Holi festival 2019: how designers use colour in ingenious ways
This week the Hindu festival of colours takes place, which sees communities across the world throw powder over each other to mark the start of Spring and celebrate love, joy
Alexandra Palace gets a new identity to “transcend music”
The 140-year-old North London venue has been given a new look to stop it being seen as a giant, “corporate” gig space and show that it is embracing the local
Design Week Awards 2019 judges revealed…
Experts on branding (Jack Renwick), social design (Sophie Thomas), exhibition design (Lucienne Roberts) are joined by Ustwo design director Helen Fuchs, The Guardian’s digital director Ben Longden and many more.
Animator Anna Mantzaris on how to make a stop motion film
Mantzaris, who will be speaking at Offset design festival in Dublin this April, tells us all about what goes into making films such as Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs and
Pictograms for Tokyo 2020 Olympics show athletes in action
The symbols representing different sports have been created by Japanese graphic designer Masaaki Hiromura, and aim to communicate with an international audience.
Design Week Awards 2019 entry deadline extended
If you haven’t entered yet, there’s still time and you can find everything you need to know right here.
Samaritans rebrands to show it’s “so much more than a helpline”
The suicide prevention charity has been given a new look by Spencer Du Bois, which looks to help make it more appealing to younger audiences while highlighting what it offers
Stop the exploitation of freelance illustrators, says The Bright Agency
The founder of an agency representing self-employed creatives is pushing for better recognition of illustration as a “long-term career”, and protection over issues such as late payments and plagiarism.
Ikea hacks its own products to make them better suited for disability
To coincide with Disabled Access Day 2019, Ikea has launched its ThisAbles range of add-on products that aim to make daily life easier for disabled people, including bumpers for bookshelves,
Prisoners are being taught how to code in move to “reduce reoffending”
The Government has invested £100,000 into the scheme, which is being run by not-for-profit group Code4000 and aims to expand to prisons across the UK.
Spring statement 2019: how does it impact designers?
Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced help for small businesses, more technical courses and a funding boost for digital, tech and science in this year’s “mini-budget”, which comes amid Brexit confusion.
Designers to watch: Daniela Paredes
As part of our series looking at up-and-coming creatives, we speak to Daniela Paredes, who tells us about how she co-created the Gravity Sketch virtual reality design tool, what travelling
How a no-deal Brexit could affect cigarette packaging
Tobacco manufacturers claim a loss of access to the EU’s picture library could encourage illicit trade, while anti-smoking campaigners say adopting Australia’s imagery instead will still be “effective in reducing
London City Airport rebrands to reflect rise in leisure flyers
The new identity designed by The Allotment features a “heart” motif referencing the airport’s location in the centre of the capital and uses a blue and green colour palette to
Explore Design Week
New brand for LGBTQ+ homelessness charity celebrates people’s differences
The new look for AKT comes alongside a shift in the charity’s narrative “from the negatives of homelessness” to the “positive” change it hopes to make to young people’s lives.
New smart baby monitor looks to “give parents their time back”
Design consultancy Tangerine has created a three-part monitoring device, which alerts parents through vibrations and flashing lights on a wearable wristband if there are any concerns about their baby’s behaviour.
Can effective brands really make people happier?
New research by Havas Media shows that over three quarters of people think brands should contribute to quality of life and wellbeing — we speak to creatives
Three quarters of illustrators have worked for free — and half regret it
A new survey of 1,443 illustrators found that 77% have previously worked for no payment, while 70% had invoices paid late last year.
Museum of Brands uses classic packaging to help those with dementia
The museum’s new Brand Memories initiative is a form of reminiscence therapy, and involves using replicas of 20th century everyday items to trigger recollections from people’s pasts.
Survivor of Torture branding traces asylum seekers’ journeys to the UK
A new UK charity dedicated to those who have experienced torture and sexual violence in other countries has launched, with a collaborative identity highlighting individuals’ routes to safety.
Exploring the colourful work of pop art nun, Corita Kent
We chat to curator Olivia Ahmad and designer Fraser Muggeridge about Corita Kent: Power Up, an exhibition currently on at London’s House of Illustration, which delves into the subversive and
Livia Bernardini: we must include men in workplace equality
Men should not be cut out of the conversation on equal rights in design, says the managing partner of brand strategy consultancy Zag, as it is only with the cooperation
Our favourite International Women’s Day 2019 projects
Football kits dedicated to inspirational women through the ages, increasing the number of female statues, equality-fighting Moomins and more…
Design Week and Kerning the Gap campaign for gender equality
We’ll be working with Kerning the Gap — which strives for equal opportunities in design — on a series of content and events exploring the issues women face in the
Why should women have to “act like men” to get ahead in design?
Associating specific traits with gender is outdated and a result of society’s expectations rather than genetics, argues Nat Maher, founder at Kerning the Gap. She looks at what can be
Designers to watch: Simoul Alva
As part of our series looking at up-and-coming creatives, we speak with prolific, 23-year-old graphic designer Simoul Alva, about India’s fastidious approach to branding, her experiences working alongside Pentagram partner
The Handmaid’s Tale to 1984: designers on their favourite book covers
To mark World Book Day 2019, we ask graphic designers about the books from the last year that they think epitomise great print design, from dystopian fiction to political commentary.
How to do great design work without being an asshole
We speak to designer Paul Woods, author of a new book offering creative people advice on how to get on with colleagues, avoid hostile work situations and not be an
The designs that could be eco-friendly alternatives to disposable cups
Twelve designs have been selected to share the prize of £761,400 for global competition, The NextGen Cup Challenge, with concepts including cup liners, new materials and reusable cup service models.
Nottingham Trent Uni campaign celebrates city’s cultural offering
Studio Baxter & Bailey has designed Curated & Created, which looks to highlight the range of creative events the university puts on for students and locals, such as gigs, theatre