Works

· May 13, 2026

The Dieline article spotlights The Collected Works’ packaging design for Sooki Sesame Oil, which transforms a pantry staple into a display-worthy product. Featuring a chunky retro wordmark, illustrated mascot, and clear glass bottle with a wooden stopper, the design balances warmth, cultural roots, and modern appeal.

BP&O · Apr 16, 2026

BP&O’s Emily Gosling reviews The Collected Works’ branding for Sooki Foods, a new sesame oil brand inspired by Korean heritage. The identity combines playful mascot design with a refined color palette and tactile textures, balancing tradition and modernity. The project highlights TCW’s ability to create character-driven yet sophisticated packaging for a food startup.

Creative Boom · Mar 26, 2026

Creative Boom reports on the second collaboration between French shoemaker Paraboot and Nottingham-based Universal Works. The project revisits Paraboot’s 1960s Thiers silhouette with a lighter construction and natural materials, celebrating craftsmanship and imperfection. The release also includes a small clothing capsule inspired by vintage Paraboot advertising.

The Brand Identity · Feb 26, 2026

The Collected Works developed a flexible, system-based brand identity for AI and communications platform Agora. Centered on a 3D generative concept called the 'Aura,' the design uses procedural tools in Blender to create endlessly variable, iridescent visuals that represent Agora’s layered technology stack. The project balances expressive motion and color with functional adaptability across digital environments.

BP&O · Jan 22, 2026

BP&O’s Emily Gosling reviews Moniker and ModestWorks’ brand identity for Atlético Dallas, a new professional soccer club launching in 2027. The design draws on Dallas folklore, using a wolf and snake motif to symbolize courage and precision, and combines heraldic illustration with a minimal modern system. The result is a timeless yet contemporary identity that connects deeply with the city’s culture and ambitions.

Creative Boom · Dec 18, 2025

Creative Boom’s 2025 year-end feature by Garrick Webster explores six emerging illustration trends for 2026, based on insights from artists and agents worldwide. The article highlights a renewed focus on handcrafted techniques, authentic storytelling, stylised realism, and experimental aesthetics that merge traditional craft with new technologies like AI and VR. Agencies such as CIA, IllustrationX, Illozoo, and Pocko share how illustrators are adapting to a changing creative landscape.

It's Nice That · Nov 4, 2025

The article profiles designers Lena Manger and Patryk Kulig’s work for Tokyo-based creative agency Bianco Bianco and its magazine sabukaru. Their collaboration delivers a bilingual visual identity and publication that merge timeless elegance with accessibility and cultural precision. The project includes a new website, stationery, and a magazine printed with silver spot color and variant covers, reflecting Tokyo’s alternative creative spirit.

The Brand Identity · Oct 17, 2025

Holographik developed a scalable, typographic identity for Open Works, a cultural programme initiated by Zagreb Design Week. The design relies on Helvetica in all caps, motion through the transformation of the letter ‘O,’ and a restrained visual system that prioritizes clarity and adaptability. Collaborating with LABELWORKS for merchandise, the studio executed the identity across digital, print, and environmental applications under a tight timeline.

It's Nice That · Sep 24, 2025

The article covers 'The Right to Protest', an exhibition at the Museum of UnRest in London showcasing decades of activist poster design. Co-curated by Dave Bell, Clive Russell, and John Phillips, the show explores the visual language of protest from the 1960s to today, featuring works from feminist, environmental, and political movements. The exhibition highlights the enduring power of design as a tool for social change.

Creative Boom · Jul 29, 2025

Creative Boom reports that industrial designer Piotr Woronkowicz has joined Pentagram New York as its first product design partner. The appointment marks a significant expansion of Pentagram’s multidisciplinary practice, integrating industrial design into its New York team. Woronkowicz brings a sustainability-focused, tactile approach shaped by collaborations with major brands and mentors like Don Chadwick and Jeffrey Bernett.

Creative Boom · Jul 28, 2025

Creative Boom profiles Cardiff-based artist and art director Mark James, exploring his eclectic career spanning album artwork, branding, installations, and viral projects. The article highlights his recent 3D work for Gruff Rhys, his infamous Dirty Bird logo, and his ongoing drive for creative experimentation. It also touches on his pragmatic freelance approach and ambitions for more international and large-scale projects.

Creative Boom · Jul 28, 2025

Creative Boom’s feature explores how IllustrationX evolved from a London-based agency into a truly global illustration powerhouse with agents across four continents. Managing director Harry Lyon-Smith and North America director Stacey Endress discuss the agency’s structure, localised approach, and commitment to artist quality. The article highlights how authenticity and international collaboration give IllustrationX a competitive edge in the age of AI-driven creativity.

It's Nice That · Jul 2, 2025

Elizabeth Goodspeed’s essay explores how designers have increasingly become public-facing influencers, blending their personal identities with their professional output. Tracing the shift from modernist anonymity to performative self-branding, she critiques how social media and visibility culture have turned design into a form of ongoing performance. The piece situates this trend within a historical lineage from figures like Sagmeister and Walsh to today’s content-driven creative economy.

Creative Boom · Jul 2, 2025

Creative Boom’s feature explores how Fieldwork Facility designed the wayfinding and interpretation system for the V&A East Storehouse in London. The Hackney-based studio reimagined the museum experience as an 'operating system for culture,' emphasizing accessibility, modularity, and sustainability. The project integrates custom typography, recycled materials, and interactive visitor touchpoints to create a flexible, inclusive environment.

It's Nice That · Jun 25, 2025

The article profiles Modem Works’ conceptual product Dream Recorder, a bedside device that visualises users’ dreams through generative AI imagery. Developed in collaboration with artist Alexis Jamet, the project blends tactile product design and lo-fi aesthetics to create surreal, dreamlike visuals. The design emphasizes ambient computing principles and a softer, more human approach to technology.

The Brand Identity · Jun 17, 2025 · Interview

The Brand Identity interviews The Collected Works co-founders Justin Colt and Jose Fresneda ahead of The Design Conference 2025. They discuss their studio’s evolution from SVA classmates to a bi-coastal hybrid practice, their philosophy of 'Rad Work for Rad People™,' and their embrace of generative, expressive design. The conversation highlights their collaborative process, flexible structure, and notable projects like the 'Day of the Dead' record packaging.

The Brand Identity · Jun 4, 2025

The article by The Brand Identity, written by Poppy Thaxter, showcases nine design projects that exemplify the power of print finishing techniques such as embossing, debossing, and foil stamping. It highlights how studios like Studio Sly, Hugmun, and DutchScot use tactile materials and craftsmanship to elevate packaging and identity design. The feature celebrates the artistry and technical precision of print production in contemporary branding.