Issue 16: A bulletin for big ideas and better business.

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OPINION/ CREATIVITY 

Tool of thought: your creative philosophy is a business essential

💬 Sir John Hegarty

Businesses have become more philosophical in recent years. Leadership teams are prone to talking about vision, mission, and purpose – and getting touchy over which is which. More simply speaking: the best companies are often the ones that are clearest on who they are, and what they stand for. They make sure that teams and customers all get the memo too.

On an individual level, we’re not so meticulous. Ask someone to define their creative philosophy, and you’re more likely to receive a puzzled look than a pronounced answer. This is an oversight. People who work in businesses excel when they possess one. It can be a single word, a sentence, or a belief that few others share.

You probably already have a creative philosophy. The questions below are designed to help define and unpick it. I’d suggest grabbing a notebook and free-writing answers to the below. And when you’re done, have a go at writing your creative philosophy down.

People who work in businesses excel when they possess a creative philosophy

1. What are your greatest hits?

Analysing a past project, or job that went well is a good place to start. Pick something you’re proud of from your career history, then think about what it was that you contributed. When looking back at your greatest hits, is there a common theme running through?

2. When did it get personal?

Creativity is about self-expression. Where in your career have you felt the most able to express your personality through the work you’ve done? And how did this come through in the stuff that went well?

3. Where have you felt the most inspired?

Many parts of our careers are humdrum. Your creative philosophy should consist of the elements that are wildly exciting. The best work happens when it comes from a well-spring of enthusiasm. If reading back your creative philosophy imbues you with a sense of optimism, you’ve probably found it.

THE AGENDA

1.
Country music is having a moment, with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour breathing new life into the genre. Expect a hoedown of Texan proportions at The Academy of Country Music Awards this week. It shows that fresh thinking can bring an overlooked musical tradition back into the limelight.
17th May  

2.
Bike to Work Day is observed in the US this Friday. Whether you’re a lycra-lover or a fair-weather peddler, studies have shown that riding a bike can help clear the mind and spark creativity. An opportune moment to set the wheels in motion.
17th May

3.
Some 37,000 institutions around the globe will throw their doors open for International Museum Day. The theme this year is “Museums for Education and Research,” highlighting their position as vital venues for fostering curiosity and disseminating new ideas.
18th May

‘Megalopolis’, 2023, directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Contributor: Caesar Film LLC.

EUROPE / FILM

Cannes-do attitude?

Hollywood descends on the south of France for the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival today. From contemporary big hitters like Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, to 20th century icons such as Francis Ford Coppola, titans from across the industry will be taking to the red carpet to tout new releases. But things aren’t so glitzy beneath the surface. A collective representing freelance film festival workers is calling for a strike during proceedings. Sous les écrans, la dèche (Broke behind the screens) reason that contractors should receive the same benefits for out of work periods that professionals in the entertainment industry get. The creative industries have form for trading prestige for proper remuneration and stability. In tough economic times, workers are less interested in the former.

Contributor: Clo’e Floirat

CREATIVE HACK

Monotasking

The only way to solve a creative problem is to focus on it. Shut out all distractions. And never – never – try to multi-task.

US / MEDIA

NYCxDesign will burst the bubble

The great and good of the international design community will congregate in the Big Apple from Thursday for NYCxDesign. The event is a week-long, citywide celebration featuring hundreds of design events, from exhibits and trade shows to talks and tours. Highlights are set to include a retrospective honouring artist Toshiko Takaezu at The Noguchi Museum and an immersive installation by Annabelle Schneider presented by the Consulate General of Switzerland. These kinds of large-scale events foster a sense of unity within a particular creative discipline and are invaluable when it comes to sharing new ideas and making face-to-face connections. It’s important to remember that the rise of remote work hasn’t just isolated those in office jobs. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that the creative industries are reliant on these kinds of community-building events that bring us out of our individual bubbles to celebrate brilliance.

‘Still Life with mirror’, 2014, from the series Still Life, by Valérie Belin
Contributor: Galerie Nathalie Obadia Paris/Brussels

LONDON / PHOTOGRAPHY

Creativity in focus 

Lenses will be panning toward the UK capital this week for the launch of Photo London. The event sees the grand, neoclassical halls of Somerset House transformed into a lively hub of visual storytelling, with some 120 galleries from around the world coming together to showcase their brightest and best talents. Alongside the fair, ticket-holders can also enjoy a public programme that includes an exhibition by French artist Valérie Belin and talks from industry icons including Martin Parr and Peter van Agtmae. And while it’s easy to get carried away tracking down the big name talent, ticket-holders should prioritise a visit to the Discovery section where emerging photographers will be put on display by less established galleries. This has been curated this year by acclaimed writer and curator Charlotte Jansen, who has put together an intriguing showcase of newcomer talent that will give visitors a sense of what lies ahead of the curve.

What’s talent but the ability to get away with something?

/Tennessee Williams