Creative Boom

The brilliant designer David Airey joins us on the old CB podcast this week, and he's giving many of us hope for the current state of creativity. 👀 Rather than worry about how things are changing, not always for the better, he urges us to focus on what we have right now. What's right in front of us. It's the old wisdom: don't look back, don't worry about the future, just focus on the present. Wise words indeed. Want to hear more? David shares a lot of awesome insights in our conversation, wherever you get your shows. Do you think the present is a gift right now? #graphicdesigning #stateofcreativity #creativeboom

🖊 Dear Boom is having a bit of an existential wobble this week. 👀 A creative writes: “I’ve been doing this for years. Built a solid freelance career. Good clients. Good reputation. “But lately… everything feels shaky. AI is everywhere. Budgets are tighter. Clients are slower. And I keep wondering… am I still needed? “I’m trying to stay positive. Adapt. Learn new tools. But I feel anxious. And a bit lost. “How do you stay confident in your work when the whole industry feels like it’s shifting under your feet?” 👇 What would you say to them? It’s not just about learning new skills. It’s about holding onto your sense of worth when everything feels uncertain. So how are you navigating this moment? What’s helping you stay grounded, hopeful… or at least moving forward? Share your thoughts below. The best replies will feature in an upcoming CB piece. #dearboom #creativecareers #ai #freelancelife #creativecommunity #creativeboom

Nobody talks about filing cabinets. 👀 They sit quietly in the corner, doing their job. But @risottostudio saw something else. In their new Glasgow HQ, even storage becomes part of the creative process. A nice collab with @wearebisley and a reminder that your environment shapes your work more than you think 👀 And hey, its founder and director, Gabriella Marcella, is going to be talking about it at @pentagramdesign in London later this month. Not to be missed if this is your vibe. #playingwithcolour #filingcabinet #creativecommunity #artanddesign #creativeboom

Katy Cowan, founder and editor of UK-based platform @creativeboom, joins Pictoplasma to champion creatives of every background at the daily community round table sessions. ⬤⬤ It’s time to talk character: On Thursday, 'Making It Work' tackles the economic realities of creative practice in a rapidly shifting landscape. On Saturday, 'Process of Process' looks at how and why we show our work – especially at a time when authorship is increasingly questioned.

Launching tonight! Our vlog for @offfest in Barcelona. Come behind the scenes with our founding editor @katylcowan who spent four days running around, chatting with creatives from all over the globe. She got loads of great insights, bits of wisdom and a general feel of what it’s like out there for the creative industry right now. Big love to @thatsharoncaddie, @huttoncreative, @thisisjamhot, @jonathanashworth, @_stckmn, @nilsleonard, @studio__kiln, @reuben, @photonathalie, @pj_richardson, @jonasdevacht, @matthamm, @heystudio, @albertodecelis_, @niceshitstudio, @katiecad4, @snasksthlm, @freddiemeup, @wesayso, @fabiburnett, @weareforeal, @hadrienchatelet, @brands.in.motion, @johwska, @lizmmosley and so many more!! #creativeboom #creativecommunity #creativelife

"Are we full length?" 😂 A bit of BTS at @offfest. And all the laughs with some great artists and designers. Basically, I just boss creatives around and interrogate them. Life of a journalist. I love it! Much love to @sheridykes, @katiecad4, @_stckmn, @huttoncreative, @thatsharoncaddie, @matthamm, Fraser Dockerty and Daniel Wallace from @we_are_exp – all good sports for taking part in my OFFF Boom Confessions for @creativeboom I'm at @pictoplasma next week. I'll be doing a few of these vox pops. If you see the microphone and those famous eyes, do come and say hello! #offf #barcelona #creativeboom

A love letter to the everyday 👀 German illustrator Pia Salzer (@pialotter) turns the ordinary into something quietly powerful. Think awkward angles, bold colour, and those small, often overlooked moments that say everything. This one’s for anyone who’s ever found beauty in the mundane. #illustration #creativeboom

We’ve chosen 10 designers or design studios with under 10k followers (or thereabouts) that we think you should follow 👀 @bydavydenduyver @estersaba.design @workbypage @halistenstudio @davejonesdesign @not.about.us @studiobarath @studiosorethumb @eertmoed.studio @zora.designstudio
 Anyone we missed, ready for next time? 👀
Follow us, comment below and we’ll pick another Ten Under 10K. #graphicdesigners #creativeboom

How is AI impacting photographers and the wider creative industry? On the podcast this week, @lizseabrook shares what she's seeing behind the scenes as a working photographer: clients arriving with AI-generated mockups, expectations shaped before a shoot has even begun, and a growing disconnect between the people making the work and the outcome. We get into loads more. Beauty standards, retouching, filters... The strange overlap between technology and beauty standards, and how both are pushing us towards a kind of visual sameness that feels unsettling. But we also discuss the value of human creativity and why it matters more than ever to have people, not machines, helping you bring your project to life. In Liz's case, taking people's portraits and giving them space to feel comfortable and seen. Thanks, Liz, for a brilliant and thought-provoking conversation this week. #photography #creativeindustry #technology #creativeboom

Uncommon made it grow. 🧬 👀 They invited creatives to a party, took real samples, and turned their bacteria into OFFF Barcelona’s 2026 identity. Revealed live on stage by Nils Leonard last week… and yes, it’s as wild as it sounds. Design, but alive. To deliver a library of bold textural imagery, Uncommon brought in the artist Dasha Plesen, known as the Mould Queen for her practice of using bacteria as a creative medium. The result is a visual system that feels genuinely alive: unpredictable, asymmetrical, organic and, crucially, not like anything you've seen at a design conference before… #OFFFBarcelona #OFFF2026 #Branding #IdentityDesign #GraphicDesign #DesignCulture #CreativeDirection #DesignInspiration #VisualIdentity #ExperimentalDesign #FutureOfDesign

The High Five ✋ 👀 Tired of the same old jewellery? Same. We’ve found five independent designers doing things differently. Think playful, personal pieces with real character, made by creatives who actually care about craft, story and a bit of joy. Featuring:
💫 Kitschen @kitschenjewellery
💫 Liz Harry @lizharrydesign and @nikkimcwilliams 
💫 Plump Charms @plumpcharms
💫 Polly Collins @polly_collins
💫 Sour Cherry @sourcherrycouk Tap through and meet your new favourites 👀 #CreativeBoom #JewelleryDesign #IndependentMakers #CreativeInspiration

The outfits we dream about… the ones that feel like a whole mood, a version of ourselves we haven’t quite stepped into yet 👀 Illustrator Philippa Coules (@philippacoules) captures that feeling perfectly — bold, playful looks inspired by everyday moments and little sparks of joy. Which one are you claiming? 🖤 #CreativeBoom #Illustration #FashionIllustration #CreativeInspiration #VisualStorytelling