By Alex Normanton
The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.
In conversation with Laser 3.14, a street artist and visual poet, based in Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to shift from a surviving to a thriving mentality, and how his background and personal story have influenced the way he thinks, expresses himself and informs his passion for life.
Creating poetry on the street for over 15 years, Laser 3.14’s name is inseparable from any conversation about Amsterdam and urban art. As the city’s most prolific street artist, he shares his distinctive work of visual poetry both outside amongst the canals of Amsterdam and in many of the city's prestigious galleries. Laser 3.14 is celebrated globally for his bold statements about politics, popular culture & everyday life.
Laser 3.14 has been exhibited in Den Haag Museum, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, is part of the Amsterdam Historic Museum permanent collection, and was awarded the PAX Peace Prize for his work towards raising issues of global stability. In addition, he's collaborated with fashion and lifestyle brands including Denham, Nike, Lane Crawford and Tommy Hilfiger.
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
Founded, Created and Hosted by Alex Normanton.
Music by Keelan Doyle.
Don't forget to like, follow, share & subscribe.
Follow us on Instagram @d__o__p__a
www.thedopa.com
In conversation with Jason Kempen, Creative Director at Qindle, Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to navigate from sensitivity to sensibility and how to help people become more pragmatic in their creative ideology and approach.
Jason is an experienced Creative Director working in the fields of brand identity, packaging design and art direction. Originally from Cape Town and now living in Amsterdam, he enjoys working intuitively and pragmatically with both global and local clients. Roles at a combination of large network agencies as well as independent studios led him to his current position as Creative Director at Qindle, where Jason and his team design at the intersection of technology, health and food innovation.
From agile FMCG start-ups to international tech giants, his passion is growing brands through original, meaningful and strategic brand design. In his spare time, Jason is a pop-culture addict and avid book-collector with a passion for travel and cooking.
Mentions: Dixon Baxi, Sense and Sensibility, Mr. Darcy
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
In conversation with Katrina Encanto, an Executive Creative Director at 180 Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to shift from secrecy to openness and how to help people share more, be truly authentic, collaborative and more vulnerable with their ideas.
Amsterdam is the latest stop on a journey that has taken Katrina from Manila to Milan, Parma, Bangkok, and London. At 180, she works with a team of over 30 nationalities to offer a fresh perspective for brands all around the world. With this role comes the responsibility of nurturing creative talent, raising the craft of the work, and creating unexpected narratives that resonate with people. She has been a part of building some of the world’s most long-standing brands, such as ‘Dirt is Good’ for Persil / Omo, and also helped challenger brands stand out through a distinctive point of view, as she did with Sloggi. She has also raised awareness for the issues she cares about, such as gender equality with 'Redraw the Balance', which was shared and recreated all over the world. Her work has won accolades of all colours at D&AD, Cannes Lions, Clio, One Show, LIA, and Epica, amongst others. Through this all, she has worked alongside her partner EJ Galang. See their work at katandej.com.
Mentions: Daniel Pink, D&AD, Parasite, Graphis, Communication Arts, Pinterest
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
In conversation with Rod Ben Zeev, Facilitator at THNK School of Creative Leadership, Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to pivot from improvisation to storytelling and how to enable people to move away from a ‘fake it till you make it’ mentality.
Rod Ben Zeev has devoted his professional career to telling stories. He's written plays, screenplays, TV shows, performed stand-up comedy, founded a true storytelling night, and performed improvisational theatre all over the globe. He particularly connected with improv because of the spontaneity and the collective discovery. In order to do well you need to adhere to the basic rules: say "Yes And" to any idea, listen deeply, and connect with fellow players. If you can master these skills, you can develop mindsets that can help you be a better storyteller, innovator, and leader.
He designs and delivers innovation and leadership programs for THNK, The Haas School of Business at The University of California Berkeley, the NYPD Leadership Program at John Jay College and Stanford Media X. He has a B.A. in English Literature from Boston University and an M.A. in Cultural Analysis from the University of Amsterdam.
Mentions: Arthur Eron, Mezrab, Google Aristotle, Robert Wolfe, Marshall Gains, Language of the Senses (LOTS).
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
In conversation with Carren O'Keefe, Executive Creative Director at AnalogFolk, Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to navigate from ego to empathy and how to help people shift to a more down-to-earth operational model. Plus practical tools on how to recognise your own self-saboteur and how to stay humble and grounded.
Carren O’Keefe is the Executive Creative Director of AnalogFolk in Amsterdam, an independent global creative agency that uses digital to make the analog world better. Prior to relocating to AMS in 2020, Carren founded AF’s Portland, OR office and helped oversee creative across the US region. After decades of award-winning work for some of the world’s biggest brands, Carren’s passion and mission is to make this industry, and the world, better than the one she came into. In 2020, after AF received the honour of Campaign’s Global Digital Innovation Agency of the Year, she was a part of the council who created a new north star for the network - be an impactful agency of change for people, brands and society in pursuit of a better world. Her most recent work for Nike is a demonstration of this. The Nike Mind Sets series looks to destigmatize conversations around mental health and help people use movement to positively impact their mental well-being.
Mentions: University of Chicago, NBA, Positive Intelligence and Anthony Burrill.
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
In conversation with Liva Grinberga, Design Director at MediaMonks, Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to navigate from insecurity to empowerment and how to enable people to ‘smash it’ in their daily creative roles. A very informative and inspiring conversation packed full of practical tools, how to step back from 'pixel management' and how to champion people to be the best version of themselves. Plus a lot of infectious laughter.
As a Design Director, Liva works closely with an amazing global team of designers, focusing on delivering best-in-class work through open collaboration that inspires both the clients and the design community alike.
Mentions: Who's Your Momma (She Says), MediaMonks.
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
In conversation with Erik Kessels, Dutch artist, curator, communication designer and Creative Partner of KesselsKramer, Amsterdam.
Erik Kessels is a Dutch artist, curator and communication designer, with great interest in photography. Since 1996, he has been the Creative Partner of communications agency KesselsKramer in Amsterdam/London and has created campaigns for national and international clients such as Nike, Diesel, J&B Whisky, Oxfam, Vitra, Citizen M, I amsterdam and The Hans Brinker Budget Hotel. Kessels has won many international awards with his communication work. Kessels has published over 75 books of his 're-appropriated' images, has taught at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy (Amsterdam), Écal (Lausanne), Raffles (Milan) and at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture where he curated a celebration of amateurism. He has been called “a visual sorcerer” by Time Magazine and a “Modern Anthropologist” by Voque (Italia).
Mentions: DixonBaxi - The Design Process, Brian Eno Oblique Strategies, Ideo and 'The Art of Looking Sideways', Alan Fletcher.
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
In conversation with Alec Tear, independent Designer and Lettering Artist, based in Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to break-through those mental brick walls and how to use them to channel more solid ideas. "No-one is ever going to create the best design ever when they are stressed about creating the best design ever". The process of conquering the wall becomes addictive, and the process of design enables you with the desire and appetite to repeat the whole cycle again.
Alec Tear is an independent Designer and Lettering Artist with an extensive background in branding and packaging. Working in a wide range of graphic styles, he designs concept-driven typography for creative agencies and brands all over the world.
Mentions: Beverly (East riding of Yorkshire), Halifax (West Yorkshire), D&AD, JKR, University of Northumbria at Newcastle.
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
In conversation with Liam Houlihan, Creative Director of Bulletproof, Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to have a healthy perspective on anxiety and how to unlock the excitement phase within the creative process. The greatest ideas are not born out of stress and anxiety, they are born out of play and excitement. There is power in switching off, getting out into nature, blocking out your agenda and turning off notifications. When your mind is free from anxiety, ideas start to flourish.
Liam Houlihan, is the Creative Director of the Bulletproof Amsterdam studio. Since leaving University in the West Country, UK, Liam’s career has taken him from Bristol, London, New York and Amsterdam. As a creative Liam is drawn to clarity in idea and beauty in execution. Drawing from life to create relevant, fresh and disruptive design. Learning from craft to make the complicated appear simple. Working globally Liam has worked with some of the biggest companies on the planet to home-grown start-ups. Building brands to tell stories and have a rightful place in the hearts and minds of their consumers. Partnering with the likes of Coca-Cola, Heineken, Mondelez and Restaurant Brands International to name a few. Currently using all of his free time to explore and eat his way through the canals and side streets of his new city with pup in tow.
Mentions: Mitchell & Webb, Girls Aloud and Fat Boy Slim.
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
In conversation with Timo Kramp, Founder and Creative Director of Kindly Made, Amsterdam. In this episode, we discuss how to channel fear and include it as part of the creative process. A healthy dose of fear sprinkled into a project can help you to fully embrace the house of fun at the point of arrival. It also helps to produce better work (if your perspective on fear is healthy). A very interesting conversation from someone at the start of their career and who's smashing it in all things sustainable.
After working at various design and creative agencies in Amsterdam, Timo felt frustrated by the industry and decided to focus his career on projects that have meaning and purpose. Kindly Made is the first full-service branding agency (in the Netherlands) that exclusively partners with sustainable and plant-based start-ups and scale-ups. It helps create, shape, and future-proof various sustainable brands. After the continued growth and success of the studio, they are poised, ready, and willing to change the world and our planet. Something we should all be conscious of and making those important lifestyle changes.
Mentions: Cowspiracy
--
DOPA (The Department of Pro-Activeness)
The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.