The Creative Condition podcast

HIGHLIGHTS of episode 75 with Sir John Hegarty. The power of creativity in the digital age

A highlights edition of episode 75 of The Creative Condition (Arrest All Mimics at the time).Sir John Hegarty, one of the most imaginative, innovative minds the creative industry has ever welcomed, provides advice and insights into the power of creativity that have grown more relevant since we recorded this conversation.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024Sir John's new course: https://www.businessofcreativity.com/and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uaHosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4

Ep 233: A very human creative project and why it balanced my AI terror

How a sequence of unforeseen events including an illustration commission for The Guardian newspaper, an AI and creativity discussion panel, and a live podcast at D&AD New Blood Festival came together to renew much of my confidence in human creativity despite the rise of the machine.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/03/zadie-smith-on-hope-trepidation-and-rebirth-after-14-years-of-the-toriesHosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4

What we learned about creativity from: Brandon Consultants’ founder Richard Taylor

What we learned about creativity from Brandon Consultants’ founder Richard Taylor:Roots grow deep. Origin stories matter. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to innovateConsidered candour saves everyone time and frees up creativityHelping the human in front of you sets the foundations for great workIf someone works hard and is good at what they do, get out of the wayThe full episode 232 in long and highlights form is out now!Richard Taylor has spent over 30 years in the design industry, working across branding, visual identity, packaging, and much more. For the past 12 or so years, he'd headed Brandon:"In a chaotic world, great brands can be ignored. We’re here to help.We switch brands on by understanding how they connect with people. Some call it research; we call it rigorous naivety. Exploring without arrogance or assumption to build a genuine picture of the real world.So we can unearth insights that help awaken brand potential."Richard shares his learnings, observations, beliefs, and evidence of achievements in commercial creativity.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://www.brandon-consultants.com/aboutHosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4 

Ep 232: Commercial Creativity learnings with Brandon Consultants founder Richard Taylor

The highlights episode is also available now!Richard Taylor has spent over 30 years in the design industry, working across branding, visual identity, packaging, and much more. For the past 12 or so years, he'd headed Brandon:"In a chaotic world, great brands can be ignored. We’re here to help.We switch brands on by understanding how they connect with people. Some call it research; we call it rigorous naivety. Exploring without arrogance or assumption to build a genuine picture of the real world.So we can unearth insights that help awaken brand potential."Richard shares his learnings, observations, beliefs, and evidence of achievements in commercial creativity.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://www.brandon-consultants.com/aboutHosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4

HIGHLIGHTS of episode 232 with Brandon founder Richard Taylor on commercial creativity learnings

The full length episode is also available now!Richard Taylor has spent over 30 years in the design industry, working across branding, visual identity, packaging, and much more. For the past 12 or so years, he'd headed Brandon:"In a chaotic world, great brands can be ignored. We’re here to help.We switch brands on by understanding how they connect with people. Some call it research; we call it rigorous naivety. Exploring without arrogance or assumption to build a genuine picture of the real world.So we can unearth insights that help awaken brand potential."Richard shares his learnings, observations, beliefs, and evidence of achievements in commercial creativity.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://www.brandon-consultants.com/aboutHosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4

What we learned about creativity from: UNICEF’s Elinor Samuelsson

What we learned about creativity from UNICEF's Office of Innovation's Elinor Samuelsson.Nature’s systems run through everything – adopt them!Boredom is an abundant source of creativity, imagination, and understanding ourselvesStudying and observing our feelings enables us to own them for a happier lifeEnabling true creativity requires great organisation and preparationLanguage can cast spells!AI is still evil, but there are beautiful uses of itElinor Samuelsson lets us inside the work of UNICEF's Office of Innovation, which uses imagination, innovation, invention, and play to create across complex global systems.Language barriers, cultural differences, lack of technology, missing ambition, and access to vital services are just a few of the challenges that form puzzle-like project briefs for Elinor and her team when they seek to establish the children most in need of support. Creativity, design, and innovative systems can help to transform layered and ubiquitous information into directions to make a huge difference, and Elinor takes us through how this all works.This is a beautiful and awe-inspiring example of why creativity must take its rightful place in global education systems when we face myriad challenges to our way of life.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://www.unicef.org/innovation/Hosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4

HIGHLIGHTS of UNICEF Office of Innovation’s Elinor Samuelsson

This is the crunched edition of episode 231 for those with less time or patience for my prattling! The full-length episode is also out now.Elinor Samuelsson lets us inside the work of UNICEF's Office of Innovation, which uses imagination, innovation, invention, and play to create across complex global systems.Language barriers, cultural differences, lack of technology, missing ambition, and access to vital services are just a few of the challenges that form puzzle-like project briefs for Elinor and her team when they seek to establish the children most in need of support. Creativity, design, and innovative systems can help to transform layered and ubiquitous information into directions to make a huge difference, and Elinor takes us through how this all works.This is a beautiful and awe-inspiring example of why creativity must take its rightful place in global education systems when we face myriad challenges to our way of life.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://www.unicef.org/innovation/Hosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4

Ep 231: UNICEF Office of Innovation’s Elinor Samuelsson on the role of creativity, imagination, strategy, empathy, and design in helping the world’s m...

(The highlights of this episode are also out now, for those with less time or patience to listen to my waffling!)Elinor Samuelsson lets us inside the work of UNICEF's Office of Innovation, which uses imagination, innovation, invention, and play to create across complex global systems.Language barriers, cultural differences, lack of technology, missing ambition, and access to vital services are just a few of the challenges that form puzzle-like project briefs for Elinor and her team when they seek to establish the children most in need of support. Creativity, design, and innovative systems can help to transform layered and ubiquitous information into directions to make a huge difference, and Elinor takes us through how this all works.This is a beautiful and awe-inspiring example of why creativity must take its rightful place in global education systems when we face myriad challenges to our way of life.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://www.unicef.org/innovation/Hosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4

Ep 230: Invisible Hands - trusting instinct and flow when logic says no

'Invisible Hands' was a term American writer and professor Joseph Campbell used to describe the sense of flow in the right direction when creating purely, when following our bliss.I've become fascinated by it, and explore the idea in this episode. Logic is often king in our frightened brains, but when we commit to what instinct and the wellspring of our being suggest is right for us, and create accordingly, it's amazing how doors open, and people who can help us emerge in our lives.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://mkgeeknight.co.uk/Hosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/https://baycroftpublishing.wixsite.com/baycrofthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s28rwnz18j4

AI TERMS EMERGENCY

Seemingly overnight, Meta, Adobe, and Squarespace, among others, have issued robust terms to users that would see creative industry professionals surrender their work to train Artificial Intelligence models.This is a ramble from a confused illustrator who would rather not hit the big red button on Instagram, and would rather not have to quit Photoshop for the last time. But what does it mean to accept such an invasion of privacy, and how do we all feel?It's a worrying precedent and a corporate play that suggests the tightening of the net in late-stage capitalism.Here are some thoughts that might move the discussion forward between designers, artists, illustrators, photographers and many more visual communicators.Sponsored as ever by https://illustrationx.com who have a superb new quarterly illustration trends report here: https://www.illustrationx.com/uk/news/5992/trendx_-_april_2024and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.uahttps://hbr.org/2023/04/generative-ai-has-an-intellectual-property-problemhttps://www.creativeboom.com/resources/everyones-talking-about-cara-but-is-it-any-good/The AI Artist Audit: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-194-the-artist-ai-audit-art-automation-is-here/id1038442077?i=1000618735470Hosted by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com/shop for The Creative Condition bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-tallon-a822a725/