The 25 most-read articles on Creative Boom in 2022

The Review is our annual look back on the creative industries and everything that has happened in the last 12 months. But it's not just about what we think was important. Ultimately, it's the articles that you find most interesting on Creative Boom that keep us motivated. And to that end, we've poured over our analytics and gathered the 25 most-read Creative Boom articles of 2022.

In short, these topics have attracted the most attention from Creative Boom readers this year, so if you've missed a couple of them, here's your chance to get up to speed. More broadly, it's a good opportunity to see what the creative community's been talking about in 2022 and where things might be heading in the coming year. (You can also check out last year's list here).

Some of our most popular features this year have been practical articles to help you directly in your creative work, such as our new fonts round-up, our list of free resources, and our selection of useful mockups. Others have been more about providing visual inspiration, such as our coverage of groundbreaking photography projects or our list of hot new illustrators to follow. And some have been packed full of industry tips and advice, such as our graphic design trends article and our complete guide to pricing your work.

Read on to discover the full list, and relive what the Creative Boom community has been reading about in 2022.

1. 36 fonts that will be popular with designers in 2022

Every year we round up the latest trends in photography and predict the fonts that will be big over the coming months. This report came at the end of 2021, going into 2022, with contributions from Berenice Smith, Christy Davies, Matteo Bologna, and Samantha Barbagiovani, and features some fantastic fonts that are well worth checking out today. Our fonts round-up for 2023, meanwhile, can be found here.

2. Undo Motherhood: Photographs by Diana Karklin of women who regret becoming a parent

It's something rarely anyone talks about: what if you have a child and regret it? In her series Undo Motherhood, Diana Karklin's images reveal a controversial side to the story, revealing why a significant number of women around the world today wish they'd chosen a different path. We share her evocative images and talk to her about the thinking behind them.

3. 50 of the best graphic design blogs for inspiration in 2022

We'd love to think that a daily dose of design inspiration on Creative Boom is all you need. But we're not daft, and we recognise that you'd like to check out other design blogs too. So to help you create the best reading list you can, we've gathered together the 50 best design blogs on the web today, ranging from old favourites to brand-new upstarts.

4. 22 of the best online shops in 2022 for stationery addicts

Who doesn't love stationery? And quite right too. Buying beautiful stationery can be one of the best ways to re-engage with the physical world and reboot your imagination. Plus, you don't even need to spend much money to adorn your desk with gorgeous, designer-led products. To help you out, we've scoured the web to find you the best independent stores to shop for boutique and bespoke stationery.

5. Kids of Cosplay: Photography book captures cosplay as you've never seen it before

For some people, cosplay used to be a joke or even a secret embarrassment. Nowadays, though, that's all changed, and we can fly our geek flags high. To celebrate this fun art form, London-based photographer Thurstan Redding's new photography book, Kids of Cosplay, presents cosplay in a whole new light. Inspired by a trip to MCM London Comic Con in 2018, Thurstan's pictures are a fantastic showcase for the ingenuity of cosplay.

6. 100 essential free resources for graphic designers in 2022

Right now, we're all feeling the pinch, and if you're a graphic designer running your own business, then you'll want to save every penny you can. To help out, we've pulled together an essential guide to the best free resources for your next graphic design projects. We're talking about the highest quality, non-cheesy stock imagery and videos, illustration templates, millions of icons, free typography, special tools and free mockups.

7. Why Adobe software is changing, and what it means for the future of creativity

Adobe made some big announcements at its Adobe MAX event, and every digital creative should pay attention. This special report outlines the key themes of Adobe MAX 2022, which not only explain how Adobe software is evolving but highlight where the creative industry is going as a whole. So even if you're not an Adobe user, they're still worth paying attention to.

8. 20 independent magazines that every creative should have on their coffee table

Printed magazines give us a wider perspective on global culture without having to leave our own doorstep. And as they're often art forms in themselves, these unique magazines can be enjoyed for years to come, acting as archived inspiration to rediscover and browse whenever we run out of ideas and need a jolt of inspiration. To highlight the best buys, check out our list of 20 recommended independent magazines from across the world.

9. 20 best websites with mockups for your graphic design projects

Fiddling about in Photoshop or Sketch to create a mockup of your designs on an iPhone or T-shirt is hardly the best use of your creative brain. In this round-up, you'll find the 20 best websites for automating this task. Not only do they provide hundreds or even thousands of templates for you to use, but they'll also let you drag and drop in your screenshots with just a click of two, saving you massive amounts of time.

10. Freelance illustration rates: The complete guide to pricing your work

If you're illustrated and worried about money (who isn't right now?), it's worth considering whether you're charging the right rates for your work. There is an awful lot of confusion on this issue within the artist and illustrator community because negotiating your rates can be tricky when you don't really know what the 'right' market rate would be. So in this article, we offer some pointers on how to set your rates and where the right balance lies.

11. The biggest trends in graphic design for 2022, as predicted by leading creatives

Even in normal times, the design world moves fast. So at the beginning of the year, we brought together leading voices in the design world to help us make sense of what was happening and what was likely to happen over the next 12 months. It's a fascinating time capsule packed with insights and advice for graphic designers.

12. Barbara Cole's underwater dancing photos capture the joy of freely moving bodies

This year fine art photographer Barbara Cole returned to capturing the human figure underwater for the first time since the pandemic with BEAT, a new series of work shown at Toronto's Bau-Xi Gallery in July. Full of hope and energy. Her images captured everyone's post-pandemic excitement as we all rediscovered the joy of freely moving our bodies around in whatever way we chose.

13. Photographs of abandoned shacks in California's sparse community of Wonder Valley

In the sparsely populated community of Wonder Valley, California lies a range of shacks known locally as Jackrabbit Homesteads. Sat abandoned against a dusty landscape, the worn cabins inspired this incredible series by Berlin-based photographer Helin Bereket. We spoke to the artist to learn the fascinating story behind this project.

14. 50 essential books every graphic designer should read

Whatever stage you've reached in your career as a graphic designer, one thing's for sure: you never stop learning. Or rather, you never should stop learning, honing your existing skills, discovering new approaches, and encountering fresh perspectives. To help you learn your next lesson, we listed our 50 favourite design books, ranging from instructional texts to collections of essays, design monographs to business guides.

15. Photographs by Helga Stentzel of clothes on a washing line transformed into charming animals

During a spot of laundry a few years back, London-based Russian-born artist Helga Stentzel got the idea for a unique series featuring clothes on a washing line cleverly staged as different animals. Thus began a viral Instagram account that gained thousands of fans and likes. Helga spoke to Creative Boom about how she created these brilliant images and what happened next.

16. The Graphic Designer Salary Guide for 2022

With one eye on their bank balance, many graphic designers will right now be asking themselves: 'Am I earning the right salary?' In this article, we explain how to go about calculating whether your salary is fair. And if it turns out your pay is falling short, we share advice on how to negotiate it upwards. We also get expert advice from leading designers on how this is all likely to shake out in practice.

17. Nude photo series recaptures the spirit of the original Glastonbury

For TV viewers, Glastonbury is all about the big pop stars on the main stage. But those who actually make it in person discover that elsewhere on site; there's a whole world of creative anarchy that keeps the spirit of the original festival alive. In 2022, that spirit was clearly embodied in an exhibition of nude portraits taken at Glastonbury by artist Tom Hunter, inspired by his mum's photos of the Isle of Wight festival in the late 1960s.

18. 'I like to make pieces that make you look twice': Carly Owens on her symbolic embroidery artworks and paintings

Carly Owen's work is a great example of how to succeed as a multidisciplinary artist. Spanning textiles and paintings – plus a few other mediums on occasion – the Colorado-based artist creates fabulously humorous pieces, ranging from sparkly fried eggs and meaty steaks to painted butterflies and the occasional, more realistic portrait.

19. 20 of the most exciting illustrators to follow in 2022

Every year at Creative Boom, we search through the thousands of illustrators out there and gather together some of the best talents in one easy-to-access article. Our list includes new and emerging illustrators, some barely (or not yet) out of college, who are causing waves with innovative styles. We also feature some older hands whom we feel don't seem to get the attention they deserve, despite pushing creative boundaries.

20. How to become a graphic designer at home

Want to become a graphic designer? In the old days, that meant spending three years at university, then moving to a big city and interning at a design agency. In 2022, though, all that's changed. More and more people are studying and working remotely, and Shillington is at the forefront of this change in attitudes. In this article, we explain how their radical approach to design education works in practice.

21. Charles Young's miniature houses crafted from paper brought to life in pleasing stop-motion shorts

During his studies in Architecture, Charles Young discovered a love of paper, crafting miniature model buildings featuring the tiniest detail, and even bringing his sculptures to life by animating them to create stop-motion shorts. His ongoing Four Colour Houses captured the attention of leading clients, giving Young an unexpected career path. Check out his amazing papercraft creations here, and find out how he went about making them.

22. 10 decorative accessories that we always see in every graphic design agency

At Creative Boom, one of the things we enjoy most is visiting people in their studios. What might surprise you is how often these spaces share similar decor, as though without them, they simply couldn't call themselves graphic designers. There are always the same objects that sneak in, and we reveal what they are here.

23. 12 of the best online clothing stores that sell unique pieces by leading artists and designers

Want to stop supporting fast fashion and get behind your fellow creatives instead? These stores and one-person shops are great places to find unique pieces you can wear with pride. Some of our recommendations are sold directly by creatives themselves, while others are from larger stores that commission artists and illustrators to create unique designs for them.

24. Mixing watercolour with hand-cut illustrations, the unique work of Marcel George

Freelance illustrator and artist Marcel George has a unique style, combining watercolour and hand-cut illustrations. Currently living and working in London, he's attracted clients, including Financial Times, Esquire, Stella Artois, Vanity Fair, and Penguin Random House. Here we chat with Marcel about how he developed his distinctive style and dealt with the lockdown and the influence of Instagram.

25. 55 of the UK's top independent shops to support this Small Business Saturday

We need to support local, independent stores more than ever in these economically challenging times. In this must-read round-up, which we published at the beginning of October, we share our favourite independent shops from around the country, so you can find the best Christmas gifts and give back to the creative community.