Tom May

Creative Boom · Jul 1, 2026 · Interview

Creative Boom’s interview with David Johnston, founder of Accept & Proceed, explores his new philosophical framework 'Signalism', which challenges creatives to question the ethical and societal impact of their work. Johnston argues that design shapes reality and urges designers to ask 'Should we do it at all?' before starting any project. The piece delves into the origins, implications, and educational applications of Signalism across both classrooms and boardrooms.

Creative Boom · Jun 30, 2026 · Interview

Creative Boom’s interview with brand designer Gavin Brophy explores the often-overlooked 'messy middle' of creative careers — the uncertain period between junior and senior roles. Brophy reflects on his journey from South Africa to the UK, his experiences at Trek Bicycle and EF Pro Cycling, and the emotional challenges of freelancing and self-doubt. The piece encourages open discussion about mid-career struggles and redefines success beyond job titles.

Creative Boom · Jun 29, 2026

The article by Tom May explores how designers are grappling with a shift from creating original work to refining AI-generated or pre-made content. Through insights from multiple creatives, it discusses the psychological and professional impact of this change and offers strategies for maintaining creativity, such as personal projects and setting client boundaries. The piece emphasizes reclaiming the 'maker' mindset in an increasingly automated design landscape.

Creative Boom · Jun 29, 2026

Creative Boom’s 2026 industry survey, authored by Tom May, reveals widespread burnout, financial insecurity, and anxiety about AI among creative professionals. The report highlights a disconnect between high AI adoption and low trust in its benefits, as well as declining enthusiasm for awards and a growing need for community and mentorship. The findings paint a picture of an industry under pressure, adapting to technological and economic shifts with uncertainty.

Creative Boom · Jun 29, 2026

British-Spanish artist Almudena Romero has created 'Farming Photographs', a massive 11,000-square-metre image of a human eye grown from wheat and grasses near Toulouse, France. Developed in collaboration with INRAE, the project explores photography through natural processes rather than technology, turning the field into both artwork and food. The piece reflects on climate change, collaboration between art and science, and the impermanence of creative work.

Creative Boom · Jun 25, 2026

Fashion stylist Anna May and her creative team launched MISC, a self-funded print magazine created as a human, tactile response to the rise of AI-generated imagery. The publication, now on its second issue, showcases artists and makers across disciplines while celebrating collaboration and craft. The project reflects a growing movement toward independent, analogue publishing as a counterpoint to digital automation.

Creative Boom · Jun 22, 2026

Written by Tom May for Creative Boom’s 'Dear Boom' advice series, this article explores how creatives can maintain visibility without succumbing to burnout or fear of judgment. Featuring insights from designers, strategists, and coaches, it encourages setting boundaries, defining personal visibility, and balancing authenticity with self-care. The piece emphasizes that sustainable visibility comes from aligning creative expression with emotional well-being.

Creative Boom · Jun 18, 2026

The article explores the realities faced by independent agency founders in their first year, highlighting the emotional, financial, and structural challenges of leaving established agencies to start small studios. Through interviews with founders across the UK, it reveals a shift toward smaller, more agile creative teams responding to changing client expectations and tighter budgets. The piece positions 2026 as a pivotal year for indie studios redefining the creative industry landscape.

Creative Boom · Jun 17, 2026

Tom May’s article for Creative Boom explores how AI-driven search and recommendation systems are dismantling the traditional web ecosystem that once helped creatives get discovered. Using Pinterest’s new AI tools as a case study, it warns that organic reach, SEO, and social visibility are being replaced by algorithmic recommendation loops that favor already-established names. The piece urges creatives to build direct relationships, unique reputations, and resilient communities outside platform control.

Creative Boom · Jun 16, 2026 · Interview

Creative Boom interviews London-based multidisciplinary artist Murugiah about his debut solo exhibition 'Ever Feel Like…' at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration. The article explores his journey from architecture to illustration, his rediscovery of personal authenticity during the pandemic, and how embracing his Sri Lankan heritage shaped his unique visual language. It highlights his belief that deeply personal work leads to the most creative breakthroughs.

Creative Boom · Jun 15, 2026

Creative Boom’s feature by Tom May showcases ten illustrated tributes to the late David Hockney, celebrating his influence on artists worldwide. Each illustrator offers a unique visual homage, from hand-lettered portraits to 3D renderings, reflecting Hockney’s love of colour, experimentation, and joy for life. The piece highlights the enduring inspiration Hockney provides across generations and mediums.

Creative Boom · Jun 8, 2026

The article by Tom May provides a comprehensive salary guide for graphic designers in 2026, outlining how experience, specialism, and location affect pay. It compares salary data from sources like Glassdoor, Reed, and PayScale, and discusses the impact of remote work and emerging fields such as AI and product design on earning potential.

Creative Boom · Jun 8, 2026

Creative Boom’s article by Tom May highlights 22 of the best online shops for stationery lovers, celebrating independent studios and makers who produce beautifully designed, sustainable, and tactile paper goods. The roundup encourages creatives to reconnect with physical materials and support small businesses over mass-market retailers.

Creative Boom · Jun 1, 2026

Creative Boom reports that London-based studio DixonBaxi has launched AskUs, an AI tool trained on 25 years of the agency’s creative thinking. The system allows anyone to interact with the studio’s accumulated knowledge in a conversational format, offering insights into its projects and philosophy. The article explores how this innovation reimagines how agencies communicate their strategic thinking to clients.

Creative Boom · Jun 1, 2026

Creative Boom profiles Studio Mol’s Aperture Art Frames, a handmade paper art concept that reframes children’s drawings as design objects worthy of display. Founded by Edinburgh-based designers and new mothers Hannah Fleetwood and Sophie Charles, the project combines slow, tactile craftsmanship with minimalist composition to elevate early mark-making into thoughtful home pieces.

Creative Boom · Jun 1, 2026

The article profiles animation director and illustrator Christa Jarrold, who creates 3D worlds that blend handmade textures with digital precision. Based in Margate, she uses tools like Cinema 4D and VR sculpting to craft tactile, imperfect imagery that explores the tension between warmth and unease. Her short film 'Mucky' exemplifies her approach, combining humour and darkness to comment on modern anxieties.

Creative Boom · Jun 1, 2026

Creative Boom’s article by Tom May explores Apple’s newly expanded Sports app, which introduces refined data visualization features ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The piece highlights Apple’s design philosophy of clarity, speed, and restraint, positioning the app as a model for effective information design. It argues that the app’s approach to hierarchy, color, and simplicity offers lessons for designers across industries.

Creative Boom · May 28, 2026

Creative Boom profiles designer and photographer Ben Farr, founder of the Stoke-on-Trent studio IFSOBCZWHY. The article explores his 'tin-opener philosophy' of practical, analogue design, his handmade studio space, and his decision to build a creative business outside London. Farr’s approach emphasizes utility, collaboration, and a belief in the creative potential of his hometown.

Creative Boom · May 27, 2026

Leeds-based studio Hand Drawn Pixels, led by Tom Pitts, designed nearly 200 official scarves for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Commissioned by Global Scarves LLC, the project required extensive cultural research and adaptation to woven textile constraints. The collaboration spans multiple continents and continues into the tournament’s knockout stages with live production in Dallas.

Creative Boom · May 26, 2026

Creative Boom’s profile of lettering artist Rob Draper traces his journey from redundancy and personal hardship to international recognition. Through self-initiated projects like Coffee Time, Draper turned drawing on disposable coffee cups into a career-defining practice that led to commissions from Nike, the Golden Globes, and NASA. His later collage and installation work, including a large-scale project for Fenwick, reflects his philosophy of embracing imperfection and starting small.

Creative Boom · May 26, 2026 · Interview

In this Creative Boom interview, Parker founder Tyler Eide reflects on the challenges of growing a design studio from a close-knit team into a structured business. He discusses how the pandemic forced him to rethink leadership, culture, and sustainability, ultimately leading to a more flexible and scalable studio model. The piece explores the balance between maintaining creative culture and introducing necessary structure.

Creative Boom · May 26, 2026

Creative Boom’s coverage of All Flows 2026 highlights how the Milton Keynes festival fostered deeply personal and authentic creative conversations. Talks by designers and artists such as Rob Draper, Pip Jamieson, Nada Hesham, and Jonathan Barnbrook explored identity, ethics, and community as central forces in design. The event emphasized small-scale intimacy and the power of real human connection in creative work.

Creative Boom · May 21, 2026

The article by Tom May explores what creative recruiters and studio leaders will be looking for in junior designers by 2026. Through insights from creative directors and founders across major studios, it emphasizes the importance of attitude, curiosity, and conceptual thinking over technical perfection. Recruiters value originality, openness, and personality as key differentiators for emerging talent.

Creative Boom · May 19, 2026

Creative Boom’s May 2026 'Booms & Shakes' roundup highlights major movements in the design and branding industry. Belfast studio Pale Blue Dot led the brand creation for Tomoro.ai, recently acquired by OpenAI. The article also covers leadership changes across WPP, Landor, McDonald's, and other agencies, signaling a strong focus on branding, AI, and strategic growth.

Creative Boom · May 18, 2026

Creative Boom’s May 2026 roundup highlights six notable new typefaces from global foundries. The selection spans expressive scripts, historical revivals, and variable fonts, showcasing innovation from designers at Grilli Type, Monotype, Typofonderie, 205TF, Sproviero Type, and Dalton Maag. The article celebrates the diversity and technical evolution of contemporary typography.

Creative Boom · May 12, 2026 · Interview

Creative Boom’s feature by Tom May explores Remi Kabaka Jr. of Gorillaz speaking at Ibiza Art Weekend, an ambitious art-meets-nightlife event organised by W1 Curates and The Night League. In conversation with Tafari Hinds and Mark Dale, Remi reflects on his roots in London’s underground art scene, the visual philosophy behind Gorillaz, and his belief that fearless imagination defines the future of creativity.

Creative Boom · May 12, 2026 · Interview

The article covers Seth Troxler’s appearance at Ibiza Art Weekend, where he discussed the importance of depth, conceptuality, and tangibility in contemporary creative culture. Through his project Lost Souls of Saturn, Troxler explores augmented reality, mythology, and physical media as a counterpoint to digital ephemerality. The conversation highlights his belief in art for art’s sake and the enduring value of ideas that outlast trends.

Creative Boom · May 12, 2026

The article explores how fashion design is shifting from exclusive VIP culture to the inclusive energy of the dancefloor, as discussed at Ibiza’s Culture Collective event. Featuring voices from Palm Angels, The Night League, Flannels, and musician Jeremy Healy, it highlights how fashion, music, and art are merging around shared experiences. The Palm Angels x Night League campaign exemplifies this movement toward community and moment-driven design.

Creative Boom · May 12, 2026

Creative Boom reports on Culture Collective, a large-scale art exhibition transforming Ibiza’s top nightclubs into immersive art galleries. Organized by W1 Curates and The Night League, the project features over 70 international artists including Nazareno Biondo, PichiAvo, VHILS, and Hajime Sorayama. The initiative aims to make art more accessible by integrating it into nightlife spaces visited by millions each summer.

Creative Boom · May 12, 2026

Written by Tom May for Creative Boom’s 'Dear Boom' advice series, this article explores how creatives can maintain confidence amid AI disruption, economic uncertainty, and slower client activity. Featuring insights from designers, illustrators, and creative directors, it argues that human taste, craft, and authenticity remain irreplaceable strengths in the evolving creative landscape.

Creative Boom · May 11, 2026 · Interview

Creative Boom interviews Mark Jones, creative director at Studio Blackburn, about his philosophy of restraint in design and the importance of knowing when not to change things. He discusses projects for Brompton, So Energy, and Ellis Butchers, illustrating how the studio balances consistency, sector vernacular, and playful precision. The conversation highlights Studio Blackburn’s practical, human approach to branding across clients large and small.

Creative Boom · May 11, 2026

Creative Boom’s article by Tom May explores how London studio Land of Plenty rebranded Pot Gang, a gardening subscription service, by turning its community into co-creators of the brand. The 'Gang Made' concept invited subscribers to design parts of the logo and illustrations, resulting in a living identity system that reflects the brand’s playful and communal spirit. The project demonstrates how participatory design can coexist with strategic brand control.

Creative Boom · May 11, 2026 · Interview

Creative Boom’s interview with Alex Center explores his message at D&AD Festival 2026 about why the creative industry must champion itself. Reflecting on his journey from Coca-Cola design director to founder of Brooklyn studio Center, he argues for creativity’s enduring value amid AI and automation. Center emphasizes originality, optimism, and the strategic role of designers in shaping new brands.

Creative Boom · May 11, 2026

The article by Tom May explores how several creatives redefined their understanding of success, moving away from traditional industry ideals toward more personal and fulfilling definitions. Designers including Daniel Poll, Tony Clarkson, Matt Hamm, and Jason Roberts share pivotal moments that reshaped their careers and values. The piece highlights a shift from external validation to self-defined satisfaction and balance.

Creative Boom · May 7, 2026

Eat Marketing has rebranded the 124-year-old Stokes Coffee, balancing heritage with modern appeal. The new identity features a character-based illustration system, warm coral and burgundy tones, and a confident tone of voice that unifies the brand across retail, wholesale, and café channels. The project demonstrates how to evolve a legacy brand without losing its soul.

Creative Boom · May 7, 2026

Creative Boom’s Tom May surveys members of its private community, The Studio, to explore how creative professionals’ attitudes toward AI have evolved by May 2026. The article reveals a nuanced mix of skepticism, cautious experimentation, and pragmatic adoption across designers, illustrators, and copywriters. While some creatives reject generative AI on ethical or quality grounds, others find value in using it for repetitive or administrative tasks.

Creative Boom · May 5, 2026

Creative Boom’s 2026 roundup highlights 15 design studios that the creative community most admires, based on its annual State of Creativity survey. The article features a mix of established and emerging studios such as OK-RM, Zak Group, Porto Rocha, Hey Studio, and Accept & Proceed, showcasing their distinctive approaches and recent projects across branding, culture, and design innovation.

Creative Boom · May 5, 2026

Creative Boom’s feature by Tom May explores photographer Xavier Nuez’s 25-year project 'Alleys & Ruins', a series of light-painted photographs of derelict American spaces. Using long exposures and coloured lights, Nuez transforms abandoned sites into theatrical compositions while processing his own trauma through the act of creation. The forthcoming book, published by Gypsy Press, is both a visual and psychological exploration of beauty emerging from decay.

Creative Boom · May 5, 2026

Creative Boom’s Tom May profiles French artist Ndayé Kouagou and his debut Italian solo exhibition 'Heaven’s Truth' at Collezione Maramotti. The show combines performance, video, and sculptural installations to explore communication, polarisation, and meaning through humor and conceptual play. Kouagou’s work invites audiences to think critically while being entertained.

Creative Boom · Apr 30, 2026

Creative Boom’s coverage of OFFF 2026 in Barcelona explores how the creative industry is grappling with the tension between making and merely talking about creativity. Speakers including Nils Leonard, Reuben Wu, Liz Mosley, PJ Richardson, and others reflected on authenticity, process transparency, and the pace of technological change. The festival highlighted a renewed focus on craft, independence, and creative honesty in an AI-saturated era.

Creative Boom · Apr 30, 2026

Creative Boom’s article by Tom May explores findings from its 'State of Creativity 2026' survey, revealing the biggest challenges facing creatives today. Respondents cited financial instability, burnout, AI disruption, self-doubt, and isolation as key pressures shaping the modern creative profession. The piece paints a picture of an industry struggling with overlapping stresses that compound one another.

Creative Boom · Apr 30, 2026 · Interview

Creative Boom’s interview with French illustrator Malika Favre explores her philosophy on career growth, creative evolution, and the importance of personal relationships. She reflects on lessons from her time at Airside, her collaborations with Handsome Frank and The New Yorker, and her grandfather’s business wisdom. The piece highlights how personal work and human connections have shaped her success and creative freedom.

Creative Boom · Apr 30, 2026

Creative Boom reports on 'What is dyslexia?', a short animated film created by Made By Dyslexia with ClemengerBBDO, directed by Kyra Bartley through Finch, and designed by Art&Graft. The film uses a painterly hybrid of 2D and 3D animation to reframe perceptions of dyslexia, blending expressive brushwork and variable frame rates to evoke creativity and imagination. The project aims to influence online search results and cultural understanding of dyslexia through authentic storytelling and craft.

Creative Boom · Apr 30, 2026

Venturethree has rebranded the Young Vic theatre with a deliberately blurry, handmade logo that challenges traditional branding rules. The new identity reflects the theatre’s intimate, disobedient spirit and positions it against algorithmic culture by emphasizing live, shared experiences. The project aligns with artistic director Nadia Fall’s new vision and uses a bold yellow palette and spatially inspired design system.

Creative Boom · Apr 29, 2026

Creative Boom covers HUGO’s new campaign 'Red Means Go', created by Uncommon Creative Studio. The campaign boldly omits fashion imagery, instead using emotionally charged copy on red backgrounds to challenge expectations and celebrate creative courage. Featuring seven real creatives, it redefines authenticity in fashion advertising through storytelling and restraint.

Creative Boom · Apr 28, 2026

Creative Boom’s article profiles Rob Lowe, the veteran artist known as Supermundane, and his new print series 'Let's Give It All You've Got'. The project is a defiant, layered response to AI’s homogenisation of visual culture, combining decades of hand-drawn, painted, and digital techniques. Lowe’s manifesto accompanying the prints calls for depth, humanity, and individuality in creative work.

Creative Boom · Apr 28, 2026

Creative Boom profiles Pentagram partner Samar Maakaroun’s rebrand for The Mosaic Rooms, a London cultural institution exploring Arab and SWANA art. The identity centers on a fluid monogram that never settles, symbolizing cultural in-betweenness and movement. With bold color choices and architectural integration, the project reflects conceptual rigor and a refusal of visual stability.