Here is our round up of the news stories and industry articles that caught our eye during April 2026.
Chupa Chups mark the end of a decades-long wrapper struggle
Attempting to open a Chupa Chups is a unique source of annoyance. You are aware of the one. The wrapper will not tear neatly. You end up using your teeth, which is disrespectful. Finally, after a brief but embarrassing struggle, you receive your lollipop. BBH is aware of this universal reality. Chupa Chups is aware. Additionally, they have chosen to honour that struggle rather than act as though it never occurred.
Find out more in Creative Boom.
5 brilliant buys for your creative work life
You will appreciate the concept behind I Can’t Afford This But Maybe She Can if you have ever given a buddy a link to an exquisitely impractical item with the comment, “I need this immediately but have absolutely no reason to own it.” What started out as a mutual passion between illustrator Malika Favre and art director George Wu—cataloging the most amusing and absurd things the design industry had to offer—has subtly grown into one of the greatest curated online stores.
More than 500 carefully chosen items from more than 125 independent manufacturers and businesses are gathered in what they refer to as the “Bazaar,” which includes stationery, tech, fashion, art, home goods, and the occasional magnificent misfit. Everything is chosen with humour, taste, and a healthy disdain for dullness.
Find out more in Creative Boom.
Illustrator Shunpei Kamiya on process
Even though Shunpei Kamiya’s photos have a lot of detail, they don’t have a lot of action, and something is usually a little odd. A familiar interior assumes an uncomfortable calm as a lone stranger stays in the street. In the illustrator’s work, ephemeral, ordinary events are captured, but they are reframed with a subtle surrealism that leaves the observer wondering what has changed.
Beyond the picture, there is a sense of uncertainty. Kamiya, like many independent illustrators, is negotiating a field that offers little assurance of stability. One of the key obstacles is still maintaining a steady flow of employment, especially in Japan, where he is based.
Find out more in Creative Review.
The women who rewrote creative leadership
Even though Shunpei Kamiya’s photos have a lot of detail, they don’t have a lot of action, and something is usually a little odd. A familiar interior assumes an uncomfortable calm as a lone stranger stays in the street. In the illustrator’s work, ephemeral, ordinary events are captured, but they are reframed with a subtle surrealism that leaves the observer wondering what has changed.
Beyond the picture, there is a sense of uncertainty. Kamiya, like many independent illustrators, is negotiating a field that offers little assurance of stability. One of the key obstacles is still maintaining a steady flow of employment, especially in Japan, where he is based.
Find out more in Creative Boom.
Asics reframes race day
Sports brand Asics has partnered with Design Bridge and Partners Amsterdam on an out-of-home campaign in Paris, Milan, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and London to commemorate its sponsorship of four of Europe’s largest marathons.
With the goal of “reframing achievement as the mindset that carries runners to the finish line,” the campaign marks a new phase for the brand as it seeks to maintain its growth in the running sector. The piece honours the small moments that characterise training and race day.
Find out more in Creative Review.
Couchella for Coachella
Six abstract, vividly coloured characters burst onto the set to the rhythmic accompaniment of All Good Folks’ Breakdance. One is a blob, the other a worm. A green squiggle, an orange penguin, and a pair of trousers with a questionable nose are all there.
“Most of them just came while sculpting the plasticine, sort of improvising different shapes and figuring out where the eyes could go,” says Alistair. “Some of them came from doodling in a sketchbook.” “It was a really natural method of operation. When I was sculpting, I just proceeded with whatever thought came to me at the time.”
Find out more in Creative Boom.
Why are Gen Alpha buying records they could stream for free?
The same phenomenon has been observed by everyone I know who has teenage children. These children are requesting record players because they have never experienced a world without YouTube or Spotify.
This isn’t sentimentality. You can’t have nostalgia for something you’ve never done. There’s another thing going on, and it’s important for anyone who works in manufacturing.
Find out more in Creative Bloq.
About DWH
DWH is an award winning Coventry-based creative design agency offering a full range of services including:
Jonathon Bright
Jonathon is the DWH marketing guru and handles all marketing, copywriting and social media duties. With over 25 years experience working with clients and agencies across the globe, his role is to provide all things marketing from lead generation strategies right through to writing blogs and press articles. With two Marketing degrees and a successful track record of working with sole traders, SME’s & FTSE 100 companies his full mix experience can deliver results whatever the budget.