The third installment of Chicago CreativeMornings took place at Digital Kitchen, who call themselves “thinker-makers” focused on creating “disruptive communication strategies and assets designed for this era.” Keeping “this era” in mind, Executive Creative Directors Camm Rowland and Anthony Vitagliano shared their takes about branding, which is getting more immersive, and the evolution of digital tools for designing, producing, and distributing information. One particular theme was being in a workspace that provokes “blank-page ideation,” as Rowland and Vitagliano put it. Here were some grounded bits echoing thoughts shared at previous Chicago CreativeMornings:
A reminder worth treating as a refrain. There are no shortcuts to making something—and that includes unfolding the process that the act of working requires. What shines through with Swissmiss Tina Roth Eisenberg (speaker kickstarting the debut Chicago CreativeMornings) Jim Coudal of Coudal Partners, (guest speaker at the debut Chicago CreativeMornings), and Jason Fried of 37signals, (guest speaker at the second Chicago CreativeMornings): nothing succeeds like #DoTheWork.
What this underscores is versatility. Channel what you love learning-and-doing and find out if it can benefit another discipline, subject matter, or challenge. Jim Coudal singled out curiosity as the most fundamental skill. And it’s evident in Coudal Partners’ efforts that creativity can be demonstrated in a lot of diverse ways: from making ads and products, such as Field Notes, to making contests, such as Layer Tennis. Never let your discipline keep you at bay.
Without a getting-along and play-together factor, a work environment will eat itself. Coudal and Fried both expressed the importance of a work culture that truly works, in more ways than one.
Inherent in the name of Digital Kitchen: keep cooking.
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“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook—try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”
— Chef, Author and Television Personality Julia Child
— Chef, Author and Television Personality Julia Child
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Big thanks: to organizer Mig Reyes, videographer Craig Shimala, photographers Chris Gallevo and Rosario Edwards, and Admin of Awesome Victoria Pater for their great work on making CreativeMornings, Chicago, happen.
Especially big thanks: to Tina Roth Eisenberg—Swissmiss—for inventing CreativeMornings in 2008. The fifth chapter was launched in Chicago, June 2011—my write-up and photos..
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Especially big thanks: to Tina Roth Eisenberg—Swissmiss—for inventing CreativeMornings in 2008. The fifth chapter was launched in Chicago, June 2011—my write-up and photos.
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My coverage: view more photos of 3rd CreativeMornings in Chicago; read more write-ups about Chicago CreativeMornings.
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Typeface of quotes is Massive designed by Shawn Hazen, who also makes awesome typographic illustrations for series Creative Roles.
2011 was Chicago CreativeMornings’ debut year. Download the entire collection of selected insights.
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