Many famous brands won Lions at Cannes last week with ‘purposeful’ campaigns. The winning work reveals that many are still seeing purpose as delivering great creative campaigns rather than essential business transformation, says Becky Willan at Given...
Plum Guide’s new ad campaign will terrify you into booking a holiday
Plum Guide is a travel brand which proclaims to curate stays in the “world’s most remarkable homes”. Its new campaign, by Stink Studios, doesn’t waste time trying to seduce audiences with visuals of these destinations though, and instead points out just how many holidays you are likely to have left, depending on your age. The numbers are duly unnerving –...
Patrick Stewart delivers a leaving speech like no other for Yorkshire Tea
Leaving speeches can be awkward affairs, especially when the eyes of the office are fixed upon you. But in Yorkshire Tea’s new ad, the art of bidding goodbye is taken to new levels by British actor Patrick Stewart – who emerges from an office swivel chair to deliver the leaving speech of a lifetime. “Ah Tina, the void so hollow...
Mubi’s Notebook magazine is a celebration of cinema in print
In a world of uber competitive streamers scrambling to promote their own versions of a near identical product and service, Mubi has quietly treaded its own path. It has become known for its conscientious curation of films from around the world, made by a cross-section of internationally renowned filmmakers and under-the-radar talent. As a production company and distributor, it has...
Behind the scenes at the Royal Mint
The designers at the Royal Mint have recently made special edition coins to celebrate everything from the Platinum Jubilee to Pride to the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. Hazel Davis talks to them about how they are made...
A century after his birth, a new book examines Otl Aicher’s design legacy
Prestel has released a new book on the seminal work of German graphic designer and typographer Otl Aicher (1922-1991) to mark the centenary of his birth. Most known for founding the influential Ulm School of Design, and for the pictographs he designed for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, this publication also explores his achievements beyond the world of design,...
Émile-Samory Fofana’s tribute to West African football fans
When Émile-Samory Fofana began his series Champions League Koulikoro four years ago, it became the turning point in his creative trajectory. “It’s the project that first drew me towards photography,” he tells CR. “Before that, I was working mainly in video, but I wanted to create a specific body of work and photography was the best way to put these...
The changing face of crypto
A more sophisticated approach to branding and marketing is bringing crypto to new audiences. But with a ‘crypto winter’ looming, should creatives be helping to legitimise what is still a highly volatile market?...
TVNZ ad campaign offers a lesson in the perils of streaming
Created by Dentsu Creative, and directed by Sweetshop’s Damien Shatford, the enjoyably silly campaign shows just what it can ‘cost you’ if you get too hooked on streaming TV. Each spot features impeccable performances, as a bank heist, mafia hit, and romantic declaration all take an unexpected turn due to the addictive power of TVNZ+. “The work was built off...
The specialist studios tackling sustainable goals
We talk to two dedicated studios directly addressing sustainability about why they were set up and whether competitiveness is counterintuitive in this space...
Felix Richter on his journey through adland
Droga5 New York’s former CCO discusses moving both agencies and countries for his new role at Mother London, and the lessons he’s learned along the way...
Penguin announces the winners of its 2022 Cover Design Awards
Penguin is of course renowned for its cover designs, meaning that competition for its awards is fierce. This year there are three categories: Adult Fiction, Adult Non-Fiction and Children’s, with participants invited to reimagine the covers for titles by Bernardine Evaristo, Dara McAnulty, and Robin Stevens. Over 1,500 entries were received this year, with the publisher opening up the award...

