explore themes of patriarchy and the emancipation of women
A new show investigates the UK’s penchant for hobbies
Organised by artist Hetain Patel and commissioned by Artangel, Come As You Really Are is a celebration of the nation’s pastimes, from knitting to model making
Company culture: is it just a ‘nice to have’?
CR looks into the value of culture in an agency, plus the challenges of establishing it and the impact it can have on the work created
The humanist photography of Louis Stettner
A new monograph charts the photographer’s inclination towards documenting the everyday lives of the people that surrounded him
Adidas launches Olympics ad ahead of Paris 2024
The sportswear brand has launched a spot intended to be motivational as part of its You Got This campaign
Burt’s Bees celebrates 40 years with summer merch collection
Inspired by the Burt’s Bees archive, the collection not only honours the brand’s founders but also continues its environmental commitments
KFC Thailand’s new ad is a foodie fever dream
Led by Wolf BKK, the campaign film reimagines the brand’s instantly recognisable mascot Colonel Sanders as a lovable Thai ‘Uncle’
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
Olympic Museum unveils a versatile rebrand
Studio Blackburn talks to us about creating a new identity for the Swiss museum that can flex for a global audience
Let’s hear it for the Olympic medics
A new campaign for healthcare apparel brand Figs is celebrating the medical professionals behind the US Olympic team
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
Why the future of advertising is indie
We speak to By The Network about how its global collective of independent agencies are taking on the scale of the big network model by prioritising creativity above all else
How to gain confidence and improve your pitching skills
Working in advertising and design requires the ability to sell your ideas. If you’re naturally more reserved or in a junior role, how do you manage the expectation to be a confident pitcher, presenter and networker? CR asks those in the industry for some advice
Nike releases punchy new ad ahead of the Paris Olympics
Winning isn’t for everyone, states the new ad, which is a love song to brutally competitive athletes
Saratta Chuengsatiansup on illustration as a form of rebellion
The illustrator’s 3D works “meme” timely news stories in Thailand and demonstrate the power images can have when making political statements
Immersive art installation Sweet Dreams addresses food, branding and desire
Art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast has joined forces with a stellar array of creatives to create the work at Aviva Studios in Manchester, which while witty and beautifully crafted, will leave a sour taste about corporate life
Co-op launches new brand platform with stop motion ad
The artfully stripped back campaign film also debuts the supermarket’s refreshed brand identity developed by SomeOne
Life as a creative freelancer in 2024
In a volatile market, freelancing offers both opportunities and challenges. We talk to three creatives about how they are finding it out there right now
Nathan’s Famous gets a tasty new look
The brand’s legendary hot dog mascot Frankie has been reimagined as part of its new brand platform, 100% Beef, 100% New York, led by adam&eveDDB
Remote working: a new day for agency culture
As many agencies struggle with hybrid working – or have abandoned it altogether – Mørning’s Lily Fletcher puts out a rallying cry for more radical solutions to the question of how we work
Nike transforms Centre Pompidou into a sporting canvas for Paris 2024
Sport and art collide in Nike’s new exhibition at the iconic museum, which happened to provide the design inspiration for the brand’s original Air Max 1 trainer almost 40 years ago
Sarson’s turns up the tang with new Dip & Drizzle range
Created by Robot Food, the visual identity and accompanying campaign for the new product launch feature a bright colour palette and close-up foodie shots
Rachel Gogel on the rise of fractional leadership
The independent design executive discusses what she’s learned about building creative teams, the increasing prevalence of fractional creative leadership, and why it signals a broader shift away from traditional ways of working
Corbin Shaw highlights the hypocrisy of subsidised fine dining for MPs
The artist has teamed up with North Paddington Foodbank in Westminster on a campaign that urges policymakers to tackle the UK’s food poverty crisis
Ikigai and the question of personal purpose
While brands have been obsessed with purpose in recent years, we have overlooked personal purpose, which can lead to a far more enriching working life, says creative coach Richard Holman
Are creators the new creatives?
CR looks into the increase in agencies and brands opting to work with creators in their campaigns, and examines the value they can bring, plus whether they present a threat to the traditional agency model
Are specialisms dead?
And does it matter if they are? We ask a range of creatives about whether the industry is oversaturated with generalists, why this might seem to be the case, and what is lost and gained
From smileys to stickers: LogoLounge launches its 2024 trend report
LogoLounge returns with another of its highly anticipated annual reports, while observing that logos are taking a back seat within wider visual identities
Chelsea FC launches new visual identity and home kit campaign
Made in partnership with Uncommon Creative Studio, the launch unveils a new brand narrative – We Burn Blue – via an arresting visual campaign
Etsy’s latest campaign chooses humans over AI
Celebrating the skill and creativity of its makers, the e-commerce brand hopes to remind people of the more human side of its business
Brian Eno, different every time
Gary Hustwit’s new documentary film about the prolific producer, artist and thinker is programmed to generate alternative versions each time it’s shown. The director explains why this approach is the only reason Eno agreed to take part, and the possibilities of this technology for filmmakers
Channel 4’s Paralympics ad reflects changing attitudes to disability
The campaign film seeks to tackle well-intentioned but misguided perceptions of Paralympic athletes head on, while firmly moving away from the ‘superhuman’ narrative that the broadcaster helped pioneer
Shira Inbar on pushing the boundaries of editorial design
Ahead of her talk at MagCulture Live New York, we speak to the designer about her work on innovative magazine concepts for the likes of A24 and Mschf and how her multidisciplinary practice has evolved over the years
Winners of the Palm* Photo Prize 2024 announced
Photographer and filmmaker Lindsay Perryman took home the Judge’s Panel First Place with their evocative self-portrait image
Floating Points’ new video is a fluid exploration of lifeforms
Tokyo-based artist Akiko Nakayama has created ‘alive paintings’ for the producer’s forthcoming album, and will be joining him on tour to create improvisational visuals later this year
Why creatives need to understand business and tech
Leo Burnett Taiwan’s recent focus on mixing its creative departments with accounts, media and tech teams is resulting in more experimental projects and a better offering for clients
New ads highlight the positive role of migration in England Euros team
Created for the Migration Museum, the stark campaign aims to tackle anti-immigration sentiment in the UK, which was prominent in the recent general election campaign
The art of getting it done
Viewing a TV show about the painful process of making the classic film The Godfather, TBWA\London’s CCO Andy Jex sees a number of parallels with life in adland
Why we need to reduce the ‘noise’ in design
Principal’s Bryan-K Lamonde discusses the art of designing ‘less’ and how he’s implemented that approach across the studio’s projects
Finnish store Måll reveals retro branding
Chris Bolton’s designs for Måll, a new retail destination in Finland, reference its commitment to circularity
Concept store Grocery gets a subtly contrasting identity
The new identity for the Danish store blends “technical and organic” cues informed by the range it offers
Elaine Constantine’s heady photos of Northern Soul dancers
The gravity-defying images in Constantine’s new book reveal the hedonistic dancefloors of Northern Soul nights all around England
What the rest of the world can learn from Swedish creativity
From Ikea to Oatly, Swedish brands have won the hearts of consumers the world over. Here, Forsman & Bodenfors’ Johan Eghammer reflects on why the country’s creative reputation is the ultimate underdog story
Irina Selaru on the importance of characters
The illustrator talks to CR about how using recurring characters allows her to dig deeper into more emotional and personal themes in her work
Field Roast’s sausage ad taps into Charli XCX fanfare
Plant-based meat brand Field Roast launched a responsive OOH campaign by No Fixed Address that lifts from the most recognisable album cover of the year
What does sport’s shifting geopolitics mean for brands?
As the East ploughs billions into everything from golf tours to football leagues, we examine how brands in the West are grappling with a global sports industry in flux
D&AD launches platform to demystify industry jargon
The free tool, devised by FCB London creative team Amy Bland and Sacha Burke, allows people to learn from and contribute to an ad industry dictionary
Earl of East launches café-inspired candles
The delectable candle range conjures popular drinks and sweet treats, all served in reusable diner mugs
Denver restaurant Brutø has a suitably Brutalist identity
An emphasis on raw materials has informed both the food and the design at this Michelin Star restaurant
Wearing it on your sleeve: using design for representation in sport
As the 2024 Paris Olympics approaches, diversity and inclusion remains an issue for elite sport. But at the community level, clubs are taking matters into their own hands, using branding and kit design to remake sport in their own image
Why brand unity is critical in times of upheaval
In this year of elections, we can expect seismic business changes, mergers and acquisitions. Brand expression is essential during these shifts, and the role of the chief designer officer should not be overlooked, says Wolff Olins’ Wayne Deakin
La Boca illustrates anniversary edition of Nineteen Eighty-Four
Just 750 copies of this lovingly designed edition of George Orwell’s classic novel have been made, commemorating the original book’s enduring legacy
BBC’s Olympic ad is a love story – about sport
The broadcaster’s animated trailer for its Paris 2024 coverage nods to the city’s romantic associations, which are likened to athletes’ passion for their discipline
Political punchlines: how this year’s general election ads measure up
With the public going to the polls on Thursday to vote in the UK’s first general election since 2019, we examine how the campaign messaging has played out
Why we need to abandon the idea of the ‘perfect’ ad campaign
In a social-first world, the traditional approach of one big campaign a year is far too slow, says Su May Tan of VaynerMedia. Instead we should be aiming for hundreds of imperfect ads that brands can constantly learn and adapt from
Penguin Cover Design Award 2024 winners announced
The publisher has revealed its top winners across children’s, adult non-fiction, and adult fiction in its awards for emerging cover designers
The Monthly Interview: Louis Henry Mitchell
Sesame Workshop’s creative director of character design discusses the joy of getting to do his dream job everyday, why story is everything when it comes to creating lovable characters, and how Sesame Street has stood the test of time
Exposure: Adali Schell
At only 23, the LA-based photographer has already been producing imagery for half his life, using photos to document and digest his surroundings
Verizon refreshes its branding
The telecoms provider’s updated logo and design system coincides with the launch of a new brand film and a suite of rewards packages
Visit Oslo takes a deadpan approach to tourism
A new ad from creative agency NewsLab offers an anti-advertising approach to promoting the Norwegian city, starring a very bored resident