Bentzion Goldman on how being weird can save branding. https://ow.ly/tIxe50XTtl0

Carly Miller on why the ad industry needs a mirror, not another trend report. https://ow.ly/vFUO50XTtec

Dolphia on when your best work gets tossed. https://ow.ly/RhzR50XTt9T

Winning the 2026 Illustration Competition will boost your career by providing global media exposure via our internationally distributed Annual, website and social media network. Enter by tomorrow—Friday, January 9th. https://ow.ly/BMZp50XFNEu

We’re thrilled to welcome Carson Ting as a 2026 Communication Arts Illustration Judge. Based in Vancouver, Carson is celebrated for his bold linework, character-driven imagery, and conceptual craft. Recognized among the world’s top 200 illustrators by Luerzer’s Archive.

WEBPicks: A minimalist, cinematic portfolio by Querida that puts Elsa Hanneke’s work front and center. https://ow.ly/ftCW50XRVRm

CA Winner: Zhouyan Sun. “Fountain Installation Näfels” A fictional art event in Näfels, Switzerland, reimagines the town’s fountains through art. The letterpress poster, printed in three passes on metallic paper with linoleum blocks and Ludlow type. https://ow.ly/A0xM50XR2FP

Martini Minute on why New Year’s resolutions are the ultimate design problem. https://ow.ly/xpzR50XT1jQ

Vini Dalvi on why every junior creative needs to hone their sense of taste in an AI-powered world. https://ow.ly/ajU550XT1fk

Derek Niedringhaus on why the craft debate is asking the wrong question. https://ow.ly/pCfu50XT13e

Introducing Sonia Pulido, one of our 2026 Illustration Judges. Based near Barcelona, Sonia brings her vibrant storytelling to newspapers, magazines, books for adults and children, and more. An award-winning illustrator and dedicated teacher, she continues to inspire with her work and passion.

EXHIBIT: Giorgia Lupi of Pentagram on Chiba Tech: a rebrand uniting Japanese heritage and modern design. https://ow.ly/XpyV50XRVFq

CA Winner: PAPRIKA. “Belizean Bitters” Handcrafted bitters from Belize are framed by a bold typographic identity: playful yet timeless labels that channel rum-bottle tradition while elevating local botanicals through distinctive design. https://ow.ly/5Utt50XR2EM

Friction by Design: Carl Barenbrug on what gets lost when everything is effortless. https://ow.ly/AFqR50XSwjM

The Drum's Sam Anderson on the creative trends and strategic shifts that will shape 2026. https://ow.ly/Qna050XSweQ

Nate Schloesser on design’s identity crisis. https://ow.ly/jbyq50XSwau

Winning the 2026 Illustration Competition will boost your career by providing global media exposure via our internationally distributed Annual, website and social media network. Enter by Friday, January 9th. https://ow.ly/BMZp50XFNEu

Meet Jennifer Tolo Pierce, one of our 2026 Communication Arts Illustration Judges! As Design Director of Children’s Publishing at Chronicle Books, she’s shaped beloved titles like Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, They All Saw a Cat, and Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker.

WEBPicks: Ethan Chiu on turning The Monolith Project into an immersive 3-D passion project built with React Three Fiber. https://ow.ly/wmMF50XRVsE

CA Winner: STUDIO DUMBAR/DEPT. “Modyfi” Modyfi, a motion design tool, features an evolving ‘M’ that captures its versatile, innovative spirit. Layers and angles from the symbol echo across the identity: grids, layouts, shapes, numbers, and icons, ensuring consistency. https://ow.ly/ztic50XR14U

Darren Smith on how pattern matching became design’s public face. https://ow.ly/nkxq50XRZV5

Maple Talk on why, despite all the changes, advertising is still about one thing. https://ow.ly/t6tX50XRZP7

Armond Schneider on why taste is earned. Not found. https://ow.ly/vTgH50XRZJw

Announcing one of our 2026 Communication Arts Illustration Judges: Miriam Martincic. An award-winning illustrator with a background in sculpture and graphic design, her work has earned top honors worldwide and appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, and more.

FRESH: New York–based Flower Shop earned Ad Age’s 2025 Small Ad Agency of the Year Northeast for honest, human advertising. https://ow.ly/S7ko50XR2Ig

CA Winner: Naveed Hussain Studio. “Khwabgah: Culture Kitchen” Khwabgah • خوابگاہ means “place of dreams”— a South Asian-inspired culture kitchen in Amsterdam. Its identity blends hand-drawn Urdu and Latin type, reflecting the warmth, memory, and fusion of East and West. https://ow.ly/rm9H50XR13A

Ravi Tej on why 2026 is an inflection point for designers. https://ow.ly/wUGk50XRbNs

Risks vs. rewards: Alex Powell on the changing nature of online virality. https://ow.ly/vhA850XRbMH

Bryan Chou on when design decisions are made without designers. https://ow.ly/33xC50XRbLC

Digital subscription to CA—6 digital issues a year + 10-year online archive for only $30 a year! https://ow.ly/lWo350XFNPG

Posting a portfolio on Creative Hotlist could help you get your dream job. Post yours now! https://ow.ly/fK1F50XFNRM

An overheard quote from our 2026 Typography Annual.

CA Winner: CRITERIUM. “École de joaillerie de Québec Business Card” Wearable business card ring for the Jewelry School of Quebec City. https://ow.ly/3CLY50XPYNt

@k0bewan.bsky.social on replacing design leadership beliefs that no longer work. https://ow.ly/YYl750XQP6x

Steve Brouwers on why doing nothing is good for creativity. https://ow.ly/WUZS50XQP6e

Dinesh Kumar on why creativity will be the most valuable asset in the coming years. https://ow.ly/2o4h50XQP5Y

2026 could be your best year yet! Enter our 2026 Illustration Competition by Friday, January 9th, and you could see an overflowing inbox of project offers! https://ow.ly/BMZp50XFNEu

WEBPicks: Cuchillo built Ocean Films’ site around a click-wheel design with fast, smooth video. https://ow.ly/qQ6t50XPYFa

CA Winner: DSType. “Gradine” Starting from a single typographic skeleton, Gradine embarks on a journey through diverse stylistic territories transcending conventional boundaries, offering a versatile system that is both historically grounded and daringly contemporary. https://ow.ly/fGK350XPYKN

Tom May on the 25 biggest creative moments of the last 25 years. https://ow.ly/czam50XQEvA

Joshua Leigh on generative AI and the long history of artistic automation. https://ow.ly/MjO850XQEsz

Hunter Schwarz on the six political design trends that defined the chaos of 2025. https://ow.ly/MbPS50XQEqp

Need some inspiration? Our 10,000+ gallery collection of design and advertising projects will exhilarate you! https://ow.ly/EeSg50XFNIe

Welcoming Keng-Ming Liu as a judge for the 2026 Communication Arts Illustration Competition. Founder and chief creative officer of Bito, Liu is known for transmedia design that bridges branding, motion, space, and technology.

EXHIBIT: Athletics rebranded SC Gjøa by blending its Norwegian heritage with modern Brooklyn energy. https://ow.ly/qq7T50XN9wm

CA Winner: Drukdoenerij. “9200 Hypecourt” 9200, the postal code of Dendermonde, expands into a monumental typographic basketball mural. It puts the small Belgian provincial town firmly on the map, transforming a quiet place into a vibrant landmark of color and energy. https://ow.ly/eflK50XPYC5

Julio Martínez Villeda on becoming a typographic omnivore. https://ow.ly/RMA150XQlqk

Jeff Beer picks his top ten most creative ads of 2025. https://ow.ly/FG3k50XQlo9

Tom May on why this was branding’s most dangerous year yet. https://ow.ly/3SGS50XQljf

Embrace the festive cheer! Join our 2026 Illustration Competition and submit your entry by Friday, January 9th. Kickstart a creative 2026—don’t miss out! https://ow.ly/yRv550XFNEs