Tom May

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.

Creative Boom · Apr 28, 2026

Creative Boom features Stereo Creative’s playful '100% Beer' campaign for Half Batch Brewing, which embraces a lo-fi, character-driven aesthetic to stand out on social media. Using googly eyes and everyday props, the campaign highlights authenticity and humor over polished production. It marks Half Batch’s first major retail push and Stereo’s first win from its Austin office.

Creative Boom · Apr 27, 2026

Creative Boom reports on The Culture Collective Ibiza Art Weekend, a large-scale public art exhibition transforming Ibiza’s top nightclubs into immersive art spaces. The collaboration between W1 Curates and The Night League features over 70 international artists and aims to democratize access to art by bringing it into nightlife venues. The initiative challenges traditional gallery models and celebrates cross-cultural creativity.

Creative Boom · Apr 27, 2026

The article by Tom May explores why freelancers in the creative industry struggle to take time off and how they can overcome guilt and burnout. Through insights from designers, studio founders, and creative directors, it highlights the importance of rest as a vital part of sustainable creative work. The piece offers practical advice on building structures and mindsets that make rest possible and productive.

Creative Boom · Apr 23, 2026

Creative Boom’s profile of design director Paul O’Brien traces his journey from struggling with imposter syndrome at a mismatched job to rediscovering confidence through freelance work and award-winning projects. After success with Taxi Studio’s Byron Burgers campaign and leadership roles at Elmwood, O’Brien now embraces freelance life with renewed purpose. The article explores how environment, not ability, often shapes creative confidence.

Creative Boom · Apr 23, 2026

The article profiles Paris-based writer-director Hanaé Sanchez and her journey in developing a new animation technique for her debut short film, 'At Last'. Blending live action with experimental animation, Sanchez explores her Khmer heritage and challenges the creative constraints of traditional methods. The piece highlights her process of experimentation, cultural inspiration, and artistic self-discovery.

Creative Boom · Apr 23, 2026 · Interview

At Milan Design Week 2026, Samsung’s chief design officer Mauro Porcini discussed his philosophy that 'design is an act of love'. The article explores Porcini’s career from 3M and PepsiCo to Samsung, his human-centered approach to design, and his belief that emotional connection and diversity of expression are central to innovation. The piece also highlights Samsung’s 'Design is an Act of Love' exhibition, which showcased AI-driven, sensory experiences emphasizing empathy and individuality.

Creative Boom · Apr 21, 2026

At Milan Design Week 2026, Lexus unveiled its 'SPACE' installation and LS Concept, exploring how autonomous technology will redefine car interiors as human-centred sanctuaries. Collaborations with studios like Random Studio and Guardini Ciuffreda Studio, along with Japanese craftspeople, showcased how future luxury will focus on interior experience, materials, and emotional resonance. The exhibition positions Lexus as a thought leader in the evolving relationship between design, technology, and mobility.

Creative Boom · Apr 21, 2026

Creative Boom’s feature by Tom May explores The Crystal Ship, a street art festival in Ostend, Belgium, celebrating its tenth anniversary. The article highlights how the festival has grown organically from the city’s identity, combining large-scale murals, community engagement, and new initiatives like a career centre for young artists. It positions The Crystal Ship as a model of authentic, place-based cultural programming.

Creative Boom · Apr 21, 2026

Creative Boom’s 2026 insight article by Tom May surveys designers on which visual trends they’re tired of seeing. The piece compiles community responses highlighting fatigue with AI-generated imagery, overused aesthetics like gradients and glassmorphism, and both lazy minimalism and maximalism. It captures a collective desire for more intentional, authentic design work as the industry moves past formulaic trends.

Creative Boom · Apr 21, 2026

Written by Tom May for Creative Boom, the article explores how 'cringe culture' and fear of self-promotion hinder creative professionals from sharing their work. Featuring insights from designers Jason Roberts, Carole Chevalier, and artist Sheena Bulpitt, it discusses impostor syndrome, discomfort with self-promotion, and strategies to build confidence. The piece encourages creatives to overcome hesitation and embrace visibility as a professional necessity.

Creative Boom · Apr 20, 2026

The article by Tom May explores the growing human and economic costs of AI adoption in the creative industries. Through interviews with designers and professionals, it highlights lost clients, ethical concerns over data use, and the cognitive impact of overreliance on AI tools. The piece calls for clarity and human authenticity as essential values in an AI-driven creative future.

Creative Boom · Apr 20, 2026

Written by Tom May for Creative Boom, this article gathers insights from several creative professionals about the lessons learned from failure. Through candid stories of health crises, failed collaborations, and embarrassing mistakes, the piece explores how setbacks can lead to growth, resilience, and better creative judgment. Each contributor shares a personal experience that reshaped their approach to work and life.

Creative Boom · Apr 16, 2026

Creative Boom's article by Tom May highlights the winners of Penguin's 2026 Cover Design Award, revealing how Gen Z readers are drawn to visually distinctive, conceptually rich book covers. The feature showcases six winning designs for 'Night Watch' and 'A Wrinkle in Time', emphasizing handcrafted techniques, limited palettes, and meaningful storytelling. The piece underscores how younger audiences value book covers as both art and identity statements.

Creative Boom · Apr 16, 2026

Creative Boom’s 2026 community poll highlights 15 illustrators shaping the global illustration scene, emphasizing originality and human touch in an AI-saturated era. The list spans established names like Noma Bar and Malika Favre to emerging talents such as Anna Micheloni and Genie Espinosa. The article celebrates craftsmanship, individuality, and the enduring commercial relevance of distinctive illustration.