Category: Art

George Underwood From schoolyard friends to legendary album covers, we chat with David Bowie’s lifelong collaborator about his artistic journey and a new exhibition of work inspired by the much-missed singer. George Underwood may not be a household name, but his artistic vision helped shape the visual identity of one of rock music’s most iconic…

From pandemic passion projects to illustrating for global brands, Kanioko’s genderless characters are bringing much-needed representation to the art world. In a creative world hungry for original and diverse voices, Brazilian artist and illustrator Kanioko is making waves with quirky, genderless characters and vibrant colour palettes. This striking work is typically inspired by themes including…

The bottle label includes designs referencing Bongang’s West African upbringing, nodding to the origins of the versatile folio grain. Carlsberg has collaborated with Brooklyn Brewery on an integrated campaign surrounding the world’s first 100% fonio beer, brewed in Carlsberg’s Research Laboratory without the use of barley or bittering hops. Fonio was created as part of…

The on-the-go Irish bar, located in the busy transport hub at Moynihan, has a thematic thread of transport running through its brand and interiors. We’ve all been in those situations where you’re at a social event and desperate to leave but can’t face the long and tedious ritual of goodbyes. That’s where The Irish Exit…

Casey Joiner                                                                                                          …

Heltar by The Northern Block From playful sans serifs to versatile superfamilies, the latest font releases offer a great way to give your designs a fresh look and bring them to life this autumn. As we enter autumn, it feels like time for a fresh start. And so, as a designer, it’s the perfect occasion…

Image licensed via Shutterstock A commitment to lifelong learning will give you a sense of personal fulfilment and future-proof your career against AI. Read on to discover how to achieve this practice. As the summer winds down, the leaves start to turn, mums shop for the kids’ school uniforms, and large groups of uncertain freshers…

Design studio Ensemble explains how it teamed up with a local brewery to represent the city’s heritage in modern beers. England is a nation of beer lovers, whether you prefer full-strength or zero-alcohol. But not all beer, let’s face it, is that good. It helps to find a brand you can come to know and…

Experiences, feelings, and memories – these are the things driving the portfolio of the up-and-coming illustrator and animator Sze Hang Lo. After the dust settled following all the graduate shows for illustration and art courses across the UK, the Association of Illustrators sent out its Grads to Watch list. One of the talents that grabbed…

The calligrapher and typographer Seb Lester has launched a series of beautiful works that eschew scale to favour quality and prove that it’s the little things that matter. In the remote Yorkshire village of Settle, you’ll find one of the world’s smallest galleries. The town’s old red phone box has been turned into an art…

Designed by local studio Span, the identity features a custom logotype inspired by the park’s topography as well as a public bench. Chicago-based design studio Span has unveiled its latest place branding project, an identity for a new public park in the Bronzeville area of its home city. Although Bronzeville was known for its vibrant…

Nomad Studio explains how it crafted an electrifying brand for the online gaming industry—just in time for it to step up to the world stage. You may not have heard of Kaizen Gaming, but they’re a pretty big deal. Based in Athens, this GameTech company operate two brands, Betano and Stoiximan, in 16 countries and…

Evelyn Tan                                                             Evelyn Tan’s Website Evelyn Tan on Instagram

Sketchbook photo © Tim Langlotz Driven by a desire to draw, see new things and develop his skills, Lapin hops here and there across Europe and around the world, sketching what interests him wherever he lands. One can only envy him. Twenty years ago, Lapin worked in a studio as a graphic designer on campaigns…

After three years on the market, the studio saw an opportunity for the brand to ride the wave of the moderation movement and enhance its brand experience, putting Quarter Proof on the same shelf as its high ABV predecessors. Social attitudes to alcohol have no doubt changed in recent years, with more people being more…

Bite Back is an organisation campaigning for more regulation of fast-food multinationals. And their latest billboard makes its point with refreshing simplicity. We recently encountered the practice of “anti-advertising” in our special report from Glastonbury Festival on How to be an anti-capitalist artist. And this week, we spotted another example of the genre, as youth…

American photographer Colin Czerwinski documents the unique charm of Hudson during a rare natural phenomenon in upstate New York. During a rare solar eclipse earlier this year, Colin Czerwinski visited the small city of Hudson, New York, armed with his Fujifilm X100V, to document its residents, landscapes, and everyday life. Instead of focusing on the…

The New York designer explains how she’s blending artistic expression with functional design to create the kind of typefaces agencies will love to use in their work. Renowned designer Jessica Walsh has long been known for her passion for type. And now she’s taken that to the next level by launching Type Of Feeling. It’s…

Image licensed via Shutterstock Your introversion isn’t a barrier to making social video; it’s actually an asset. Discover how to conquer the world of video content with these expert tips and strategies. For the last couple of decades, the creative profession has been broadly kind to us introverts. Many of us who enjoy spending a…

The Münster School of Design graduate discusses her creative journey so far and how she has developed her unique style. Julia Wand is an illustration and graphic design graduate of the Münster School of Design in Germany. In her work, she always aims to combine these two disciplines: a conceptual approach and visual storytelling. “In…

Good Phats is a new brand aiming to disrupt the world of cooking oils. Office of Overview’s founder, James Sedgwick Taylor, explains how they positioned it with a focus on consumer education. Nowadays, most people think of fats as bad, things to be minimised and avoided. But two friends, Ben and Tom, didn’t see it…

Andrew Tseng                                                                 Andrew Tseng on Instagram

Oyow                                                 Oyow on Instagram

Leeds-based agency Robot Food has redesigned German health-food brand More. The new identity is based on a message of joy and self-empowerment. More Nutrition was founded in 2017 and quickly established itself as the leading provider of healthy weight-management nutrition in Germany. Along with all-vegan label Foodist and high-performance supplements provider ESN, German holding company…

With over 7,000 students completing their courses this year, the London Studio developed a unique identity to celebrate their experimental spirit. University of the Arts London is known for incubating some of the world’s most creative students. And so their graduation ceremonies are a big deal. Recently, UAL tasked Kind Studio with creating an identity…

Julie Alex                                                     Julie Alex on Instagram

The minority-owned motion studio BIEN has created a new animation highlighting the talents of wheelchair basketball players for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which start on 28 August. Diversity and inclusion are topics that are talked about in nearly every industry, but how inclusive and diverse is the design industry, and what’s being done to…

Elves, dwarves, wizards, a lich and an owlbear all feature alongside an iconic red dragon in what could be the most unlikely stamp collection ever issued by the Royal Mail – and role-players and fantasy art fanatics will love it. The British fantasy illustrator Wayne Reynolds has painted a set of eight monsters to feature…

The Falmouth branding studio’s fresh designs help transform the Asian-inspired cider into a character-driven sensation. Based in Kent, Kingfisher Drinks was founded more than 30 years ago to distribute the iconic Indian beer of the same name. And as Kingfisher Beer has become one of the world’s biggest beer brands, the company has expanded its…

Images used here are copyrighted to Reel Art Press Bringing popular culture together with graphic design, photography, illustration and typography, movie posters enjoy huge popularity with creatives and fans alike, and this new book selects 1001 of the very best examples. We’re not sure when the last survey was taken, but it’s pretty safe to…

The German agency explains how it crafted a new name, identity, and website for the creative recruitment agency Undiscovered. Based in Berlin, Undiscovered is a recruitment agency specialising in creative roles. Specifically, it matches talent in design, product, engineering, and marketing with startups, agencies, and corporations across Europe. They recently changed their name and began…

We chat with the fine art photographer about her new book, Candyland, which offers a fresh, empowering perspective through collaborative portraits that celebrate female sexuality and individuality. It doesn’t matter how much we tell ourselves to be “sex positive”, as the modern phrase goes. Most of us have never met and probably will never meet…

A recent graduate of Nottingham Trent, Isobelle Farrar is catching the eye with projects like HAG, which combine imagery, textiles, and storytelling to challenge the way older women are dismissed and ignored in society. Congratulations go out to Isobelle Farrar, the newly graduated artist who won the Association of Illustrators’ Spotlight Award at New Designers…

What better way to brand a sweet treat than through a bespoke typeface that literally looks good enough to eat? Yes, the rhyme was intentional. Beirut-based food processing company Gandour founded its baked goods range Yamama in the 1980s, and since then, the brand has established itself as a family favourite across the Middle East.…

Nada Elkalaawy                                                                 Nada Elkalaawy’s Website Nada Elkalaawy on Instagram

Award-winning UK illustrator Elly Walton’s quirky style brings whimsy and depth to her editorial, advertising, and design work. In our exclusive interview, she reveals how she crafts these storytelling visuals. In the world of illustration, Elly Walton stands out as a virtuoso of playful storytelling. This award-winning artist has made her mark across various mediums…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Sustain the mindfulness of a screen-free summer as you transition back to work by following this advice from the creative community. As the golden days of August fade into memory, many of us find ourselves at a crossroads. Whether you’ve been abroad or staycationing, the past few weeks have offered…

Growing the bacteria using kombucha, lion’s mane, household food waste, and swabs from skin and soil resulted in some sleepless nights for creative director Chris Collicott. If somebody had told me that you could use live bacteria to create brightly coloured patterns from the 1980s and ’90s, I would have been a bit sceptical. That…

Digging around in the archives revealed some interesting and ownable brand stories that the studio used to solidify its position as ‘THAT juice’. Bath-based brand and packaging design agency Sunhouse has redesigned OG orange juice brand Tropicana, using heritage in a contemporary way to position it as the category leader and aligning with its new…

Angela Kirkwood                                                                         Angela Kirkwood’s Website Angela Kirkwood on Instagram

From contemplative cats to wide-eyed bat skeletons and even Santa on an exercise bike, Ilya Kazakov’s cartoony characters are helping the artist build his own community of fans and clients around the world. Originally from the Russian territory of Sakha – also called Yakutia – Ilya Kazakov is one of the most northerly illustrators we’ve…

Fintan Magee                                                 Fintan Magee on Instagram

Image licensed via Shutterstock / Adam McCullough You don’t need to be a musician to learn from the rapper’s recent adventures at Paris 2024. We list seven tips for following in Snoop Dogg’s footsteps and unlocking your creative potential. If you work as a creative freelancer, many people will be seriously jealous of you. Let’s…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Want to use the professional network to boost your freelance career? These tips from fellow creatives will help you leverage LinkedIn authentically and effectively. Social media isn’t what it used to be, especially for creative freelancers wishing to grow their careers. Instagram is dead to us, thanks to frustrating algorithm…

The legendary speaker manufacturer partners with Barkas to amplify its digital presence while preserving its rebellious spirit. The world of rock music has been altered beyond all recognition by the digital transformation of our society. While vinyl might be popular amongst hipsters, it’s no longer the huge, mass-market banker it once was. And while bands…

Here Design recently worked with a group of young offenders in prison to design a new identity for Untold, a charity that offers vocational training for young men in UK prisons. London-based studio Here Design works hard to balance profit and purpose and has always made time for pro bono work to support charities and…

With more options for pet nutrition popping up, Nutriment’s new brand hopes to make it easy for owners to choose the best science-backed food for their pets. Pets have become a huge part of many people’s daily lives, with the number of pet owners in the UK reaching record highs during and after the pandemic.…

The Bristol agency put their design skills to work, developing a visual identity for craft brewery St Austells that can scale as it grows. Right now, the demand for decent craft beer seems to keep growing and growing. And so St Austells, a family-owned Cornish brewery deeply rooted in traditional brewing and community values, was…

Mabel Esteban                                                                     Mabel Esteban on Instagram

The London-based studio collaborates with renowned illustrator Hedof to create upbeat and engaging branding for the Comedy Garden Festival. 57 Festivals is a London-based company specialising in live comedy. Since 2005, it has delivered comedy shows and festivals to select cities across the UK. Last year, the founders collaborated with Oat Studio – a London-based,…

This meticulously researched book explores how Blackheath and Greenwich in London became a post-war haven for modernist architecture, green spaces and community living. Blackheath and Greenwich, located in southeast London, emerged as pivotal grounds for modern architectural innovation in the decades following World War Two. This movement reflected a broader cultural shift toward social housing…

This inventive restaurant branding reimagines the idea of a vegan eatery in a refreshing and enticing way. Across the course of the 21st century, the image of veganism has quickly gone from ‘cranky and weird’ to ‘mainstream and cool’. Nowadays, you can find vegan options in most bars and restaurants. And that’s all to the…

Irina Selaru                                                                         Irina Selaru’s Website Irina Selaru on Instagram

Image licensed via Adobe Stock With Elon Musk and X seemingly fanning the flames of violence in Britain, we canvas how creative people are feeling about the controversial social platform. It’s been an ugly summer of violence and thuggery in the UK. And while the reasons for that are detailed and complex, the spark that…

A new visual identity for the charity makes thoughtful use of typography and colour to help expand its audience. Ovarian Cancer Action is one of the UK’s leading charities in the fight against ovarian cancer. Founded in 2005, it holds a global research conference every four years to share ovarian cancer research findings and connect…

Tips for getting your graphic design project featured (one being, send us lots of visual assets/mockups) Mockup via Art Directed Want to see your graphic design work featured in this online magazine? Here’s how to do it and some tips for standing out from the crowd. As a graphic designer or branding studio, getting your…

Want to get involved in printmaking? The Postcard Printing Press is premium, perfectly portable, and other things beginning with ‘p’. In these times when everything in our lives is being digitised, the lure of the analogue, the physical, the tangible, has become ever greater. Hence many are looking back longingly at the days of physical…

Firpal                                                         Firpal on Instagram

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Want to make cash from your personal work? These insider tips will help boost sales, engage customers, and stand out in the bustling creative scene. Who doesn’t love an art fair or creative market? They’re a great way to find cool, quirky, and unique pieces: everything from limited edition prints,…

A new advertising campaign for Thomas Cook and The Marine Conservation Society highlights how unthinking behaviour by holidaying families can damage and destroy aquatic life. We all know how plastics are destroying our sea life. Many of us have taken measures to swap plastic straws for paper ones, ditch plastic bottles in favour of reusable,…

One of the nation’s oldest theatres celebrates its recent restoration with a full rebrand, courtesy of Brighton agency Good Noise. Theatre Royal Brighton is one of the UK’s oldest and most iconic theatres. A key player in the UK’s dramatic landscape since its opening in 1807, it’s renowned for both its rich history and stunning…

Back Market refurbishes old tech so it can be resold and doesn’t have to be thrown away. A new visual identity helps communicate that mission and champions the concept of circularity. It’s not just billions of plastic bottles polluting the earth and damaging our environment. The tech industry is a big culprit, too. Electronic waste…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Beautify your workspace and protect your health and posture with these fantastic laptop stands. Our curated list will help you find the perfect ergonomic solution for your creative adventures. Summer’s here, and we’re all caught in that classic tug-of-war between work and play. On the one hand, deadlines are looming.…

Road cycling isn’t the gentlest of sports, as a new book by sports photographer Kristof Ramon (aka Kramon) lays bare with its stunningly dramatic images. For those who’ve been excited by the cycling at the Olympics, a new book by world-class pro-cycling photographer Kristof Ramon (known as Kramon) offers a visceral glimpse into the heart…

The Chicago-based animator Qianwen Yu is taking the heat out of summer 2024 with a set of refreshing cyanotype stop-motion animations. There have been heat waves around the world this summer, but Qianwen Yu has created a series of animated GIFs that might cool your brain or at least make your social posts a little…

Bráulio Amado (previously featured here).                                                                                                    …

Monjajaja’s editorial work. The Chinese illustrator uses a mix of traditional media to express herself and communicate her clients’ messages, celebrating the slips and spills along the way. While AI has its uses (cough), nothing compares to looking at a work that fully expresses the hand of the artist and what they were feeling as…

Spacemade is a co-working brand with a difference. Crafted by Wildish & Co., its new visual identity system is based on the concept of ‘meaningful connections’. Founded in 2020, Spacemade is a co-working space provider with a difference. Rather than just plopping yourself down wherever there’s a space, you get your own permanent desk in…

As the world awaits the new Beetlejuice movie, Tatty Devine’s jewellery collection takes inspiration from the original to bring the afterlife to life. When it comes to designer jewellery, we’re big fans of Tatty Devine. Founded in east London in 1999 by Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden after graduating from Chelsea School of Art, all…

It was the governing body for a range of aquatic sports but only had one of them in its title. The Bath-based branding agency explains how they helped transform British Swimming into Aquatics GB ahead of the Paris Olympics. Until recently, the governing body for aquatic sports in Britain, which includes swimming, diving, para-swimming, artistic…

Zoey Kim                                                                             Zoey Kim’s Website Zoey Kim on Instagram

Image licensed via Adobe Stock If you want to win your creative dream, the Olympians can show you the way. We explain why being competitive is no bad thing and how to approach it within the creative industry. Hooray! The Olympic Games are in full swing, and everyone can sit back and enjoy watching the…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Whether you’re hot and bothered, stressed about holiday packing, or anxious that summer is passing you by, there’s an app for that. These carefully curated mindfulness apps really can help you relax your mind, make you feel more present, and properly switch off this August. The British summer is a…

Pentagram partner Marina Willer has announced Overlooked 2.0, a series of art prints that celebrate the artistry and history of London’s ancient streets through brightly coloured reproductions of its manhole covers. In 2016, Pentagram’s Marina Willer unveiled a fascinating series of silkscreen prints made from brass rubbings of utility hole covers all over London. The…

The buying and selling platform for creative assets has a brand-new look. Read on to learn the thinking behind it and how it was developed. Envato is an online platform that serves as a bustling marketplace for creative assets, tools and services. Founded in 2006 by Collis Ta’eed and based in Australia, it’s essentially a…

RF. Alvarez                             RF. Alvarez’s Website RF. Alvarez on Instagram

The Munich-based creative studio Kreatives has teamed up with 11 illustrators from around the world to create animated explainers for the Paralympics, telling the story of each sport from the athlete’s perspective. On Wednesday 28 August, 2024, the Paralympic Games begin in Paris, and, for the first time, competition in every single sport will be…

Fables for our Time at the Design Museum. © Rob Harris for the Design Museum A major new work has moved into the Design Museum’s iconic atrium space. Read on to discover the thinking behind it. If you’re ever in London, the Design Museum is a great place to visit for creative inspiration or just…

Animals can’t speak up for themselves… but what if they could? That’s the premise for four hilarious ads for the RSPB, created in partnership with Blue Zoo and GOOD agency. When we think about silent comedy, we naturally think of black-and-white movies from the 1920s, featuring classic stars like Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. These…

The award-winning artist’s latest photo series explores community identity amidst rapid gentrification and the shadow of Tottenham Hotspur’s new billion-dollar stadium. Jack Smethers is a photographer based in Brighton whose images have been selected for multiple awards and exhibitions, including the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize and Portrait of Humanity. His work spans portraiture and lifestyle,…

The international art collective teamLab is taking immersive art to the next level. Our writer, Tom May, shares his experience of visiting their Tokyo show and why he thinks it’s a must-see when it comes to Europe. If you’re involved in the creative world, by now you’re probably aware of the concept of the immersive…

A fresh visual identity crafted by Bruce Mau Design is helping Canada’s most esteemed ballet company pirouette past stereotypes and leap into the future of performing arts. In the world of the 2020s, ballet companies are in a tricky situation. However talented their dancers, many people who might happily spend hundreds on a Taylor Swift…

The illustrator worked closely with the well-known musician to create a truly innovative EP design. Internationally acclaimed jazz clarinettist Adrian Cox is set to release a new EP. And he’s teamed up with rising star illustrator Con McHugh to create a visual world that’s as fresh and vibrant as the music itself, including album artwork,…

Art director Dana Davis reveals how she helps shape the New York Times website’s unique aesthetic with her inspired polymer clay illustrations. Remember how newspapers used to be a thing? We all like the idea that they still exist (just). But be honest, though, when was the last time you bought one, either in print…

Tanguy Troude                                                                                                          …

Image licensed via Adobe Stock As Creative Boom celebrates its 15th anniversary, founder Katy Cowan reflects on the pivotal lessons learned throughout this remarkable journey and how they can help you build your own creative business. This year, I’m celebrating 15 years since I started Creative Boom in 2009. Looking back now, I’d say that…

Carles Garcia O’Dowd’s artwork for Viña Rock 2023. At a time when small-screen imagery seems to be taking over and illustrators are losing their jobs to AI, it’s nice to know there are still areas where sprawling illustrations full of detail and artistry are always welcome. Let’s take a look at the world of search-and-find…

Fitbit wants the Ace LTE to be the next big thing in the school playground. So, it partnered with Koto to create a brand strategy and visual identity that could give it a fighting chance of success. Has your child asked for a smartwatch yet? If not, be prepared for a request soon (no doubt…

If you haven’t seen 47 yet, click on the video and watch it now. Then, read on to discover how this emotional film was created and why it’s making so many waves right now. There’s something about animation that often makes for a good cry. Anyone who’s seen Inside Out 2 (and doesn’t have a…

Tidawhitney Lek                                                                         Tidawhitney Lek’s Website Tidawhitney Lek on Instagram

The designer behind the popular newsletter OMGLORD explains how it began, how it’s evolved and her hopes and fears for the future. As one half of the independent brand strategy and design studio Superkeen with Lauren Wong, Gabby Lord has become a respected voice in the design community, sharing insights, resources and personal reflections through…

The renowned graphic artist joins forces with five music legends in a unique collaboration to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust. We can all probably name more famous singers and guitarists than drummers. But ultimately, an amazing drummer is the bedrock of every great rock classic, and they deserve to be celebrated a heck of…

Through a collaborative project with affected communities, photographer Kirsty Mackay’s The Magic Money Tree captures the UK’s cost-of-living crisis through a very personal lens. Since late 2021, the prices for essential goods have been rising dramatically around the world. And the UK has been just as affected as everybody else. Some have seen their incomes…

Angela Lewis                                 Angela Lewis’ Website Angela Lewis on Instagram

Bringing together illustrations, music, characters and stories, Off Work Every Month presents a travel itinerary across China – and it might just be the most creative zine project in the world. Based in China, Handowin He is an artist with a fantastic portfolio of work – particularly in packaging and advertising – but it’s the…

A new campaign for Transport for Greater Manchester, led by local agency Flow Creative, combines live action and animation in a bid to get families using public transport across the summer months. There’s nothing quite so frustrating every summer than sitting in a hot car, stuck on the motorway, while the kids scream, shout and…

New MedTech company When aims to empower individuals with accessible egg count information and expert advice. Creative agency Universal Favourite explains the thinking behind the brand. It’s incredible what new health services are coming online these days. But first, people have to know about them. And second, they have to trust them. Here’s a great…

With a background in editorial design, Andy Goodman decided to become an illustrator, developing an impactful, graphical style that’s sublime and simple and a portfolio full of clever visual wordplay. Andy Goodman is one of those rare artists whose special talent is to create an entire image using a single line. What at first glance…

A new Gen-AI-powered tool launches today, allowing anyone to place their own face in a classic CadburyCadbury’s poster to celebrate its heritage over two centuries. If you’ve always fancied being the star of your own advert, then Cadbury has just released a new Gen-AI powered tool that puts your face on one of its classic…

Stuart Semple (Photo credit: Ed Hill) We interviewed the leading British artist about how his free online school, innovative approach to paint manufacturing, and public projects are all helping transform the art world. Leading British artist Stuart Semple is on a mission to make art education and creative expression accessible to all through an innovative…

In Wieden+Kennedy’s latest work for Nike, we’re reminded of the hard, cold truth of competition: that not everyone can be a winner. The sports brand hits that message home with inside help from leading athletes all striving for victory. What does it mean for an athlete to achieve the top spot? In its summer campaign…

The campaign was devised to be “joyful and uplifting” without feeling “disingenuous or unrealistic” and foregrounds the amazing work that happens in children’s hospitals globally. The Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) recently launched its new ‘Made Possible’ campaign, created by the strategic design studio Team. The CHA acts as a voice for over 220 children’s hospitals…

Kevin Christy                                                                     Kevin Christy on Instagram

Design studio SomeOne is behind the refresh for the British supermarket chain, which was established in 1844 and today boasts 2,400 stores and over five million members. Central to the new branding are a deconstructed logo, bespoke typeface, and expressive icons. Co-op, the UK’s pioneering consumer cooperative, and the world’s first at that, has unveiled…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock As the new government runs another trial of the four-day working week, how should creative agencies respond? Three industry leaders share their views. Do you dread Monday mornings and spend all week looking forward to Friday? Then, find the weekend has come to a juddering halt before it feels like…

StudioDBD took an original and unusual approach to developing a brand identity for Stockroom, a new cultural hub in Stockport. There’s no point being coy about it. In many cases, our town centres just aren’t what they were. The twin onslaughts of online shopping and remote working mean a lot of people aren’t heading into…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Build a loyal audience and showcase your work effectively with these essential tips for starting a newsletter in 2024 Let’s face it: Reaching and engaging your audience has become more difficult than ever in the 2020s. Social media platforms like Instagram have betrayed us, putting their algorithm before our interests,…

The campaign utilises a blue-tinged collage effect, which is interpreted differently each year by a new collaborating artist. Studio Marcus Kraft has collaborated with renowned illustrator Bráulio Amado on the Zürcher Theater Spektakel 2024 campaign, which uses expressive, photocopied collages with images from the invited international productions. Zurich-based graphic designer and art director Marcus Kraft…

Gabriel Pozzo                                                                 Gabriel Pozzo’s Website Gabriel Pozzo on Instagram

Multidisciplinary creative Deji Ajetomobi is launching a new magazine focusing on African design talent and partnerships. We chatted with him about its founding principles, its vision for the continent’s creative industry, and the kind of work it’s planning to feature. At Creative Boom, we aim to bring you the best of new creative work from…

According to a new campaign led by TBWALondon, it’s a cake, stoopid. It’s a silly argument that’s raged in school playgrounds and office tearooms for decades now: Is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit? And it continues to rage despite the matter having been settled definitively in law. In fact, as long ago…

Creative Boom flew out to Barcelona to test drive Nissan’s all-electric coupe crossover and chat with the design team about what goes into creating the next generation of cars. If you don’t know much about Japanese design, it’s easy to look at the clean lines and minimalist style without noticing the complexities, whether a building,…

Adam Bambrough The actor-turned-advocate has made big strides in tackling mental health challenges in the creative profession. We chatted with him about his own journey and why he founded the support organisation Wellbeing in the Arts. The world of arts and entertainment often conjures images of glamour, applause, validation and creative fulfilment. Yet behind the…

Jakob Scheidt                                                                         Jakob Scheidt’s Website Jakob Scheidt on Instagram

Energetic shades of pink, green and blue are blended and carved into forms that begin rooted in daily life but quickly lead to strange realms of dreamlike surrealism as envisaged by the talented young illustrator Wenjing Yang. It’s the colour that hits you first when Wenjing Yang‘s portfolio is laid out before you. Just how…

The GRO-OP app results from a four-day intensive creative experiment and aims to connect local growers with those needing healthy but affordable produce. We all know that maintaining healthy food habits and 5-a-day routines is easier said than done. Even those who have the money for a healthy diet end up wasting a large percentage…

Photography and video captured by Jay Dawson, Ben Hughes and Thomas Lennox Pearson Artist Andy Welland is behind what’s thought to be the UK’s largest piece of temporary pavement art. If you’re not familiar with Newcastle and get the opportunity to visit, the best place to start is to head down the Quayside. This vibrant…

With Paris ’24 about to kick off, the fizzy drink brand wants to give everyone a warm, fuzzy feeling with its new ad and packaging designs, courtesy of WPP Open X and Ogilvy. Let’s face it: Many of us aren’t interested in watching sports like swimming, gymnastics, or dressage on TV – well, most of…

Designer, writer, and academic Michael John Goodman has launched three online archives of Victorian illustrations covering works by Shakespeare, Dickens, and Chaucer. We talked to Michael about what these collections have to offer today’s creatives. It’s fascinating to compare how illustrators have depicted great works of literature through the ages. For example, Arthur Rackham’s plates…

The new identity by Team was devised to bring the fair into a new era, reflect its significant growth, and stay true to its roots and values. New York-based studio Team has created a new brand identity for Independent, an organisation known for showcasing amazing art. It features typefaces inspired by classic New York infrastructural…

A venture capital firm aimed at family-oriented startups, Black Jays, wanted a new brand identity to better convey its mission. American studio Hex explains how it responded to the brief. On the whole, our society doesn’t spend a great deal of time celebrating financiers. In movies, for instance, they’re more likely to be the hero…

Life expectancy in the UK can vary by a shocking 16 years. A new ad campaign crafted by London agency Don’t Panic highlights the issue in the wake of the general election. Sixteen years is a long time. So it’s sobering that where you’re born in the UK can shorten your life by up to…

Whitney Hayes                                                                                                          …

Creative Boom turns 15 We celebrate 15 amazing years of Creative Boom with some key highlights and thoughts from our community. If you’ve been reading Creative Boom since the start, then get ready to feel old… On July 24, 2024, we will be celebrating our 15th anniversary! So, it seems like a good moment to…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock The creative industry is changing fast under the onslaught of AI. We share the community’s best advice on how to not just survive but thrive over the next decade and a half. This month, Creative Boom is celebrating our 15th anniversary. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on how much…

The biscuit brand’s equitable assets have evolved, with a suite of sticker graphics added to the mix. Coley Porter Bell has unveiled its refresh of Jammie Dodgers’ packaging, designed to bring consistency to the biscuit’s portfolio and evolve some of its key assets. The global design studio has worked with Fox’s Burton’s Companies for several…

Barcelona-based graphic designer Ilia Tuma has refreshed the school’s decade-old identity with a new logotype and vibrant colour palette, as well as bespoke illustrations by Anastasia Sheremeteva. Renowned Barcelona-based language school Freeda has a new identity created by graphic designer Ilia Tuma. The work emphasises humanity and friendliness alongside an engaging learning experience. Tuma was…

Sci-fi and psychedelia met classic Bollywood in the stunning visuals for Arrivals, a South Asian space at this year’s Glastonbury festival. Set and graphic designer Shankho Chaudhuri explained how the team created it. One of the biggest buzzes at this year’s Glastonbury wasn’t any of the acts shown on TV. Instead, a small section in…

Robert Campbell MacKenzie                                                                                                        …

The Ritz, Manchester, 1990s © Elaine Constantine In a new exhibition and book, the photographer presents her fascinating document of the northern soul scene of the 1990s, revealing its extreme aerobics and unstoppable energy. If it weren’t for Northern Soul, my husband would never have been born. I have a lot to thank for this…

Leo Burnett’s nostalgic campaign harks back to a time when the fast food chain’s birthday parties were in high demand. We learn more about the inspiration behind the 1980s-inspired spot, filmed in the UK’s first McDonald’s restaurant. If you’re a kid of the 1970s or ’80s, you’ll remember a glorious time when the epitome of…

David Hockney – Lightroom courtesy of the Artist A David Hockney art show based on digital projection and a Laurie Anderson premiere examining 21st-century America are among the highlights of the autumn/winter season at Factory International. You’ve probably already heard about the new trend for immersive art, as seen in the Van Gogh exhibitions of…

With a passion for storytelling and a distinctive graphic novel style deploying bold line work and flat colours, Yuanhao Tang thrives in the world of publishing. However, he has paused all his commercial work to create pieces for his community and gallery exhibitions. Sometimes, a busy illustrator just needs a break – time to focus…

Leicester-based designer Jess Wojcicki is recharging her creativity by entering the world of children’s illustration. She is launching her first book on Crowdfunder, with part of the print run going to children’s charities. For many artists, change is essential to keeping things fresh. After graduating from Nottingham Trent with a degree in Graphic Design, Jess…

Jake Sumner, Director of “Seaweed Stories” presented by Lonely Whale. Credit: Waterbear This year, the famous festival Hayes Pavilion showcased seaweed bioplastic, proving biomaterials can create functional, sustainable structures for events and inspire eco-conscious design. You’ve probably seen and read a lot over the last ten years about how biomaterials hold the key to numerous…

Daniel Fleur                                                             Daniel Fleur’s Website Daniel Fleur on Instagram

In a groundbreaking fusion of art and technology, Turkish Airlines and artist Refik Anadol present ‘Inner Portrait’, a captivating project that highlights how travel can transform the human experience. If you needed to visualise the concept of “travel”, you might think of the places people visit. Sun-drenched beaches. Buildings and monuments steeped in history. Vast…

As many of us hope (and pray) for a good result this evening, Studio Blackburn and Nirvana CPH have merged their love of beer with their passion for the beautiful game, revealing a special wall chart for UEFA Euro 2024. Studio Blackburn has teamed up with Nirvana CPH once more to create a unique and…

Projects with seaweed cutlery, woolly envelopes and edible packaging were shortlisted in this year’s competition, recognising global packaging design excellence. The Pentawards annual packaging design competition has announced its shortlist, featuring projects in the sustainability category that demonstrate exceptional material innovation. The announcement comes during Plastic Free July, a key initiative started by the Plastic…

The work aims to solidify Sarson’s place on the condiment shelf and coincides with the release of its Dip & Drizzle sauce, which was developed to reach a new generation of consumers. Robot Food has partnered with Sarson’s on a new omnichannel advertising campaign, brand world toolkit and packaging design coinciding with the vinegar brand’s…

Originally from Singapore but now based in New York, Ethan Sim is a young illustrator whose artwork draws in Eastern and Western influences and often explores personal experiences that resonate – including the big themes of life and death. Grief is an emotion we will all experience, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought this into sharp…

A double-page spread created for Red Bull’s Carpe Diem magazine. Just two years into her career, Scottish illustrator Molly McCammon has established a calm, sophisticated style which is impressing clients from around the world. When you’re a young creative, stepping away from something you trained hard to do can be daunting. But it’s a leap…

Created to rival wines made in Provence, Folc’s new bottle and brand design is a combination of “fitting in and standing out”. Historically, the UK has not been renowned for its winemaking, thanks to its colder climate creating less-than-ideal grape-growing conditions. But husband-and-wife duo Elisha and Tom Cannon didn’t let the weather get them down…

Martina Grlić                                                                                                         Martina…

Comfort food is often based on treats that remind us of home. Photographer David Fletcher has an ongoing love for the Staffordshire Oatcake, a local delicacy of Stoke-on-Trent that he wanted to pay homage to in a new photo series. No matter where we call home, we’ll never forget where we grew up. Those familiar…

Although the two cuts of Yinka Sans differ in depth and form, they both embody Ilori’s vibrant and expressive style. British Standard Type has collaborated with British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE to design a dynamic custom display typeface in two cuts: Yinka Sans Ultra and Yinka Sans Shadow. After using non-custom fonts for…

The global studio has unveiled a new brand for Microsoft’s latest generation of Windows laptops and PCs, all featuring built-in AI hardware. It marks a significant shift in the company’s offering. Koto is behind the branding for Microsoft Copilot+ PC, a new line of personal computers equipped with AI, the latest ‘Snapdragon X Series Processors’…

Connectivity has been a key theme in Dean’s recent shows, which is visually reflected through mirrors and repeated camera feeds. After making her debut at the Coachella festival earlier this year, Olivia Dean took to the stage again at Glastonbury last week with a set designed by London-based creative studio Unlimited Dream Company (UDC). The…

Luuk Van Raamsdonk                                                                                 Luuk Van Raamsdonk’s Website Luuk Van Raamsdonk on Instagram

Follio was created to fill a gap in the market for architecture and interior design tools. Its no-nonsense identity allows the platform itself to shine. New Genre has created the website and identity for Follio, a new digital platform designed to help large enterprises organise, manage and deliver interior design standards while streamlining workflows and…

Mark Stebbins                                                                                             Mark Stebbins’s Website Mark Stebbins on Instagram

The global design consultancy shares how it created a visual identity for birth control medication, marking a landmark moment for women in American history. Despite some recent regression on women’s rights in the United States, for the first time ever, American women can walk into any pharmacy and pick up a birth control pill without…

Frive – formerly known as Lions Prep – was originally targeted at gym goers, while its new brand looks to open the menu to a variety of people needing speedy, nutritious meals. Among Equals has collaborated with ready-to-eat meal brand Frive on its new identity as it moves to improve how we eat in the…

Intricate illustrations evocative of the wine’s flavour and codes of traditional Italian gardens feature in Pinot Grigio Flora Lisa’s brand identity. It could be said that wine doesn’t have the same elegance in the U.S. as it does over the pond in Europe, a notion supported by the fact that almost half of all American…

Despite being around for 30 years and attracting global audiences, the festival struggled to connect with local people to whom their first awareness campaign is targeted. Cheltenham-based creative agency Ellipsis Studio has created Longborough Festival Opera’s first awareness campaign titled ‘Small Theatre. Big Drama’, amplifying its reputation in its Gloucestershire home. For two months each…

All Keith Haring artwork and quotes © The Keith Haring Foundation If you’re a fan of the 1980s New York legend, you might be interested in a new book that presents his work in a way you’ve never experienced before. We find out more about how it was made. Poposition Press is behind the official…

How do you highlight the importance of a hairdressers to its local community while attracting new customers? An art mural of its diverse clientele might just do the trick, as we find out. It’s been 34 years since The Crop Shop opened its doors in Slade Green, serving the local community as a hairdressers and…

Rosie Clements                                                                 Rosie Clements’s Website Rosie Clements on Instagram

BBC Creative, the BBC’s in-house creative agency, has teamed up with Nexus Studios to create the launch film for its coverage of the upcoming Olympics. It takes inspiration from the world’s most romantic city and taps into our passion for sport. It’s almost time for the 2024 Summer Olympics, and Paris is the proud host…

Lilongwe Wildlife Trust partners with UK-based agency Sixredsquares to launch a refreshed identity to raise global awareness and support for wildlife conservation in Malawi. Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT), Malawi’s leading conservation organisation, has launched a new identity and redeveloped its website to raise awareness of pressing environmental threats and the urgent need to protect wildlife.…

We’ve all seen the new Toys R’ Us spot, and many of us are horrified by its implications and the increasing rise of AI. Animation studio Tentacle Media has decided to remind us of the wonderful human touch of creativity with the launch of its first physical product. Tentacle Media, a UK-based animation studio, has…

We’ve all seen the new Toys R’ Us spot, and many of us are horrified by its implications and the increasing rise of AI. Animation studio Tentacle Media has decided to remind us of the wonderful human touch of creativity with the launch of its first physical product. Tentacle Media, a UK-based animation studio, has…

Geometric shapes are seen across the fresh identity to house imagery and represent the diverse businesses that use Storey. DixonBaxi is behind the new identity for co-working space Storey, which uses overlapping tangrams to represent the diverse businesses that use it. The studio has had a long-standing relationship with the brand’s parent company, British Land,…

Photo by George Harrison Glastonbury isn’t just about Dua Lipa and Shania Twain. Half an hour’s walk from the main stage is an incendiary art show that’s both mirroring and questioning modern consumer society. Read on to discover why you should care. It’s Friday, the world’s biggest festival has just officially kicked off, and I’m…

Katie Hackett                                                                                                         Katie…

Photo by Jody Hartley Want to make impactful, subversive art? We speak to anti-capitalist artists at this year’s Glastonbury about their radical approach. For five days each June, a corner of rural Somerset transforms into a sprawling temporary city of music, art and counterculture. Glastonbury Festival has long been known for its radical spirit and…

The winners of Penguin’s 2024 Cover Design Award Competition was once again fierce for this year’s prestigious awards by Penguin Books. We reveal the winners of its annual prize where creatives get a remarkable opportunity to showcase their talents. Today, Penguin Books has announced the winners of its popular Cover Design Award, which sees aspiring…

Brighton studio Cronica has partnered with the European Media and Information Fund to craft a dynamic visual identity, blending print and digital aesthetics to combat misinformation and promote media literacy. In a year where over half the planet is holding elections, it’s increasingly clear that truth matters. That’s precisely why, in 2021, a bunch of…

Glastonbury is here once again. And it’s looking like a dry one (those lucky bastards). If you’re one of the jammy sods to be there, you’ll likely have seen a new ad for Strongbow, marking it as the perfect festival refreshment. Otherway has crafted a new campaign for Strongbow to kick off its summer of…

So Youn Lee                                             So Youn Lee’s Website So Youn Lee on Instagram

Blending magical moments, science, storytelling and a hint of nostalgia, Almighty’s designs position Joonbyrd at the forefront of the beauty and wellness industry. Headquartered in London, Joonbyrd is a company focused on creating skincare, wellness, and lifestyle products that promote emotional wellbeing alongside physical benefits. Founded by dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite, it aims to create…

The agency restored the charity’s 20-year-old website to make it a better resource for members and refined the brand identity to make it more “modern, integrated and coherent”. Banbury-based integrated agency Toast Design has developed a new identity and bespoke website for national charity The Victorian Society, which is looking to attract new and younger…

Icons and pictograms are so important to our society, yet even designers don’t discuss them all that much. A new book explores their evolution and impact in our increasingly visual digital world. In an increasingly visual world, icons and pictograms have become the universal language of design. A new book from independent British publisher Counter-Print…

Working in collaboration with Stuart Gough, Pentagram, JKR, and Impero, the charity launches its refreshed brand and positioning today. Its focus is on being “more accessible, inclusive, and digitally enabled.” Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH) has unveiled a new identity to build on its mission to transform the lives of seriously ill children and…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Feeling like a fraud? We share the community’s best tips to help you embrace your unique voice, trust your process, and view challenges as opportunities. As a creative professional, your work is an extension of your very self. Your ideas, your vision and your unique perspective, are the tools of…

All My Friends Reprise: Looking For Owls blends vibrant imagery with detailed band lore. London illustrator Sam Taylor explains what he learned from this unusual project. We’re big fans of London-based illustrator Sam Taylor, whom we last covered in 2023 when he was experimenting with hand-made techniques. Now he’s behind a new children’s book titled…

Four new commissions have come through the festival’s Art in Manufacturing programme, positioning Lancashire as a hub of creativity and craft. This year’s National Festival of Making in Blackburn, Lancashire, will host four new commissions for which artists have paired with industrial sector factories to reinforce Lancashire as a centre for making in the UK.…

Political tropes and materials such as leaflets, protest banners, and opinion stickers are heavily featured in the graphic identity of the exhibition. Munich-based studio WVH has designed the graphic concept and identity for an architecture exhibition at the Pinakothek der Modern in Germany, using political codes and aesthetics as well as recycled materials from previous…

Megan Reilly                                                                                                          …

Little Big Brands sought to respect the history of the garden’s namesake, Mildred Mathias while bringing it into the modern day with a new brand identity. The UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden has launched its new identity, coinciding with the renaissance and modernisation of the garden itself, which includes enhanced entry points and common areas as…

A Visible Distance interrogates the last three decades of design and creativity, from the commercialisation of the internet to the advanced technologies and practices of today. The creative industries are not short on autobiographies, monographs, and more of the like written by established figures, many of whom started their careers in the 1970s and 80s.…

There’s a darker side to the Beautiful Game that Women’s Aid wants you to know about. And that’s the hidden issue of domestic abuse exacerbated by the country’s fervour for football. Whilst many of us are enjoying the Euros this month, an award-winning campaign by Women’s Aid highlights a darker side to football: the spike…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Unleash your creativity while you’re away from the studio! This essential tech will help you present work, win clients, and stay connected when travelling to conferences and client meetings or while enjoying a working holiday. In today’s fast-paced world, we creatives often find ourselves on the go. It’s a perk…

A series drawing parallels between womanhood and forms and patterns found in nature by illustrator Noopur Choksi. Choksi is from India and currently based in Baltimore. She studied Graphic Design at the National Institute of Design and recently graduated with an MFA in Illustration Practice from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Her work is an…

Hugo Timm, senior creative director at Frontify The diversity of channels is overwhelming many designers and studios right now. Hugo Timm explains how you can both survive and thrive during this ongoing revolution. Wherever design and branding are headed over the next decade or so, one thing’s for certain: It’s all changing very rapidly indeed.…

FT Scenik Unleash your creativity with June’s innovative fonts, from versatile workhorses to bold experimentations and cultural inspirations. Feeling like trying something new? Us too. It’s the kind of spirit that often takes over when summer hits, the weather improves, everyone gets outside, and you start to think: let’s shake things up a little. And…

The New York agency draws inspiration from viral videos to showcase the culinary versatility of cottage cheese brand Good Culture. Do you ever eat cottage cheese? Many people don’t, and some have never even tried it. This soft, crumbly cheese is unusual because it’s made by curdling milk, typically skimmed milk, giving it a mild…

A solo exhibition exploring the intricate dynamics between heritage and personal experience by artist James Jean (previously featured here). While James is well-known for his collaborations with global entities like Prada and BTS, as well as being the creative hand behind the posters for Oscar-winning movies like Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Shape of Water, and Pinocchio, the Centre of…

Global studio Turner Duckworth designed dimensions for the brewery’s identity, commissioning illustrator Brian Steely to showcase the personality of each brew through illustrations. Turner Duckworth is behind Vocation Brewery’s new visual identity and packaging system, which sees its much-loved “eye” emblem reinstated more consistently across the brand. The Yorkshire-based brewery approached the studio directly to…

Crafted by animation studio ROOF, this inspiring 3D spot captures a mother-son bond, a journey of vision loss, and a new dawn promised by the new drug therapy Vabysmo. Wet AMD (age-related macular degeneration) is among the leading causes of vision loss in people over 60 in the US. It won’t make you go completely…

The rebrand introduces a simplified communications system, including clearer product naming and universal benefit-led iconography. Many of us will recognise Wilkinson Sword, a brand with a hint of its 250-year history in its name. It began as a weapons manufacturer in 1772 under a different name before Henry Wilkinson introduced sword production to the company…

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Navigating the transition from student to professional can be daunting, but these lessons from creative pros will help you achieve success. The journey from the structured confines of an academic setting to the dynamic and ever-evolving professional world can be exhilarating. But it can also feel like a sharp, handbrake…

Olena Led by photographer and director JJ Keith, these striking images symbolise the journeys of refugee entrepreneurs, amplifying their voices and celebrating their contributions to British society. Refugee and entrepreneur are not words you often hear in the same sentence. And yet, for obvious reasons, those who’ve risked life and limb to bring their families…

The museum’s new logo references the shape of the building and also resembles a goal and football. Ahead of the 2024 Euros, creative agency Poke Marketing has rebranded Manchester’s National Football Museum to emphasise the importance of football in English culture. The rebrand comes at a time of transformation for the museum, which will look…

This epic spot blends legends, rising stars and iconic moments from Centre Court to excite us all about a thrilling summer of tennis action. Wimbledon is coming: the world-famous tennis tournament takes place on 1-14 July. And advertising agency McCann London has already unveiled an evocative new trailer for their client, The All England Lawn…

Aseries documenting bird banding at the Long Point Bird Observatory by UK-born, Toronto-based photographer Finn O’Hara. Bird banding is a technique for studying and identifying birds. To keep track of individual birds, scientists use mist nets to capture the birds, and once collected, attach aluminum bands (engraved with a unique set of numbers) onto the birds’…

A selection of work from Portland-based artist Chris Lael Larson. Working in the overlap of painting, photography, and assemblage, Larson aims to create new perceptual experiences within the subject matter of the “everyday absurd.” That is, the strange, curious, and confounding ways we connect to each other–the things we consume and the environments we inhabit. Larson…

A beautiful series by Berlin-based photographer Ina Königs. Königs’s passion for photography comes from exploring the subtle nuances of the human condition and the “inner landscapes” that connect us all. Many of her pictures are reflections on encounters within her immediate surroundings: “My pictures are journeys into a world of introspection and mysticism, in which the…

A project documenting photographer Stephen Joyce’s hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joyce’s father died when Joyce was 18. “You Can’t Go Home Again” reflects different stages of Joyce’s grief and the difficulty of navigating a place so closely tied to the person he loved most. While always feeling a sense of attachment to his hometown, Joyce grew to…

Korean illustrator Jiyung Lee travels between France and Korea working on various projects including installation, publishing, and printing. Her creative process begins by contemplating familiar objects in unfamiliar ways. She focuses on expressing objects in simple forms, deliberately excluding details and descriptions to explore the point at which a mere form becomes an object.