C&binet’s must-read media sources

Nick | 05 Dec 2008, 15:28

By no means an exhaustive list, below are some of the best websites for people working in the creative economy.

From art news sites such as ARTINFO to the tongue-in-cheek fashion site DailyCandy, each works to keep the creative community connected.

What unites these sites is their passion for their subject and the eclecticism of their content; they’re as inspiring as they are practical.

This is c&binet’s first draft but we’re interested to hear further suggestions so please tell us which which others deserve a place on this list:


1.       paidContent

This site wrestles with the big question of how content providers can make money from the internet, which makes it a must-read for anyone interested in the future of the creative economy.


2.       DailyCandy

Smart mouthed and funny, DailyCandy is a free daily e-mail newsletter and website, known for being the insider’s guide to what’s hot, new, and undiscovered — from fashion and style to gadgets and travel.

3.       World Changing

Recommended as an ‘ideas factory’ by New Scientist magazine and the winner of numerous awards, this optimistic website has a wealth of information on sustainability, with a large focus on green architecture and design solutions.

4.       Financial Times Digital Business

The Financial Times Digital Business section is the place to visit for forward thinking, in-depth articles on web 2.0 and digital business. It also offers IT experts the chance to air their views about a range of topics, with a different article published online every weekday.

5.       Laughing Squid

One of the main objectives of Laughing Squid is promoting art, culture and technology, with a focus on the San Francisco Bay Area. A secondary goal is to help connect the art community with the tech community, by letting artists know what tools and resources are available to promote their work. They hope that in turn this will encourage the tech community to experience more art.

6.       Wired

The techno-utopian website has broadened its outlook in recent years but retained its agenda-setting status.

7.       Print & Pattern

A visually pleasing blog, Print and Pattern aims to celebrate the world of surface pattern design. It also offers the chance to review up and coming designers and contains good links to similar blogs in this style. 

8.       Screen Daily

This film industry news site offers a more internationalist outlook than rivals Variety or the Hollywood Reporter.

9.       Rocketboom

Rocketboom is a daily international news program based in New York City. They cover and create a wide range of information and commentary from top news stories to contemporary internet culture.

10.   ARTINFO

This site offers breaking news, profiles of top and emerging artists, stories about collectors and collecting, gallery round-ups from around the world, the best of student art, market trends and analysis, and detailed coverage of art fairs. It’s the place to go to ensure you remain connected to the art community.

11.   NBS

Created to help keep the complex web of the construction industry connected, this website offers a portal to hundreds of useful architecture and design websites, plus daily news about UK architecture.

12.   FUK.co.uk

FUK was born in November 2005 when a group of friends got together, eager to contribution to the internet phenomenon. The result was FUK, a straight-talking, no-nonsense fashion website which provides fashion news, trends, interviews with designers and the latest from the catwalks of London Fashion Week, Alternative Fashion Week and Graduate Fashion Week.

13.   artnet

artnet is the place to buy, sell and research fine art online. Their online Gallery Network is the largest of its kind, with over 2,200 galleries in over 250 cities worldwide. The site also features an online magazine, with daily news, reviews, and features by renowned writers in the art community.

14.   iconeye

iconeye is the online sister of Icon, an architecture and design magazine. Featuring breaking news, interviews with architects and designers, and analysis of new cultural movements and technologies. They also review an eclectic range of exhibitions, books, products and films.

15.   boing boing

This award-winning group blog features news and original content on themes including technology, futurism, science fiction, gadgets, and politics.

16.   MediaGuardian

Comprehensive news from the UK media industry.

17.   aintitcool

From the Dark Knight to Marvel Studios and from Wanted to Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, comic book culture is gradually taking over the entertainment world.  Aintitcool is still the best guide to geekdom, although with leading writer “Moriaty” leaving for rival start-up HitFix.com, it remains to be seen how long it can retain its status.

18.   Ad Age

The US marketing bible now features a dedicated China edition.

19.   Monocle

A business, culture and design site with a determinedly internationalist outlook.  Monocle’s Editor is Wallpaper* founder and FT writer, Tyler Brule.

20. The Rest Is Noise

Written by Alex Ross, the music critic on the New Yorker, The Rest Is Noise is an insightful blog offering reviews and news commentary on classical music.  It also features a comprehensive page of links to other music blogs.