The Guardian Design Cases
Designers behind the work
Designers and creative leads credited on The Guardian projects in press coverage.
Designers and creative leads credited on The Guardian projects in press coverage.
It’s Nice That’s annual ‘Review of the Year 2025: Top 25 Illustration’ highlights the most memorable illustration stories of the year, celebrating artists who explored nostalgia, everyday life, and human connection. The feature spotlights illustrators like Angelica Frey, Helen Oxenbury, and Irasutoya, showing how traditional and personal illustration continues to thrive despite the rise of generative AI imagery.
Creative Boom profiles Liverpool-based illustrator Luke McConkey, whose upbeat, cartoon-inspired style has attracted major clients like Nike, Costa Coffee, and the LA Times. The article explores his journey from design agencies to full-time illustration, his inspirations from 1990s animation and ligne claire, and his mission to spread positivity through art. Represented by Handsome Frank, McConkey’s work blends humour, colour, and optimism across editorial, commercial, and cultural projects.
It’s Nice That announces the return of Nicer Tuesdays to New York in September 2025, featuring talks from Michael Bierut, Andrew B. Myers, Madeline Montoya, and Tina Tona. The event will cover topics from collage and photography to editorial design, with a Q&A hosted by Elizabeth Goodspeed. Partners include GF Smith, Legion Paper, and Love Corn.
Creative Boom reports on The Guardian’s 2025 digital redesign, which overhauls its website and app for a truly mobile-first experience. The update introduces flexible layouts, improved personalisation, and new features like integrated podcasts and text-to-speech. The article praises the redesign as a thoughtful response to the challenges of AI and digital news consumption.
The article profiles American illustrator Mark Harris, whose photo-collage editorial work blends handmade textures and physical materials to challenge the rigidity of traditional graphic design. Drawing inspiration from Bauhaus, Dadaism, and Constructivism, Harris’ practice emphasizes imperfection and human touch, contrasting his earlier agency experience. His work has appeared in major publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Creative Boom reports that Commercial Type, the acclaimed type foundry behind work for brands like The Guardian and Puma, has launched a new branding studio called Commercial Type Studio. Founded by Christian Schwartz and Paul Barnes with creative director Dino Sanchez, the studio aims to build brand identities rooted in typography. The article explores their philosophy, early projects, and how a type-first approach sets them apart from traditional agencies.
The article profiles Brighton-based illustrator Ryan Gillett and his ongoing work illustrating The Guardian’s weekly sex column, 'This is how we do it'. Gillett discusses his process, balancing humour and sensitivity, and the challenges of visualising intimate stories in a tasteful, accessible way. The piece highlights how his playful, colourful style brings approachability to topics often considered taboo.
