The Creative Mindset

A campaign worth numerous advertising awards doesn’t necessarily mean your community of customers will like the idea. On this week’s episode, we welcome Ginny Golden, the Executive Creative Director at YETI, to hear about YETI’s rapid revenue growth and the importance of staying true to the brand’s authenticity. Ginny shares her experience transitioning from agency-side to in-house at YETI, insigh...

Rei answers questions about hiring in the creative industry with guest Roy Husada. This AMA segment dives into challenges that small studios face when competing with big agencies and tech companies for talent, the importance of codifying a company’s operational principles, and practical tips such as the strategic use of in-house recruiters who understand the company’s DNA. Roy Husada comes on our...

Is the decline of elitism of creativity inevitable? as read by Simon Osmont . The Intersection is Rei’s weekly newsletter that explores what the future holds at the intersection of creativity and technology. Subscribe to The Intersection to receive his latest editions directly in your inbox. Episode References: The Cult of Productivity | Article Rei Inamoto | Instagram Rei Inamoto | X I&CO | C...

Offending someone by not taking the time to understand their culture can be unintentional but impactful. Rei dives deeper into the critical imperatives of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices with Darren Wesley Martin Jr. and Dr. Rubina Malik from Bold Culture. Together, they talk about detailed lessons gleaned from a firsthand collaboration between I&CO and Bold Culture, shedding...

Understanding DEIB requires recognizing subtle nuances beyond the surface, including socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds not immediately visible to the human eye. On this week’s episode, we welcome Darren Wesley Martin Jr. and Dr. Rubina Malik from Bold Culture to hear about the intricate relationship between the visibility of diversity, tangible actions for equitable workplaces, and the cultur...

Uncharted territories are intimidating, but being the first to step out and take risks could help your brand set yourself apart.  On this week’s episode, we welcome back Greg Hoffman, former CMO of Nike, to hear about the role of risk-taking in fostering Nike’s pioneering brand ethos and how companies and brands can take risks while staying authentic and true to company values. Drawing inspir...

Innovation doesn’t spring up by chance but at intersections of different factors such as cultures, disciplines, and points of view. On this week’s episode, we welcome Greg Hoffman, former CMO of Nike, to hear how he made his way up from design intern at Nike, Nike’s most iconic campaigns across his 27-year career, and links between creativity and leadership. Beyond a professional narrative, Greg a...

Rei shares his views on what the future holds for design agencies amid the rapid ascent of AI. He explores the essential mindsets designers should adopt in their collaboration with AI, draws on concrete examples illustrating the gradual integration of technology over time, and uncovers the potential for AI to serve as a catalyst for elevating creative output.  Kaz Tamai comes on our show with...

Four steps for building our personal brands as designers, as read by Simon Osmont . The Intersection is Rei’s weekly newsletter that explores what the future holds at the intersection of creativity and technology.  Episode References: Branding You | Article Rei Inamoto | Instagram Rei Inamoto | X I&CO | Corporate Site See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

It’s better to be a good editor than a good writer or designer with the flourishing of AI, according to Pum Lefebure. On this week’s episode, we welcome back Pum, co-founder and chief creative officer of Design Army, to delve into the value of creativity across different levels, the importance of staying true to one’s creative identity amidst changing trends, and how developing a positive mindset...

As various industries explore the potential of AI, the value of actual photo shoots and the human touch are not going down any time soon. On this week’s episode, we welcome back Pum Lefebure, co-founder and chief creative officer of Design Army, to hear about the significance of one’s point of view in using AI, insights on why she prefers Midjourney V4 over newer versions, and scenarios where she...

What is it like for a professional designer to use AI for client work, and how can you find the right balance between AI and humans to enhance output? On this week’s episode, we welcome Pum Lefebure, co-founder and chief creative officer of Design Army, to hear about how she built a full-fledged campaign using Midjourney. From specific processes to the nuanced balance between AI and human touch, s...

When creativity works, business impact and returns outsize anything derived from efficiency, according to Tara Tan. On this week’s episode, we welcome back Tara Tan, Founder and Managing Partner at Strange Ventures, to hear about her investment experience at IDEO Ventures, qualities that she looks for in company founders as a designer-turned-capitalist, and specific examples of design helping comp...

Creatives and capitalists generally don’t mix well in the sense that creatives would spend as much time and money making things, while capitalists prefer to monetize as efficiently as possible. This may be an overgeneralization, but what if this tension between the dichotomy was actually a good thing? On this week’s episode, we welcome Tara Tan, Founder and Managing Partner at Strange Ventures, to...

Rei answers questions on how AI tools, WEB3, and new technologies may affect our professions. Referring to the emergence of photography as another significant moment for the relationship between technology and humans, Rei talks about how technology is an opportunity for new forms of expression. Liya Safina comes on our show with questions as a digital product designer based in Hawaii, and Head of...

Rei answers questions about personal branding. He shares his observations on the impacts of technology on personal branding, the importance of finding the perfect medium for yourself, and advice on measuring personal performance. Reflecting on years of building and writing, which led to a pivotal publication, Rei also talks about how quality, consistency, and patience are key in creating a persona...

Debating in the workplace can be challenging - even personal at times - but a degree of friction is important for creativity to flourish, according to Joel Podolny. On this week’s episode, we welcome back Joel Podolny, the CEO and co-founder of Honor Education, to hear about specific episodes and lessons that he’s learned from his experience at Apple, the defining line between debate and argument,...

A creative edge is critical for companies and individuals to remain competent and innovative. But what exactly do environments fostering creativity look like, and how should they be designed? On this week’s episode, we welcome Joel Podolny, the CEO and co-founder of Honor Education, to share his insights gained from teaching at business school and Apple University throughout his career. He shares...

Rei answers questions on how to lead groups of people that have different living experiences and cultural backgrounds. He specifies the role that creative leaders play, and shares the importance of finding commonalities while embracing differences between one another in the workplace. As a more general piece of advice at any career stage, Rei then closes the episode with some key traits that one s...

For our first installment of “Ask Me Anything (AMA)”, Rei answers questions on what he believes to be the most important when stepping up to becoming chief creative officer at an agency. He shares past mistakes, what he’s learned from these experiences, and detailed steps that he’s taken to become a better leader.  Carren O’Keefe comes on our show with questions as she makes her transition to...

Creatives are often seen as the crazy ones, and creativity as a nice-to-have in the context of business. But that’s not going to be enough for businesses and individuals in an age where creativity may be the only job left for humankind. On this week’s episode, we welcome back David Lee, Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, to hear about the importance of creativity at the adult’s table, effectiv...

The world around us keeps changing, and that’s unlikely to slow down any time soon. What does it take to remain relevant in a deindustrialized world increasingly automated age of AI and machines? On this week’s episode, we welcome David Lee, Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, to hear his journey from designer to leader at one of the most successful tech companies in the US, his thoughts on why...

AI won’t replace you, but humans using AI will, according to PJ Pereira. On this week’s episode, we welcome back PJ, this time as the marketing & advertising creative director PJ Pereira, to hear his perspectives on the good and bad news in a world with AI, what production companies need to be doing to remain relevant, and how the understanding of computing gave him a competitive edge in his c...

What happens if you used ChatGPT to produce books, and are writers an obsolete job now with the rise of Generative AI? On this week’s episode, we welcome PJ Caldas, founder and creative chairman at Pereira and O’Dell, and best-selling author, to hear about his experiences using AI to produce his latest book, “The Girl from Wudang”. He shares the specifics of where he split the work with AI, his th...

It’s a given that respect is important in any form of communication, but brands often struggle to keep this in mind when communicating with their audience. On this week’s episode, we welcome back John C Jay, the Creative Chairman at Uniqlo, to take a deep dive into the specifics of his work in Tokyo, his experience working with Japanese CEOs during the transformative era of the 1980s, and how his...