The performing arts sector has been forced to adapt or die in recent years. Facing increasing financial pressures, only exacerbated by the pandemic, a whole raft of venues are refreshing their image in order to attract new audiences. One of Washington state’s largest performing arts centres, Tacoma Arts Live, is no exception to this trend. But its recent move to...
Claude d’Avoine on getting to grips with a brand’s DNA
Frieze’s head of design talks to CR about how working in-house helps him get to the heart of a brand and align its creative output...
How Duolingo created its in-house animation ‘engine’
Acquiring Detroit studio Gunner has revolutionised how the language learning app approaches animation. Duolingo tells CR why bringing the business in-house was the right decision...
A titillating look at the history of men’s magazines
A series of books published by Taschen approaches men’s magazines with a historical lens and also tracks the wider societal changes alongside their evolution. We talk to the series author about the value in examining this history...
Manual unveils a ‘dancing’ logo for Louisa Parris
Louisa Parris’ branding is yet another nail in the coffin for the ‘blandification’ of fashion labels, many of whom have, in recent years, embraced stripped back versions of historic logos and symbols. The new identity, as well as Burberry’s recent update, suggest that the tide is definitely on the turn. Tom Crabtree, creative director at Manual, says the main focus...
A manifesto for building a successful in-house team
There is definitely no one-size-fits-all for in-house teams, but here are some principles for success to draw on, put together by the In-House Agency Leaders Club...
New video for Thom Draft is a dark tale of smartphone culture
The video centres on a teenage girl who, following a miserable bullying incident – all livestreamed on social media, natch – discovers she has a bizarre super power, which then leads to a life of fame. To make it feel authentic, the entire story had to be shot on smartphones. “There were no fancy cameras, no film crew, no cheating,”...
CR’s pick of the Super Bowl ads 2023
Judging by the ads at this year’s Super Bowl, serious times call for unserious advertising. While the overriding trend in marketing for the past few years has been grand gestures around purpose and how brands make the world a better place, this has been replaced at this year’s game with celebrity hi-jinks and a heavy dose of nostalgia. The Super...
How creativity can elevate Indigenous Australian voices
CR speaks to the founders of We Are Warriors, the first Australian platform of its kind created to celebrate “Blak excellence and the next generation” ...
American football explained in this illustrated card deck
The Super Bowl has become a global event that reaches far beyond its US birthplace, but there are still plenty of new fans around the world who tune in without quite grasping the ins and outs of American football. Two creatives have set out to illuminate audiences about the rules, moves, and positions seen in the game with a digital...
Ikea addresses inflation in new print and poster campaign
The campaign arrives as brands across the globe wrestle with how to address inflation, and how much of their rising costs they can pass onto customers. Tone of voice can be vital during straitened times, as we discussed in a recent interview with Reed Words’ Orlaith Wood, who advised that brands shouldn’t ignore the situation its customers are in: “When...
Turning toxic particles into pencils
According to research by the World Health Organisation, a shocking 98% of Indian schoolchildren breathe toxic air, both outside but also within classrooms. Air pollution impacts neurodevelopment and cognitive ability and can trigger asthma, and childhood cancer. To raise awareness of this issue, nasal health brand Otrivin, owned by global consumer health company Haleon, has launched a clean air… Source...