Creative Boom
Creative Boom is an art, design and visual culture magazine and website aimed at the creative industries. The UK-based platform includes general articles, industry news, features, tips and inspiration pieces for various creative sectors including advertising, animation, architecture, art and culture, crafts, digital, fashion, film, gaming, graphic design, illustration, photography, product design, and publishing. In addition, it has a podcast and print shop.
| Founding editor | Katy Cowan |
|---|---|
| Categories | Creative industries, design, art, culture |
| Frequency | Daily |
| Publisher | Creative Boom |
| Founder | Katy Cowan |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Company | Creative Boom Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Based in | Manchester, England |
| Language | English |
| Website | creativeboom.com |
Creative Boom[1] is an art, design and visual culture magazine and website aimed at the creative industries. The UK-based platform includes general articles, industry news, features, tips and inspiration pieces for various creative sectors including advertising, animation, architecture, art and culture, crafts, digital, fashion, film, gaming, graphic design, illustration, photography, product design, and publishing. In addition, it has a podcast[2] and print shop.
History and growth
[edit]Creative Boom launched on 24 July 2009 after its Manchester-based founding editor, Katy Cowan,[3][4] spoke to other freelancers and small businesses on Twitter and realised there was a need for creative support online, particularly for the underrepresented[5] – somewhere people could gain free exposure, support and learn about all things creative. Creative Boom has seven million readers annually.[6]
On 4 November 2011, Creative Boom became part of The Guardian Culture Professionals Network,[7] one of the professional networks available on the newspaper's website, where Katy Cowan would write advice pieces.[8]
On 3 February 2020, Creative Boom introduced The Creative Boom Podcast,[9] featuring conversations with artists and designers. As host, Katy Cowan has interviewed more than 70 guests, including illustrator and author Dapo Adeola,[10] designer and host of Design Matters, Debbie Millman,[11] American graphic designer, writer and educator Gail Anderson, British graphic designer Malcolm Garrett, visual artist and author Oliver Jeffers.[12]
On 11 November 2021, Creative Boom launched its print shop, selling art prints by artists and designers, including Noma Bar, Morag Myerscough, Luis Mendo, Danielle Rhoda, and Rob Lowe of Supermundane.[13]
Community
[edit]On 1 February 2025, Creative Boom launched The Studio, an invitation-based platform where a wide range of creatives including designers, illustrators, animators and digital creators discuss work- and industry-related topics, sharing ideas and support.[14] A variety of events targeting creatives are hosted by Creative Boom, in real life and online.[15]
Recognition
[edit]Creative Boom won Best Design Media Award in the international A' Design Award & Competition in 2018. Shopify recommended the website as a resource "dedicated to creative inspiration",[16] while Creative Pool described Creative Boom as a platform for "artists, writers, game designers and more", saying "we'd spend hours playing with those little eyes at the top".[17]
The Creative Boom Podcast was named the number-one podcast for creative career advice and insight by Creative Lives in Progress.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "About Creative Boom". Creative Boom. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "The Creative Boom Podcast". Creative Boom. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "About Katy Cowan". 10 December 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ Adobe Inc. "Live from the sofa with Stephanie, Rufus & Katy Cowan (Creative Boom)", Adobe Live, 9 April 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2022.
- ^ HowDo Media, "New online magazine Creative Boom launches, with a little help from Twitter" Archived 20 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ David Prior (1 April 2016). "Online magazine Creative Boom expands team as it hits million milestone". Prolific North. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "The Guardian Culture Professionals Network", London, 4 November 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ^ Katy Cowan (24 May 2012). "How to recognise, prevent and deal with burnout in a creative job". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "The Creative Boom Podcast on Apple Podcasts"
- ^ "Dapo Adeola on big breaks, diversity in publishing and why he turned Disney down twice". Creative Boom. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Debbie Millman on the beauty of mistakes and why having courage is empowering". Creative Boom. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Oliver Jeffers on a year of change and why he's learnt to slow down". Creative Boom. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Creative Boom Shop". Creative Boom. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "The Studio: early reflections and member feedback on Creative Boom's new private community". Creative Boom. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ^ "Join the Creative Boom Community". Creative Boom. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ^ Nick Babich (25 February 2019). "Give Yourself Design Superpowers with Digital Illustrations". Shopify. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ Antonino Lupo (17 November 2020). "The Best 30 Websites for Creative Inspiration". Creative Pool. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "10 podcasts to tune into for creative career advice and insight", Creative Lives in Progress, 27 May 2021. Retrieved on 28 March 2022.