The Drum top 30 picks of the year – our top interviews, features and photoessays of 2014
As we round off the end of an eventful year reporting on the creative, digital, marketing and media industries, it's the perfect time for us to reflect on the features, interviews and articles we've produced.
The Drum has compiled a list of some of its best articles of 2014, so if you’ve had enough of mince pies and the Queen’s Speech, squirrel yourself away into a corner and make the most of our best of 2014.
Entrepreneurialism in the desert
This piece profiles the work of Toufic Beyhum, an ad creative who captured the shops and businesses of a Syrian refugee camp through photography.
Life through a lens
An interview with the founder of photo-sharing community Blipfoto, Joe Tree, who has shared thousands of snapshots almost daily during the site's 10-year history.
My type of city
An oft-overlooked part of the communications mix, typography is the central focus of this photoessay by Glenn Doherty, a series of shots documenting the type to be found in shop signs and murals around his adopted home city of Amsterdam.
Designers get nostalgic over Ladybird
As the children's publisher geared up to celebrate 100 years, The Drum takes a look over its history and hears from designers about the impact of its iconic covers.
Art illuminating ads
Artist and former ad creative Julian Hanford delves into the wonderful and often wacky world of Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed, comparing his art with the art of advertising.
Why creatives should think like kids
Nicolas Roope, co-founder of Poke and Hulger and creator of the Plumen lightbulb, meets Tom Karen, the designer behind the Raleigh chopper, and the two discuss his child's eye-view of the world.
The story of Her
Oscar-winning Her was one of the most captivating films of recent years, and explored the relationship of humanity and technology. In this piece, director Spike Jonze and SapientNitro's Nigel Vaz discuss this dynamic, as part of Vaz's guest-edited issue of The Drum.
Behind the scenes of Gravity
Another filmic feature which sees us go behind the scenes of cinematic tour de force Gravity, with visual effects company Framestore.
Behind the scenes of BBC Music launch film
Part of our series taking a behind the scenes look at ads, we explore how Karmarama and the BBC created the launch film for BBC Music, featuring 27 musicians performing a unique rendition of the Beach Boys' classic God Only Knows.
Girl Guides
Our series of interviews with high-profile influential women in digital, advertising and media continued in 2014. While it’s not possible to list all of them here, we’ve selected a few highlights.
Jen Sey, chief marketing officer, Levi’s, talks about the brand’s $96m marketing campaign and her gymnastics career.
DigitasLBi group creative director Abi Ellis says everyone in advertising needs to be “braver”.
Meanwhile, Tiffany St James, the government’s former social media chief, discusses digital transformation and the “10-year skills gap” we are facing.
A throwaway history?
At a time when everything is disposable, the Museum of Brands documents the history of brands' packaging, design and appeal, right back to the 1800s. This interview with founder Robert Opie explores what life is like when you spend it meticulously documenting the evolution of brands.
Here come the corporates
Following a global account review earlier in the year which saw Accenture and Deloitte pitch alongside DigitasLBi for the digital marketing activity, this article explores the growing role of management consultancies as they make grabs for digital briefs.
Let's drop the D-word
As part of The Drum's focus on disruption in 2014, Ian Pearman of AMV BBDO is interviewed on the future of digital, and why the word itself is hampering innovation.
We're all delusional
No, really. That's according to Dr Beau Lotto, who opens up on the fascinating world of neurodesign, including insights on why our thoughts, creativity and actions are determined entirely by context, in this piece filed from The Drum Live.
How creatives and designers get their kicks
Graham Fink, Flo Heiss and David Buonaguidi are just some of the former and current creatives interviewed in this feature on creativity beyond the agency walls, which can take the form of building robots, setting up a sweet shop or photographing faces in marble.
Getting in on the YouTube act
As the publishing landscape is democratised and old media turned on its head, we take a look at the power of YouTube and explore what brands like Sainsbury's are doing to reach the vast YouTube audiences commanded by the new breed of video bloggers like Zoella.
Jamie Oliver on burning £4m a year on YouTube
The Drum speaks to Jamie Oliver at Advertising Week New York, where he reveals that £1m has been spent each month during his YouTube venture, FoodTube and DrinksTube.
Fuck Silicon Roundabout
As part of The Drum's publication of a new issue of Can't Understand New Technology, Tom Kile Hartshorn doesn't mince his words, venting his frustrations on the slow death of Silicon Roundabout, which he describes as a "wretched eye-sore".
A Christmas creative formula?
Emotional narratives are a common thread in Christmas ad campaigns, but does this formula need a shake-up? We speak to agencies and brands including DLKW Lowe, JWT and Morrisons to get their views.
Calling out the ad industry 'rut'
Following his departure from Karmarama in July, Dave Buonaguidi tells The Drum the ad industry is becoming a "painting by numbers exercise".
Branding evil
As Islamic State is propelled into mainstream consciousness, The Drum explores the role of branding and iconography in the rise of the terror group.
Why was Rebekah Brooks found not guilty?
As part of The Drum’s insider coverage of the phone-hacking trial, James Doleman details the not guilty verdict for the former News of the World editor.
Turning The Simpsons French
This interview with animator and director Sylvain Chomet explores the thinking behind his reinvention of the famous family for one of the show's 'couch gags'.
“The moment you fall pregnant, you start to worry”
Following a piece of research by Nabs into the pressures facing working parents in advertising, this piece explores the challenges for working mothers in the industry, with women including Dare's Leigh Thomas offering a candid take on their experiences.
Making a good first impression
Quirky receptions are now the order of the day for creative agencies, and here we take a look at a few of these colourful spaces.
Always looking forward: Bob Greenberg
Following Bob Greenberg's induction into the Advertising Hall of Fame, industry figureheads including Nils Leonard and Daniele Fiandaca pose questions to the R/GA founder, chairman and chief executive.
Tony Brignull pays tribute to David Abbott
Following his death earlier in the year, Tony Brignull pays a moving tribute to the man he considers "the best of us".
Leonard Weinreich pays tribute to Julian Koenig
In tribute to another of the industry's greats who sadly passed away this year, Leonard Weinreich writes about the "genuine giant of advertising" Julian Koenig.