The Creative Condition podcast

You can also enjoy the shorter highlights episode now. History has rarely been kind to the working class. Nor has the arts. Too often, those of us who make it into the creative industry and sustain careers do so despite our background and the class ceiling, not because of it. Professor Carl Chinn grew up in working-class Birmingham, surrounded by family, hearing stories that would prove his inspir...

Here are the takeaway creativity tips from London branding agency Ragged Edge founder Max Ottignon live in conversation at D&AD New Blood Festival. Both the highlights and the full episode with Max are available now! Ragged Edge founder Max Ottignon voices his concern over the trappings of algorithms, and the flattening of creativity and culture as we chase engagement and online attention. But...

The highlights of episode 238 are also available for those with less time! Ragged Edge founder Max Ottignon voices his concern over the trappings of algorithms, and the flattening of creativity and culture as we chase engagement and online attention. But he also highlights the huge opportunity to stand out in the sea of same with brave acts of creativity. With soul, personality, love of craft, and...

You can also hear the full-length episode 238 now! Ragged Edge founder Max Ottignon voices his concern over the trappings of algorithms, and the flattening of creativity and culture as we chase engagement and online attention. But he also highlights the huge opportunity to stand out in the sea of same with brave acts of creativity. With soul, personality, love of craft, and putting ideas above aes...

Here are this week's takeaway learnings about creativity from chemical engineer and author of Power Up! Yasmin Ali. The full-length edit and highlights edition of this show are also out now! From the moment our eyes open we rely on energy. The breakfast we eat, the clothes we dress in, and the machines that connect us all need incredibly complex global systems to function efficiently. Chemical eng...

The full-length edit of this show is also out now! From the moment our eyes open we rely on energy. The breakfast we eat, the clothes we dress in, and the machines that connect us all need incredibly complex global systems to function efficiently. Chemical engineer Yasmin Ali works in the heart of those systems. She now works in the renewable energy sector, and her recent book, Power Up: An Engine...

From the moment our eyes open we rely on energy. The breakfast we eat, the clothes we dress in, and the machines that connect us all need incredibly complex global systems to function efficiently. Chemical engineer Yasmin Ali works in the heart of those systems. She now works in the renewable energy sector, and her recent book, Power Up: An Engineer's Adventures in Sustainable Energy is a mind-blo...

Here are five things we learned about creativity from Stephen Bliss. Stephen Bliss returns to discuss his creativity and his artistic endeavours since moving on from his iconic role as lead artist at Rockstar Games, including Fear City, and 'Thumper' his new comic by Scout Comics. We first talked a few years ago when Stephen was in the midst of his superb 'I, Frankenstein' series of artworks. (htt...

Stephen Bliss returns to discuss his creativity and his artistic endeavours since moving on from his iconic role as lead artist at Rockstar Games, including Fear City, and 'Thumper' his new comic by Scout Comics. We first talked a few years ago when Stephen was in the midst of his superb 'I, Frankenstein' series of artworks. (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-70-stephen-bliss-on-his-iconic-...

The full-length episode is out now! Stephen Bliss returns to discuss his creativity and his artistic endeavours since moving on from his iconic role as lead artist at Rockstar Games, including Fear City, and 'Thumper' his new comic by Scout Comics. We first talked a few years ago when Stephen was in the midst of his superb 'I, Frankenstein' series of artworks. (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcas...

(The full-length chat can be heard on episode 70 of 'The Creative Condition'.) Illustrator and artist Stephen Bliss moved to America to take on a job with Rockstar Games. Nobody could have envisioned the explosion of controversy that was the Grand Theft Auto video game series.   I met Stephen in Brooklyn to talk about his journey pre-Rockstar, how it felt to be the man behind the cult video game a...

What we learned from Alex Paske, who is a judoka. The full and highlights episodes are out now!  Alex fights at the highest level against people who might want to hurt him. He must respond in real-time, seeking the flow state and forward motion. If he listens to the voices in his head, positive or negative, it could be over for him in a flash. We sit down to discuss how 10,000 hours of the craft m...

The full conversation can be heard on episode 152 of 'The Creative Condition' podcast. When Ben Ryan, one of the most innovative coaches in world sport left his position as England rugby 7s coach, he was all set to take a comfortable role at a sports consultancy company. Then he saw a tweet advertising a vacancy for the national Fiji rugby 7s job. With twenty minutes to accept or decline the role,...

Alex Paske is a judoka. He fights at the highest level against people who might want to hurt him. He must respond in real-time, seeking the flow state and forward motion. If he listens to the voices in his head, positive or negative, it could be over for him in a flash. We sit down to discuss how 10,000 hours of the craft must be put in to stand a chance of entering the optimal performance zone an...

The full episode is also out now if you have more time to indulge! Alex Paske is a judoka. He fights at the highest level against people who might want to hurt him. He must respond in real-time, seeking the flow state and forward motion. If he listens to the voices in his head, positive or negative, it could be over for him in a flash. We sit down to discuss how 10,000 hours of the craft must be p...

What we learned about creativity from episode 234 with digital and social media trainer Andrew Miles Davis. The full and highlights episodes are out now! Andrew Miles Davis is a digital dinosaur - he was here, learning, seeing, mastering the social media game before most of us had even heard the cough and screech of a dial-up connection attempt. But he's not extinct, far from it. He's an expert an...

Andrew Miles Davis is a digital dinosaur - he was here, learning, seeing, mastering the social media game before most of us had even heard the cough and screech of a dial-up connection attempt. But he's not extinct, far from it. He's an expert and trains the world's leading businesses to stay current in an ever-changing arena. Now he joins a floundering illustrator and author to paint us a picture...

The full-length version of episode 234 is available now for those with more time to listen! Andrew Miles Davis is a digital dinosaur - he was here, learning, seeing, and mastering the social media game before most of us had even heard the cough and screech of a dial-up connection attempt. But he's not extinct, far from it. He's an expert and trains the world's leading businesses to stay current in...

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 quarter...

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:...

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 innovate Considered candour saves everyone time and frees up creativity Helping the human in front of you sets the foundations for great work If someone works hard and is good at what they do, get out of the way The full episode 232 in...

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 r...

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 ri...

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 ourselves Studying and observing our feelings enables us to own them for a happier life Enabling true creativity requires great organisation and preparation Language can cast spells...

(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 j...