How should studios support designers’ mental health?
Slides in the office and wellbeing workshops aren’t going to cut it anymore. We speak to design studios taking a more considered approach to mental health
How CEOs make an agency creative
We chat to CEOs Chris Kay at Saatchi & Saatchi and Ajaz Ahmed at AKQA about what it means to drive forward creativity at top agencies — and how they balance that with the ‘business’ side
Are copyright battles destroying creativity?
In an industry where people are often badly paid, it’s important to protect the ownership of creative work and ideas. But is this leading to a litigious culture that will ultimately suppress creativity? Richard Holman examines both sides of the question
How experience design made me a better creative leader
Now head of experiential design at R/GA London, Zoha Zoya’s career has been a rollercoaster of job titles as tech and UX have become more and more central to brands and organisations. Here she reflects on what she’s learnt along the way
Will the metaverse improve access to the creative industry?
The metaverse offers exciting possibilities for education, including the potential for more diverse access to the creative industries. But only if it’s built with inclusivity at its heart, writes Ally Owen, founder of Brixton Finishing School
How Toyota’s 20-country creative team works
The&Partnership relies on a “chunky network” of international creatives to make work for the car manufacturer. ECD André Moreira shares what he’s learned about managing a distributed team
Greg Hoffman’s lessons from a creative life at Nike
Following his departure from Nike after almost three decades, the former CMO’s new book discusses what businesses large and small can learn from the brand’s innovative approach to creativity
The evolution of design education and learning
Design institutions need to forge better connections between schools, communities and the industry, says D&AD president Rebecca Wright
How to shake off the demon of convention
In this extract from his new book, Creative Demons and How to Slay Them, Richard Holman examines the lure of convention and how to summon original thought
How young creatives benefit from more informal mentorship
The emotional support mentorship offers can be just as beneficial as professional advice. CR uncovers how two programmes make a less rigid and more empathetic approach work
Sarah Boris on the joy of being your own boss
Graphic designer and artist Sarah Boris has always charted her own course through the creative industries, from starting out in-house rather than at a studio, to setting up her own practice in 2015. She discusses what she’s learned along the way
How to nurture creative talent
Gretel’s head of design, Dylan Mulvaney, shares how the studio has built an internship programme that benefits both the studio and the careers of young creatives
How creative leaders can deal with failure
Failure is an inevitable part of the creative process, yet we will often do anything to avoid it. Here, leadership coach Tanya Livesey explains why leaders need to show that to err is human
The tragedy of Mac death
Creating a poster has proved the undoing of our design correspondent Daniel Benneworth-Gray’s computer – here, he offers some sage words of advice to help others avoid a similar calamity
The Design Council vs climate change
At a conference to be held during COP26, the Design Council hopes to unite the design industry around a climate action plan. Patrick Burgoyne talks to chief design officer Cat Drew about its mission
Tanya Livesey on overcoming limiting beliefs
We often hold beliefs about our abilities that can impede progression. Here, Tanya Livesey explains how creative leaders can help their teams move past these self-limiting thoughts
The battle for self-belief
Working in the creative industries inevitably involves rejection and doubt. But those are also the elements that can lead to greatness, writes Richard Holman
Richard Holman on the value of the unexpected moment
Wrong turns and unpredictable moments are a part of every creative journey, yet we rarely like to examine these in full, preferring to give the impression that everything is in our control. But, writes Richard Holman, these accidents are vital
Why strong leaders will ask for help
A great leader is often perceived to know all the answers and never feel the need to ask for help. But in fact the opposite is true, says leadership coach Tanya Livesey
Why we should take laughter more seriously
Leaders might shy away from humour during difficult times. Yet, as leadership coach Tanya Livesey points out, laughter is one of the most powerful ways to help your team bond
Why we should all be promoting creative brilliance
When Ben Kay discovered that Fernando Machado, CMO of Burger King, was tweeting about copywriting, he was impressed, and wondered why creatives aren’t doing the same
Facebook’s Steve Hatch on dyslexia and diversity of thought
Facebook’s vice president for Northern Europe discusses his personal experience of being diagnosed with dyslexia when he was at school, and why he’s a vocal advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace
Why culture matters, now more than ever
The culture of your agency or studio stretches far beyond fancy decor, ping pong tables or DJs in the foyer, says leadership coach and Global MD, Creative at The Talent Business, Tanya Livesey. And it can prove vital in how businesses navigate the difficult times we are in
Ask Anna: How can our team bond from a distance?
For her latest column, our agony aunt Anna Higgs addresses a question so many of us are asking right now: how can you work successfully with your colleagues – or even start a new job – remotely?