Object Subject Form

“If you're in the business of visuals, you're cultivating desire. You're cultivating what people look to. And that is cultural governance.” — Pumla Maswanganyi Pumla Maswanganyi is the primary author of African Life-Centric Design (ALCD), a framework that integrates design with contextual intelligence and the perspectives most often missing from the work. Pumla's portfolio includes collaborations...

“Value shifts from things that are in abundance to things that have more scarcity.”  In this live Object Subject Form session, Simon Clowes is joined by PJ Richardson for a follow-up conversation to Simon’s Safe Space LA talk, “Motion Designers Are Cooked.” The original talk opened up a discussion around the emotional reality of working in motion design and creative industries being reshaped in re...

“Art is human and therefore art is imperfect.” — Ilan Derech As creatives, our world keeps pushing toward perfection. Ilan Derech makes a case for the opposite. In this episode of Object Subject Form, the Mexico-born, Tokyo-based visual artist discusses how images, imperfection, and new technology influenced both his work and his life. With roots in motion design, 3D, and generative coding, Derech...

“I spent years trained to look for what can go wrong. Crypto helped me imagine what could go right.”— Sergio Silva When the internet becomes a place you can own things, it changes how you see money, culture, and your own agency. In this episode of Object Subject Form, Sergio Silva joins Simon to explore the move from legacy finance to digital ownership, and what changes mentally when money becomes...

“My music is my freedom. It’s my currency. It’s who I am.” — Violetta Zironi   In the streaming era, the economics of music can feel impossible to reconcile with the dream artists are sold.  Early success can open doors, but it can also subtly close off parts of you. In 2013, singer-songwriter Violetta Zironi reached the final of X Factor Italy and stepped into the traditional music machine: visib...

“Stepping out of your old identity will feel scary. But choosing who you want to be is the bravest risk you can take.” — Marko Pfann  Playing it safe can feel logical in an unpredictable market, but in this current creative landscape, safe work is quietly making creatives replaceable. It keeps your work familiar, your opportunities limited, and your identity tied to who you were instead of who you...

“Worldbuilding is how humans make sense of the world. It’s how we learn to play.” — Chris Eyerman Worldbuilding is how imagination permeates and becomes culture. It’s the practice of creating meaning people can experience and belong to. In this episode of Object Subject Form, Simon speaks with Chris Eyerman, creative director, worldbuilder, and business architect shaping the future of storytelling...

“There’s a difference between being humble and minimizing yourself.” — Mahaneela A fulfilling career is built from who you are, not just what you make. In this episode of Object Subject Form, filmmaker, artist, and creative director Mahaneela joins Simon for a conversation about architecting your own career, bridging identity and community, and learning to separate who you are from what you make....

“Privacy is sovereignty. It’s about choosing what’s mine to share.” — Digitalgal In a hyper-public internet, visibility has become currency. We’re taught that more platforms, more posts, and more personal detail equate to more opportunity. “Building in public” became the expectation and mantra for creators and founders, particularly in Web3. Visibility was everything. Share more, show more, and su...

“You have the first right to be wrong.” — Chris Do As CEO and Executive Creative Director of Blind, Chris has contributed to the motion design industry through decades of award-winning inspiring work. He is the founder of The Futur, an education platform helping millions of creative professionals learn the business skills they were never taught in school. Chris has spoken at global conferences and...

“There was no perfect moment to be ready. I just had to try things and figure out who I was through doing.” — Gryun Kim What does it really take to build a creative voice when tools can imitate style at the push of a button? As AI-powered software is changing how we think about the creative process, many artists are facing a new kind of identity crisis. In this episode of Object Subject Form, we e...

Bitcoin has dominated headlines, sparked political debates, and divided opinions. Through all the noise, one fact remains: it’s been one of the best-performing asset classes of the past decade—but for many, the real significance of this technology is still just starting to sink in. In this episode of Object Subject Form, Simon sits down with Valko, friend, fellow CryptoPunk, and newly appointed Ch...

As creative industries continue to evolve, the ways we approach leadership, identity, mentorship, and growth are being reexamined and reimagined. How do creative leaders adapt to an increasingly complex world? What does it mean to nurture human-centered creativity while navigating rapid technological change? In this special episode of Object Subject Form, host Simon Clowes steps into the guest sea...

What if the most meaningful creative work begins not with what we make, but with how we connect? In this episode of Object Subject Form, recorded live in Mérida, Yucatán, Simon sits down with Héctor Ayuso — founder of OFFF and Paradiso — to explore the deeper layers of what it means to gather with intention, and be fully immersed in creative expression. Héctor reflects on his journey from growing...

How can digital art cement its place in contemporary culture? Can NFTs and blockchain technology continue to bridge the gap between artists and major institutions? As dialogue around digital art continues to evolve, questions of legitimacy, value, and long-term impact remain central to the conversation. In this episode of Object Subject Form, we examine how digital art is gaining recognition in ma...

How do we ensure AI enhances creativity rather than diminishes it? Can designers integrate AI into their workflows without losing the essence of human-driven craft? As AI continues to reshape creative industries, designers face a critical choice—resist, or adapt and find a way to collaborate. This episode of Object Subject Form explores the evolving relationship between human creativity and machin...

In 2005, Kyle and Kimber Cooper invited me to relocate from London to Los Angeles for my dream job at their company, Prologue. At the time, Prologue was in its infancy—a small but exceptionally talented team landing opportunities alongside some of the most established companies in the industry. This marked the beginning of a journey that would shape the next decade of my life. My time there was no...

"You have to have time for yourself—time for reflection, time for growth, both personally and spiritually…but for few years all of that went out the window; it was just work, building, career, and success.” — Paul Mitchell What happens when the pursuit of creative excellence starts to conflict with the responsibilities of family life? How do we measure the true cost of our ambitions when they exte...

“Learn how to create a revenue avenue for yourself through solo entrepreneurship, using the tools and platforms that are around you that allow you to do things on your own without relying on an employer. There are going to be some major changes in the next few years; the earlier you learn how to create ways to survive, the better.” — Margot Rodde User-generated content (UGC) is redefining the gami...

“For me, ownership is not being canceled because of my subject material. It’s about me owning the interaction with those who have chosen to consume that content. We’ve made a conscious decision to do that together, and typically that happens through blockchain.” — Benjamin White In a digital landscape where creators are constantly competing for attention, how can Web3 technology truly democratize...

“As a creative, you may be brilliant at music, art, or design, but don’t let yourself be taken advantage of by others who exploit that talent. Have great people in your circle of friends and among your partners who are aligned with your success.” — Kneeland Youngblood Kneeland Youngblood is the founding partner, chairman, and CEO of Pharos Capital Group. Under his leadership, the firm manages over...

“Instead of judging others, what if we actually get curious about them? Specifically with neurodivergence, embracing who we truly are can help us feel well within our minds and bodies. We can learn so much about different ways of being and what it takes to think beyond just our own way of seeing, hearing, feeling, and touching.” — Monika Bielskyte In this episode, Monika Bielskyte shares her uniqu...

“One of the hardest things about being a creative is you have to do so much work, with the idea that no one will care.” — Jeffrey Paradise. Jeffrey Paradise is a producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from the band Poolside. From a humble beginning in a Los Angeles pool house, Jeffrey's musical journey led to the creation of Poolside’s signature "Daytime Disco" sound. With its relaxed, br...

"One of the most challenging things we deal with is the feeling that it doesn't actually matter how good the work is. As a minority, this is the most defeated we feel. I'm sure our competitors have felt similar feelings as creative professionals, but when you are a minority, it hits differently, and I think it's important to try to understand those differences." — Kenny Gravillis. Kenny Gravillis...

"[On digital asset ownership,] even if all this does for the next two or three years is make us question what it means to own our assets, I’m fine with it." — Michaela "Mika" Lallouz. Exponential technologies are connecting us in new, unprecedented ways, reshaping how we create, share, and interact with each other. Michaela "Mika" Lallouz is a creator with a humanitarian spirit whose mission is to...