12 things to do and see at the London Design Festival
With so much to see and so little time to see it, the London Design Festival can be overwhelming. So we’ve picked out a few things that we think you’ll like
Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age
A new exhibition opening at London’s Science Museum on Friday includes the largest collection of Soviet spacecraft and artefacts ever exhibited outside of Russia. We spoke to curators Doug Millard and Natalia Sidlina about the show, which also presents a fascinating look at space propaganda and cosmic art…
Intercity releases a series of prints based on the tread patterns of sneakers
The crossover between lovers of design and lovers of sneakers/trainers is well-established, so it’s likely that lots of you out there will enjoy this new series of prints from design studio Intercity, which feature details from the soles of various well-known sneaker brands. Geeky, you say? Never….
New Zealand bank ASB introduces a cashless money box for kids
With the rise of contactless payments and banking apps, giving kids coins for their pocket money might seem a little bit ordinary these days. Enter Clever Kash, a cute new digital money box from New Zealand bank ASB…
Dominic Wilcox designs ‘Brek Tech’ for Kellogg’s
Going back to school can feel a gloomy affair for some. So to cheer everyone up, Kellogg’s has commissioned Dominic Wilcox to create seven brilliantly silly pieces of ‘Brek Tech’, so that kids can start the day with a smile…
The design of play
How some of our leading designers responded to new thinking about the importance of play in education by creating beautiful toys
Former editor of CR Jeremy Myerson on becoming his own ageing case study
When I was editor of Creative Review in the mid-1980s, writes Jeremy Myerson, I skipped around London adland under a thick bush of black hair. Thirty years later, my hair is silver, my step is heavier and as someone keenly interested in design and communication for older people, I am gradually becoming my own case study…
Beyond beige: Old people don’t have to look dated or dull
From tablets to ‘sports’ canes and simple MP3 players, specialist brands are proving that products for older people don’t have to look dated and dull. Welcome to the world beyond beige
Designing for Dementia
The growing number of people living with dementia presents one of the biggest health problems facing the world today. Rachael Steven looks at how both designers and advertising creatives can help to improve life for people with the condition and challenge the stigma that surrounds it
You had to be there
Combining old school set design, cutting-edge technology, sound, light, and live performance, Block9’s fantastical, immersive creations are where art and music collide. Antonia Wilson meets the master crafters of experience
An interview with Ken Garland
Ken Garland, who has died aged 92, had a phenomenal impact on the design industry and British culture. In this interview with CR from 2013 he reflects on 60 years of “structure and substance” as a graphic designer, writer, teacher and photographer
CRTV Daniel Mason, Something Else
A visit to packaging studio Something Else, and a conversation with founder Daniel Mason about his favourite materials and why he likes them
Why Creativity Matters: How to get creative with branded content
The latest talk in our virtual event series explores how branded content can resonate with audiences. Register now to join us on May 17
Butterkist brings giant microwaves to billboards across the UK
The new campaign promotes Butterkist’s microwavable popcorn while reminding people it’s the go-to snack for high drama and gossip
The rise of abstract logos
Many brands are ditching their well trodden logos in favour of a more abstract approach. Here we unpack this trend and examine whether legibility should be a concern
The art of writing a brief
We look into why briefs are so imperative to get right, the difference between advertising and design briefs, and whether visuals have any place in them
Why branding will be vital in the AI race
Pentagram partner Jody Hudson-Powell discusses the visual language that is emerging around AI, and the importance of brand when it comes to building trust in the rapidly developing technology
Creativity Sucks! returns for a new series
Creative Review’s podcast is back and on a mission to tackle the most thorny questions facing creatives and brands today. In this episode we look at whether rebrands are worth the money
Titi Finlay on social, storytelling and sneaker culture
The social media maven and artist discusses the importance of social and content in getting audiences to “believe” in brands, plus how an obsession with sneakers has guided her career
Manchester’s love letter to the Barcelona design scene
First launched in 2013, Dave Sedgwick’s event uniting Manchester with Barcelona returns this week for its swansong. He discusses the parallels between the two cities and the realities of producing an event alongside the day job
Royal British Legion reveals plastic-free poppy design
Design consultancy Matter has created a fully recyclable paper redesign of the charity’s symbolic poppy, which previously used plastic
How to write a great advertising slogan
Here, our advertising correspondent breaks down the methodology for creating a great slogan, by examining some of the iconic endlines of the past. But is there really a formula for brilliant creative work?
How creativity can help demystify unfamiliar concepts
Bas Korsten, global CCO at Wunderman Thompson, talks about using creativity to challenge people to think outside what they know, and why human ideas are still unmatched by AI
Fanta unveils bubbly global branding
Illustrations and typography enhance the soft drink’s first global brand identity, which aims to bring consistency to its designs around the world
Pepsi reveals new branding that nods to its past
The soft drinks brand has announced a new visual identity ahead of its 125th anniversary later this year
Pentagram creates identity for cannabis brand Ben’s Best Blnz
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen has launched a cannabis brand designed by Pentagram’s Eddie Opara. We speak to them about what the brand stands for
