For pitches, campaigns and websites, mockups form the basis of many client projects in the creative industry. But are they sometimes a little too polished? Dutch designer and art director Wytze Hoogslag seems to think so. And he's back with more realistic templates for you to play with. Launched as a side project in the summer of 2022, Fockups was a glorious bit of fun that became very popular with designers and illustrators worldwide. It offers a hilarious alternative to the usual glossy mockups that grace our screens, streets, and portfolios. And now, its creator, Wytze Hoogslag, has release ..read more

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Navigating work relationships and maintaining professionalism can sometimes prove tricky. We asked the creative community for advice on finding the right happy balance. When you work in a creative studio or freelance and know loads of other creatives in the local industry, it's inevitable that friendships will form. Those talk events you all attend and after-work socials provide the perfect environment to relax, have a drink, share common experiences, and forge bonds that can last a lifetime. But what happens when some of those relationships become compromis ..read more

The Herculean struggle of buying a home has been visualised with suitably stunning imagery in Mother's latest campaign for StreetEasy, which depicts each stage of the process as epic Renaissance-style paintings. Titled Let The Journey Begin, the classical art-inspired campaign targets potential property buyers in New York. Packed with intense emotions and humorous Easter eggs that nod to life in the city, these visuals have recently been taken to the next level with four gigantic mural paintings in Williamsburg and Nolita. Given that buying a home is one of the most stressful experiences a ..read more

The illustrator behind a series of best-selling books explains how she sums up the story and grabs the reader's attention. We all know the old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover". But let's face it, in reality… we so do. Admittedly, if it's your favourite author, you will buy their latest release, whatever it looks like. But if you're perusing the shelves, looking for something new to read, then the instant emotional reaction to the cover – whether it's conscious or subconscious – is invariably key to your decision to pick it up and take a look. In short, covers serve as a shop front ..read more

Multi-disciplinary creative Nathan Wilkes has worked for the likes of Disney, Netflix and the BBC. We caught up with him to learn more about his work, and how he goes about developing stories for IPs. Nathan Wilkes is a man of many creative talents. He's developed IPs for picture books, short films and TV series, orchestrated digital marketing campaigns for Disney, and been involved with product ideation and execution at Blue Zoo Animation. It's an impressive career that looks set to go even further, and one that's built on a childhood love of media and a lot of hard work. "For as long as I ..read more

Artist Imogen Hawgood immortalises the nostalgic glow of British festival lighting in her new series of comforting paintings. The best part? You don't even need to get muddy to enjoy them. What is it that makes the lighting at festivals, funfairs and carnivals so special? Is it because they evoke fun memories of braving the rides, or do they tap into broader experiences of growing up? Either way, their unique magic is captured in the latest series of paintings by County Durham-based artist Imogen Hawgood. It's perhaps no surprise that Imogen has gravitated towards painting festival lights ..read more

In Slow Travel Britain, writer and creative director Liz Schaffer pens an image-filled love letter to this beautiful country and reveals the value of taking time to experience your surroundings. In an age of instant communication and on-demand entertainment, it can often feel like the world is moving too fast. No sooner has an article like this appeared on your feed than it's whisked away for the latest piece of content. Perhaps it's time we all remembered the value of taking things slow. This is the concept behind Liz Schaffer's new book, Slow Travel Britain. Hoxton Mini Press publishes th ..read more

Manchester-based creative company Flow has created a striking animation for The Trussell Trust, which aims to help students and teachers alike understand the challenges facing young people in poverty. Genuine and relatable stories are at the heart of Flow's latest animation for The Trussell Trust. Documenting the lived experiences of secondary school children growing up in poverty, the series of thoughtful and beautifully realised vignettes are based on resources from the trust's youth participation group, Stand for Change. Taking a deliberately minimalist approach, which allows the accounts n ..read more

New York-based illustrator Wenjia Tang has transported her captivating style to the land of fiction in her latest book, Mountain Temple. Set in the remote mountains of China, it tells the fantastical tale of a boy who gets transformed into a baby wolf. Wenjia Tang's beautiful illustrations are a familiar sight in nonfiction books, ad campaigns, and editorials. In fact, you've likely seen her lavish work in the pages of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic. But in her latest project, Mountain Temple, she dips her toe into the world of picture book illustration. Writt ..read more

New York City-based illustrator Esther Tang communicates her emotions and connects to the world through her delightfully nuanced and universally resonant work. We caught up with her to learn more. Connection and communication are at the heart of Esther Tang's illustrations. Since graduating from the School of Visual Arts in 2022, her distinctive illustration style has been recognised by the Society of Illustrators, Creative Quarterly, and the World Illustration Awards. After taking a look at her work, it's not surprising to see why the praise has come thick and fast. Erupting from the page ..read more