Hey everyone, it's Katie, and welcome to The Spark, your new Thursday boost from the Creative Boom podcast.Just when you thought you couldn't get enough of us, this is your creative pick-me-up as we approach the end of the working week.
If you tuned in to our episode this week, then you'll know our guest was Kwame Taylor-Hayford, the new D&AD president and the co-founder of Kin.We covered so much.The conversation just flowed.Kwame had this calm, intelligent presence.
He was always smiling.I could really see the impact of his upbringing, living in so many different parts of the world and experiencing all these different cultures. Because it's true what they say.
Travel like that brings out empathy and compassion for others like nothing else.That's my personal opinion.There's this eagerness to understand that you gain and get on with everyone.I love how he also said that he wasn't that interesting.
It kind of made me laugh because that's something I've always said about myself.It's the journalist in me.I learned from a very young age that
It's the stories other people have that are way more interesting than waiting for the opportunity to talk about myself.But anyway, it's not about being self-deprecating when we say that.It's far from it.
Kwame, and I suppose me, we simply understand that one of the most powerful truths in life is being genuinely interested in other people.Because you can truly grow as a person if you do.
You can build great connections and you can enjoy a successful life and career as a result.It's these soft skills that we both agreed everybody should have or work on.I mean, I'm always working on them.
It's not something easy that can be learned overnight.It's life experience that happens along the way.It'll ensure that happens and you build confidence.You get better at it.
You practice and you practice and you put yourself in uncomfortable situations and eventually you can talk to anyone.
So then with that in mind, it's no surprise, and given his successful career as well, that Kwame was chosen to be D&AD's president this next year, as its mission is to build on its global network and reach, something it's been focusing on for quite some time now, but actually the focus now seems to be accelerating.
We chat about D&AD a lot, actually, how it inspired him and the great work that it's doing, its mission to empower the next generation of creatives.
And Kwame tells us there's also a need to support mid-career professionals, that middle bit that often gets overlooked.And it's another thing he's super passionate about focusing on in 2025.
We also discussed the shift in employee power within the industry, the impact of AI and the role of creativity in shaping the future.Interestingly, Kwame also spoke of some of his personal life.
I mean, he didn't get completely personal, but we got a sense of what he's chewing on right now and what's important to him and what he hopes for the future. Honestly, it's a brilliant episode thanks to Kwame.Give it a listen if you haven't already.
I was so inspired and motivated that I immediately wrote a life plan for the next 10 years.Chatted enthusiastically in the kitchen with my husband that night.I felt like we were going through very similar things.
Maybe it's something that you're going through too.Maybe it's a turning 40 and the this generation that we're in, or maybe it's just a sign of the times, who knows?Whatever you do, make sure you give it a listen and let me know what you think.
Now onto this week's creative news, and we start with an update from the Design Museum in London.Tim Burton's world-famous exhibition has just opened its doors and it's already smashing records.
With over 32,000 advance tickets sold, it's officially the biggest presale in the museum's 35-year history.Tim Burton mania is definitely in full swing. Exciting news for the UK's creative scene.
We Made That has just unveiled a bold £1.7 billion road map to boost the creative industries across the Thames estuary.The idea is to create jobs and drive sustainable growth in the region's fashion and screen sectors.
Key projects include a fashion upcycling hub in Tower Hamlets, a creative campus for screen and digital industries in Basildon, and a mixed media centre in Margate.
It's not just about growth, there's a strong focus on sustainability, diversity, and making the region a global leader in ethical fashion and screen production. Now, do you remember the banana duct taped to a wall that sold for $120,000?
Well, it's back, and this time with an estimated price tag of up to $1.5 million.And I'm not even kidding.Yep, Maurizio Catalan's infamous conceptual artwork, Comedian, is going up for auction at Sotheby's on November 20th.
Now, before you ask, no, you're not going to get the original banana or duct tape.The new owner will receive a fresh roll of tape, a new banana, and a certificate of authenticity, plus instructions for recreating the masterpiece.
After all, as a conceptual piece, the materials are replaced with every installation. Before hitting the auction block though, the piece is set to embark on a world tour with stops in cities like London, Paris, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Will it hit that million dollar mark?Who knows?We'll just have to wait and see. It's time for the spotlight, where we highlight an inspiring story from Creative Boom this week.
And we're talking about a surprising winner at the D&AD Awards, Raw Materials, the newly crowned design studio of the year. So why is Raw Materials Wind so unusual?
Well, for starters, this American agency was also founded very recently, making their rapid rise a pretty remarkable feat.Plus, the agency embraces being unusual as part of its core identity.
Just take a look at their homepage tagline, an unusual design company. From the beginning, Raw Materials set out to tackle the problem of sameness in digital design.
As their CEO John Rocha explains, many digital products have been repetitive and uninspired.The team wanted to break the mold, approaching each project with the belief that when everything is the same, being different becomes a huge opportunity.
Their bold approach has already led to collaborations with big names like Meta, Peacock, JPMorgan Chase and 7-Eleven, with each project reflecting their philosophy of embracing difference to solve problems in new ways.
For more details, check out the full article on Creative Boom. And now it's time for our Book of the Week, where we highlight a must-read for creatives.
This week, we're celebrating a design milestone, as we look forward to the release of 1000 Marks, published by Thames & Hudson to mark Pentagram's 50th anniversary.
The book, which hits the shelves on the 25th of November, is a visual feast, featuring a collection of 1000 symbols and logotypes designed by Pentagram partners over the last five decades.We all know Pentagram.
They're very famous for creating iconic brand identities, shaping the visual language for clients across industries and continents.
The marks featured in this book represent the studio's diverse identity work for everyone from multinationals and startups to government agencies, non-profits, social enterprises, and even entire countries.
For half a century, pentagram symbols have become part of our cultural landscape, embedding themselves in our collective consciousness and embodying the brands we encounter every single day.
Whether you're a designer, a brand enthusiast, or someone who simply appreciates the power of a well-crafted mark, 1000 Marks offers an inspiring glimpse into the history and evolution of one of the world's most influential design firms.
You'll find a link in the show notes so you can grab your copy then. For our tip of the week, we look at a powerful piece on creative boom about the importance of self-belief and why quiet confidence is essential for creative professionals.
Because let's face it, the creative industry can be tough.We're constantly juggling self-doubt, feeling like an imposter and the pressure to impress.But as the article points out, embracing quiet confidence can be a game changer.
It's not about shouting the loudest or being the most outgoing person in the room. Instead, it's about believing in your own abilities, knowing your worth, and letting that self-assurance guide your actions.
Quiet Confidence allows you to stay grounded, focus on the work itself, and make bold decisions without feeling the need to constantly seek approval.
It helps you build resilience, recover from setbacks, and push boundaries, all while staying true to who you are.So this week's tip is simple.Cultivate that inner belief.
Cultivate it because you can then embrace the power of your quiet confidence and let it fuel your creative ambitions.You don't need to be the loudest voice to make the strongest impact, trust me.For more tips, head over to Creative Boom.
Now it's time for Letters to the Editor, where we share your thoughts and reactions to this week's podcast episode with Kwame Taylor-Hayford, co-founder of Kin and the new D&AD president, but also on anything else that sparked your interest.
Adrian Van Kooten, Head of Design at Vemi Money, got in touch regarding the recent news we shared on the latest IPA Bellwether report, which revealed that UK companies have put a hold on increasing their marketing spend due to uncertainty surrounding the upcoming budget here in the UK.
He wrote quite passionately, I really think we need a goal, a vision, a north star for the UK.People build businesses to solve problems and ultimately improve society.We need to get that back.
And this means supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs and risk takers.Otherwise, what are we doing?Just surviving.No thanks.I demand better for us. He writes, I fear people are just going to start leaving the country.
There's a serious chance that there will be a brain drain in the UK, and that would be heartbreaking.The creative industries is one of our best exports.
Jay Thomas, meanwhile, from Stafford, who has just begun work as an in-house graphic designer, thanked us for our conversation with Kwame this week.
He said he didn't really get D&AD before, thinking it wasn't accessible for someone like him, but he now sees it in a more positive light. I didn't know about New Blood or the work it's doing to support the next generation," he wrote.
I also immediately looked at the annual showcase online after listening to the episode and was hugely inspired by all the work and talent on display.Thank you Kwame and thank you Creative Boom.Thank you Jay and thank you Adrian.
Have you got something to say or a question for the podcast?Send us an email at letters at creativeboom.com.
On Monday, our guest will be creative consultant Holly Howard, who discusses her recent course, Beyond the Feed, and the evolving landscape of marketing for creatives.
It will be a welcome conversation for anyone completely sick to death of chasing likes and not getting the same engagement we once enjoyed.And you'll learn a ton of new stuff.
It'll just give you a really nice reboot if Instagram hasn't been cutting it lately, or you've been wincing at the thought of doing video.Hey, I've got news for you.You don't have to.There is another way.And we reveal all with Holly on Monday.
It's an inspiring conversation you will not want to miss.So tune in next week. That's it for this week's episode of The Spark.I hope you're feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever comes next.
Don't forget to check out Creative Boom for more stories and features including everything we mentioned today.You'll find all the links in the show notes.Thank you for tuning in and we'll see you on Monday.
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