TypoCircle at 40 – how its Circular journal continues to evolve
As TypoCircle turns 40, with an exhibition and book celebrating its role in type and design, we look back at the evolution of Circular, the organisation’s journal that launched in 1993
Hudson-Powell to join Pentagram London
Pentagram has just announced that two new partners – brothers in fact – are set to join its London office. Luke Powell (above, on right) and Jody Hudson-Powell, whose studio Hudson-Powell was set up in 2005, will become part of the Pentagram stable in October this year
When Harry met Ai Weiwei
The Royal Academy of Arts is staging a major Ai Weiwei show in September. With the artist banned from leaving China, designer Harry Pearce decided to go and visit him at his Beijing studio to create an image that would symbolically bring the artist to London. He explains what happened next
Rebranding Oxford’s oldest church
Creating an identity for an 800-year-old church that will attract a new audience, without alienating its existing one, is a challenging task. But since launching early this year, Spy Studio’s branding for Oxford’s University Church has had a positive response from both newcomers and loyal visitors. We spoke to associate priest Alan Ramsey, a former designer, and Spy director Ben Duckett about the thinking behind the church’s new look.
Emily Oberman: all good design has a level of wit
Pentagram partner Emily Oberman explains why all good design needs “a level of wit” in this film from Cape Town creative conference Design Indaba.
CR June: The Age issue
Our June issue looks at how the creative industries are engaging with our ageing population – and how working both for and with older people can create a better world for everyone
Waterfront: a new magazine for the Canal & River Trust
The Canal & River Trust has launched a new magazine and blog highlighting the people who work and live on Britain’s waterways. Produced by Studio Pensom and Smoke Creatives, the new titles make great use of illustration, animation and photography…
Studio Dumbar’s big bold mark for VBMS
Studio Dumbar’s new identity for Visser & Smith Marine Contracting is in the grand tradition of Dutch graphic design studios providing serious industrial concerns with powerful, quirky marks
Nick Cave’s Sick Bag Song
Artist and musician Nick Cave’s latest book offers a visual document of a 22-city tour of North America, scrawled on the back of airline sick bags. Designed by Pentagram’s Angus Hyland and published by Canongate, it’s a fascinating collection of doodles, lyrics, thoughts and verse…
Mad Men bench unveiled in New York
A bench made in honour of the US TV show Mad Men has been unveiled outside the Time & Life Building in New York, the fictional home of the show’s agency, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Designed by Pentagram, it features the unmistakably louche silhouette of ad man, Don Draper
Offset 2015 day three: Sue Murphy, Matt Willey, Matthew Thompson & more
The final day of Dublin’s OFFSET conference featured talks from Why Not Associates’ Andy Altmann, art director Sue Murphy, photographer Matthew Thompson, illustrator Andrew Rae, Pentagram partner Emily Oberman and designer Matt Willey.
Spin designs a new visual identity for UCA
Design studio Spin has created a new visual identity for the University for the Creative Arts, a group of art and design colleges in Kent and Surrey. We spoke to Spin’s Tony Brook and UCA vice chancellor Simon Ofield-Kerr about why the university needed a rebrand and the thinking behind the new look…
The history of the open plan office
From its surprisingly radical roots to its role post-pandemic, Jennifer Kaufmann-Buhler – assistant professor of design history at Purdue University – talks CR through the legacy of the open plan office
Inside the design boom at ad agencies
We talk to Wieden + Kennedy Portland, Droga5 London and Mother Design about bringing together design and advertising work under one roof, and the perception of design work produced at ad agencies
Inside the surreal world of Slowthai
As Slowthai reveals his introspective side with new album Tyron, we speak to frequent collaborators Crowns & Owls about the album art’s attempt to crack the glossy veneer of fame, and why the Northampton-born rapper is still the voice of a generation
CR’s pick of the 2021 Super Bowl ads
While the pandemic inevitably ushered in some changes to this year’s Super Bowl, we saw some familiar trends in the advertising around the big game
Lakwena on belief, mythology and making a statement
The London-based artist discusses the motivation and process behind her epic painted murals, which combine vibrant colour palettes with uplifting messages that are rooted in spirituality
Twitter’s new identity reflects the messiness of life online
Created by Twitter’s in-house team and French studio Irradié, the social media platform’s refreshed branding features an “intentionally imperfect” aesthetic and new brand font, Chirp
Oliver Jeffers on changing plans
The artist and children’s book author shares how Covid derailed his travel and career plans and how he’s adapted his life and creative practice as a result
The changing nature of book cover design
Donna Payne, Faber’s creative director, explains her creative process when designing a cover, and touches upon the impact of the pandemic and the boost in online sales it’s prompted
How I Work: Bukola Garry, adam&eveDDB
The ad agency’s new head of diversity, equality and inclusion talks to us about her experiences in advertising, her plans for the role, and why it isn’t about being the ‘PC police’
Denizen Works: in praise of off-kilter creativity
Murray Kerr, founder of architecture practice Denizen Works, shares his purposefully ‘naïve’ approach to design and discusses the challenges of leading his studio off the beaten path
Reverting to Type exhibition features protest posters by 100 letterpress artists
The online exhibition features a mix of famous names and less-heard voices, who all use letterpress techniques to express their feelings on a range of contemporary issues
The evolution of street art
While art shown indoors may have temporarily lost its audience to the pandemic, street art is on the rise. Here, Hazel Davis reflects on how the medium is growing ever more part of the art establishment, yet can still be used as a force for change
Behind the scenes of Burger King’s juicy rebrand
JKR executive creative director Lisa Smith explains why the fast food giant ditched the glossy buns and embraced a bit of nostalgia, to become “how you imagine BK to be on its best day”
Jack Forrest’s daily poster project puts an emphasis on bold typography
Having just graduated, the designer experiments with different styles and imagery in his posters to challenge himself and connect with the design community
How crucial is luck in making great work?
Lucky Generals founding partner Andy Nairn talks to us about why brands and organisations should embrace strategies to encourage a stroke of luck – and also recognise the positives in bad fortune
Seesaws along US-Mexico border named the Design Museum’s top pick of 2020
Teeter-Totter Wall has been announced as the overall winner of the Beazley Designs of the Year, while category winners include a Covid-19 visualisation and a portable school
Anthony Burrill has designed a seven-storey-high mural for Leeds
Black and white lettering stretches 88ft high in the designer’s biggest artwork so far, which adorns the end of a historic canal-side building in the city
How to survive 2021: A Guide for Creatives
With the uncertainty and challenges of 2020 following us into the new year, we talk to a number of industry experts about the ways that creatives can survive – and even thrive – in 2021
How the tech revolution failed creatives
Tech firms once claimed they could set us free. But, as a new book points out, for those working in the creative industries, the offering has proved a particularly bad deal
