Communication Arts

Toshi Tiwari on when the weird idea is the right idea. https://ow.ly/q4P350YsotW

Absurdgasm: Félix Mathieu on when nonsense branding hits right. https://ow.ly/9w1S50Ysopj

EXHIBIT: For Bedrock Robotics, a developer of autonomous heavy machinery technology, Studio Everywhere and Confederation Studio created an identity from the visual language of worksites. https://ow.ly/9gip50Yrut6

Madison Utendahl on why the creative agency model is dead, and what’s rising from the ashes. https://ow.ly/IzKM50Ysohc

CA Winner: TRANSVERSAL Studio. “Point of (No) Return”
Point of (No) Return is an interactive installation powered by a custom AI-driven tracking system that allows participants to melt a massive ice cylinder until losing control of it. https://ow.ly/20om50YoJIu

Erika Flowers offers three directions where design skills could migrate. https://ow.ly/eWx050YrQF8

Chris Kobar offers a sane approach to managing the AI firehose. https://ow.ly/xlrT50YrQB8

Mitch Paone on why narrative cannot govern identity systems. https://ow.ly/alSP50YrQwZ

Only three days left until our 2026 Photography competition deadline! We can’t say we have the best of the past year’s photographic work without yours! Enter by Friday, March 13th. https://ow.ly/oK1o50Y8i9F

INSIGHTS: Kinda Ghannoum, a Polish-Syrian designer, discusses how she co-established the Syrian Design Archive to preserve cultural memory. https://ow.ly/AiMQ50YrupH

CA Winner: Publicis Toronto. “Blizzard Banks”
To show Blizzard® treats are the ultimate frozen treat, snowbanks in Canada’s snowiest cities were transformed into interactive, shareable installations—turning winter into a playful brand experience. https://ow.ly/UaK450YmYNo

Ben Brignell on why most design principles fail. https://ow.ly/xJ0l50YrkTR

Organized chaos: Elliott Starr on why AI mustn’t smooth out creativity’s rough edges. https://ow.ly/fwjw50YrkCO

Carlos Fraccalvieri’s personal guidelines to staying creative. https://ow.ly/FTfr50YrkbV

WEBPICKS: Grow transformed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s website into an endless repository of music knowledge. https://ow.ly/WtPf50Yrac1

CA Winner: Joshua Miller. “Time Stretched Thin”
Armed with a light as his brush, Miller performs before a camera that stretches and compresses movement over time—transforming motion into a living, shifting tapestry of light. https://ow.ly/qX8k50YmYIM

Paul Leon on why the creative industry feels broken right now—and why it isn’t. https://ow.ly/AEZy50Yqb2T

Mike Leslie on why the world remains hungrier than ever for creativity. https://ow.ly/KMWE50YqaYc

Mirko Adami on listening, ego, and what design is actually for. https://ow.ly/5nGx50YqaSQ

Documentaries, TV idents, commercials, music videos—any motion work that uses live action—submit yours into CA’s 2026 Photography competition by Friday, March 13th!
https://ow.ly/oK1o50Y8i9F

An overheard quote from our 2026 Interactive Annual.

EXHIBIT: Bensimon Byrne’s film for Casey House reveals the support networks patients with HIV need to help them access treatment. https://ow.ly/oJGF50YnZ2W

CA Winner: Iregular. “NEST”
A series of sound-driven digital artworks redefining interactive art. Powered by their proprietary SONAR technology, it tracks each participant and creates a unique sonic reality for everyone. https://ow.ly/3XtT50YmYvZ

Peggy Shen on designing pluralities. https://ow.ly/JpmO50YpFFQ

Tom May on why advertising has become addicted to absurdist humor. https://ow.ly/ZzCB50YpFqs

Bulandundonnelly on the skills that will define the next generation of creative work. https://ow.ly/4WZv50YpFnZ

We’re honored to welcome Michael Zajakowski as a 2026 Communication Arts Photography Judge. Former CHICAGO magazine director of photography and cofounder of Prism Photo Workshop, he brings 40+ years mentoring photographers and shaping visual storytelling.

WEBPicks: Designed by Studio Size and developed by Rise2, this site presents the portfolio of film editor Emilie Aubry with an elegantly minimal framework. https://ow.ly/fGZg50YnYKq

CA Winner: Deeplocal. “Torani Flavor Factory”
With 100 years of innovation under its belt, Torani wanted to mark its centennial with its first experiential campaign, including a Flavor Factory brick and mortar pop-up in San Francisco. https://ow.ly/e7xZ50YmYoX

Looks Right says stop designing for the approval of people who aren’t your users. https://ow.ly/UVHE50Yp8ZZ