Art & Design

Mexico has produced artists whose work became inseparable from the country's identity — from enormous public murals to intensely personal paintings and photographs of everyday life. But the story isn't just about famous images of Mexico. These artists changed what Mexican art could look like, who it could speak to and how the country could be represented to the rest of the world. Here are seven artists who helped change the way we see Mexico.

Dundee’s creative identity reaches far beyond its size. The Scottish city helped put The Beano and The Dandy into millions of homes, produced video games with global influence, trained generations of artists and designers, and built an international reputation for design. These seven connections reveal how education feeds industry, popular culture becomes heritage, and a city’s creative past keeps shaping its future. Dundee was the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design, but the more interesting question is what that distinction looks like on the ground.

Swansea’s cultural identity stretches from the words of one of Wales’ most celebrated writers to world-class art, industrial history and live performance. Its museums preserve the stories of a city shaped by the sea and industry, while its galleries and theatres continue to bring new ideas, creativity and talent to the forefront. From the legacy of Dylan Thomas to the spectacular Brangwyn Hall, these seven institutions reveal a cultural side of Swansea worth exploring — whether you’re a lifelong local or visiting for the first time. How would you rank them?

RANKD Team Middlesbrough edition.

RANKD Team Stoke-on-Trent edition.

National flags are among the world’s most recognisable design statements: a handful of colours, shapes and symbols distilled into a single image. The most stylish go beyond simple identification, balancing striking composition, cultural meaning and visual originality. From Antigua and Barbuda’s dramatic rising sun to North Macedonia’s radiant golden starburst, these seven flags show how bold design can turn a piece of fabric into an enduring national symbol. Which flag deserves the top spot in your eyes?

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Poblacion edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

RANKD Team Williamsburg edition.

Artistic inspiration does not only come from visiting famous museums. Around Islington, it can be found in ambitious contemporary galleries, independent creative spaces, hands-on workshops and unexpected encounters with public art. From a Banksy mural on Hornsey Road to a remarkable collection of Italian modernism, these seven destinations offer different ways to look more closely, discover unfamiliar ideas and see the world a little differently.

Fancy making something rather than just looking at it? North (and East) London has some wonderfully unexpected ways to get creative, from shaping molten glass and turning discarded objects into sculpture to experimenting with analogue photography and printing your own artwork. These seven places offer the chance to try specialist techniques, learn from practising makers and discover what happens when you step outside your usual creative comfort zone. No art degree, expensive equipment or pre-existing talent required — just curiosity and a willingness to have a go.

Forget grand buildings and obvious landmarks. Islington hides some wonderfully unexpected examples of design in its streets, shopfronts and everyday infrastructure. From bicycle racks with animal-like legs to a market with its own bespoke typeface and advertisements that have survived for generations, these seven discoveries reveal the creativity hiding in plain sight. Look closer: the ordinary things around us can be the most extraordinary.

Islington is full of buildings that deserve a second look. From a revolutionary Modernist staircase and a remarkable piece of Victorian water infrastructure to a Postmodern house built for Janet Street-Porter, these seven architectural landmarks reveal a borough shaped by bold ideas, ingenious engineering and architects who refused to play it safe.

A RANKD Team starter ranking.

A RANKD Team starter ranking.