Object Subject Form

"Feedback is the military industrial complex of creative organizations." — Denny Tu

At year 30, Imaginary Forces appointed its first-ever CEO. A hire from outside its own creative lineage.

This is a rare move for a founder-led studio. The instincts that build a creative company are seldom the ones that scale it, and the usual outcomes are a ceiling or a slow decline.

Founded in 1996 by Kyle Cooper, Chip Houghton, and Peter Frankfurt in the wake of the Se7en titles, IF spent three decades expanding its craft beyond what it was originally famous for, before handing the next chapter to a leader the founders trusted to both protect what they'd built and evolve it.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, Simon sits down with IF co-founder and managing partner Chip Houghton and CEO Denny Tu to talk about how a change like this affects the people living through it. What does a founder have to let go of? How does a new leader earn trust? And why the friction between craft and business, the thing most studios treat as a problem to manage, might be the reason a few of them last thirty years.

Denny argues that clients stopped buying creativity a while ago and now buy certainty, which reframes what a creative business is even for. Both interrogate the same reality: fear is eroding creative confidence across the industry, seasoned professionals are asking what they were made for, and people no longer get hired on portfolio but on point of view.

This is a conversation about reinvention without amnesia. About what a studio decides to hold on to, what it decides to shake up, and who ultimately ends up feeling it the most.

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Simon’s LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/simonclowes

Simon’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/simon_clowes

Simon’s X: https://x.com/simon_clowes

Website: https://objectsubjectform.com/

Object Subject Form on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectsubjectform/

Object Subject Form on Instagram: https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“If you're in the business of visuals, you're cultivating desire. You're cultivating what people look to. And that is cultural governance.” — Pumla Maswanganyi

Pumla Maswanganyi is the primary author of African Life-Centric Design (ALCD), a framework that integrates design with contextual intelligence and the perspectives most often missing from the work.

Pumla's portfolio includes collaborations with major corporate, cultural, and educational institutions including SAMSUNG, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, Soho House, Future of Design Education, Art School Africa, Core 77, the African Union, and the University of Johannesburg. Her work covers co-designed experiences, products, and forward-thinking strategies, all built on a single ethos: equitable access to whatever she builds.

Every design carries an invisible permission. It's in the color, the proportion, the materials, the affordances. Every choice about how something looks, moves, or behaves is also a choice about what people are allowed to feel, want, or imagine for themselves. Most of the design that shaped modern life was written from a narrow set of geographies and worldviews, and the permissions it grants reflect that.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, Simon sits down with Pumla to explore why every act of design is an act of governance, and what that means for anyone making things.

Born in post-apartheid South Africa and trained in globalization and development, Pumla brings a perspective formed by growing up inside design systems engineered to oppress. African Life-Centric Design is the framework she built to do the opposite, centering African ways of seeing as a foundation for designing futures from the continent rather than for it. At the heart of African Life-Centric Design sits a question: how do we make things in a way that honors the systems and the people who have survived the longest?

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Connect with Pumla on LinkedIn:

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Connect with Pumla on Instagram:

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African Life-Centric Design:

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Contact Simon / Object Subject Form

Website: https://objectsubjectform.com/

Object Subject Form on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectsubjectform/

Object Subject Form on Instagram: https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

Simon’s LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/simonclowes

Simon’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/simon_clowes

Simon’s X: https://x.com/simon_clowes

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About Object Subject Form

Object Subject Form is a podcast and creative platform hosted by Simon Clowes, exploring the human side of creativity, identity, and emerging technologies through conversations with artists, designers, technologists, and cultural thinkers.

“Value shifts from things that are in abundance to things that have more scarcity.” 

In this live Object Subject Form session, Simon Clowes is joined by PJ Richardson for a follow-up conversation to Simon’s Safe Space LA talk, “Motion Designers Are Cooked.”

The original talk opened up a discussion around the emotional reality of working in motion design and creative industries being reshaped in real time by AI, accelerated workflows, and shifting expectations. This conversation continues that thread.

AI is often discussed as a tool for speed, efficiency, and output. But underneath the surface, the deeper question is much more personal: identity. What do motion designers, creative directors, animators, and designers hold onto when a job title no longer explains their value?

Together, Simon and PJ explore where value migrates when more of the creative process becomes easier to produce, and why creative point of view is becoming more strategically important. As Simon puts it, this is a shift from building a body of work to building a body of thought.

This is a conversation about AI and design, creative identity, studio culture, and how creative people can navigate uncertainty, protect their sense of self, build reputation, and stay adaptable without losing the deeper human qualities that make the work meaningful.

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Chapters

00:00:00 Cold Open: Are Creatives Losing Their Purpose?

00:00:49 Welcome Back to Safe Space

00:03:08 Career Uncertainty and Creative Identity

00:04:23 Titles, Identity, and Creative Advantage

00:09:57 Why Point of View Is Becoming More Strategic

00:14:23 Advice for Young Designers Entering the Industry

00:23:44 AI, Experimentation, and the Identity Crisis

00:31:59 Why AI Still Needs Strong Artists

00:35:18 From Body of Work to Body of Thought

00:41:19 Why Hard Creative Problems Still Matter

00:49:21 Remote Work, Community, and Creative Exchange

00:55:57 Relationships, Reputation, and Trust

01:17:32 Creative Culture, Critique, and Leadership

01:37:42 PJ on Identity, Purpose, and Leadership

01:46:14 Closing Thoughts

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Connect with PJ Richardson 

PJ Richardson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pj-richardson-845599/ 

Laundry: https://www.laundry.studio/

Safe Space: https://www.safe-space-la.com/

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Contact Simon / Object Subject Form

Website: https://objectsubjectform.com/

Object Subject Form on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectsubjectform/

Object Subject Form on Instagram: https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

Simon’s LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/simonclowes

Simon’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/simon_clowes

Simon’s X: https://x.com/simon_clowes

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About Object Subject Form

Object Subject Form is a podcast and creative platform hosted by Simon Clowes, exploring the human side of creativity, identity, and emerging technologies through conversations with artists, designers, technologists, and cultural thinkers.

“Art is human and therefore art is imperfect.” — Ilan Derech

As creatives, our world keeps pushing toward perfection. Ilan Derech makes a case for the opposite.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, the Mexico-born, Tokyo-based visual artist discusses how images, imperfection, and new technology influenced both his work and his life. With roots in motion design, 3D, and generative coding, Derech's practice has evolved into something best described as contemplative: cinematic images that distill fleeting human moments into stillness, atmosphere, and feeling.  

Derech and Simon discuss his journey of artistic discovery through self-acceptance, attention, authorship, and the ways art can become a means of survival as much as expression. He reflects on the darkest moment of his life, the role images played in helping him see differently, and how a camera became a way of reconnecting with beauty, meaning, and possibility. 

Derech speaks candidly about ADHD, autism, and why art resonates through human irregularity. Consistently in search for the honest image, his work invites us to slow down, asks more of our attention, and creates space for reflection.

Deeply influenced by wabi-sabi, impermanence, silence, and ma — the space between — he talks about treating time like material, finding visual poetry in passing scenes, and making work that feels composed and accidental at once.  

At the center of the episode is a simple idea: imperfection is not a flaw we should try to erase, but part of what makes art human.

If you’ve ever wrestled with perfectionism, questioned what makes an image feel alive, or wondered what new technology is really changing in creative life, this episode is for you.

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Connect with Derech on X: 

https://x.com/IDerech

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Connect with Derech on Instagram:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilanderech/

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Derech’s website:

Website: https://www.derech.art/

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Connect with Simon on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Connect with Object Subject Form LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectsubjectform/

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Object Subject Form website:

https://objectsubjectform.com/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram: 

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“I spent years trained to look for what can go wrong. Crypto helped me imagine what could go right.”— Sergio Silva

When the internet becomes a place you can own things, it changes how you see money, culture, and your own agency.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, Sergio Silva joins Simon to explore the move from legacy finance to digital ownership, and what changes mentally when money becomes native to the internet.

Sergio started his career at Goldman Sachs in 2009, then spent seven years leading the Latam Equity Sales team at Barclays before moving into digital assets. 

Today he’s the founder of The Meebit Company, a venture-backed team stewarding and developing the Meebits IP. He previously led Web3 business development at Fireblocks and is a founding member of NeonDAO, an investment fund focused on building the open metaverse.

Sergio breaks down digital assets in plain language, and explains how ownership changes the dynamics of online community compared to the platforms we’ve lived on for the past decade.

Together, they explore market psychology, the behavioral side of investing, and practical principles like “pay yourself first,” alongside why Bitcoin’s scarcity matters and what makes it a store of value.

Meebits becomes the case study for what ownership looks like in culture, and Sergio shares how he’s thinking about identity, community, and long-term IP.

If you’ve been curious but skeptical, this episode is a clean entry point.

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Connect with Sergio on X: 

https://x.com/sergitosergito

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Discover Meebits

https://meebits.com/

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Follow Meebits on X:

https://x.com/MeebitsNFTs

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Connect with Simon on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Connect with Object Subject Form LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectsubjectform/

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Object Subject Form website:

https://objectsubjectform.com/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram: 

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“My music is my freedom. It’s my currency. It’s who I am.” — Violetta Zironi  

In the streaming era, the economics of music can feel impossible to reconcile with the dream artists are sold. 

Early success can open doors, but it can also subtly close off parts of you. In 2013, singer-songwriter Violetta Zironi reached the final of X Factor Italy and stepped into the traditional music machine: visibility, expectations, and the pressure to become a version of yourself that is forced to perform inside someone else’s system.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, singer-songwriter Violetta Zironi joins Simon Clowes to openly discuss the hidden cost of early “success” in the traditional music industry, and what it took to rebuild a sustainable career outside of the gatekeeper model.

The conversation covers the economics of streaming, the emotional toll of chasing visibility, and the mindset shift that led her to explore music ownership on the blockchain. 

They discuss what “community as infrastructure” looks like in practice, why ownership changes the emotional contract between artist and audience, and how blockchain technology can support a more direct, human model for music.

For any creative navigating platforms, pressure, and the feeling that “success” is starting to misalign you, this conversation is a reminder: the goal is not to grow at any cost. It’s to build something you can grow without losing yourself.

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Connect with Violetta on X: 

https://x.com/violettazironi

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Violetta’s Website: 

https://www.violettazironi.com/

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Connect with Simon on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram: 

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“Stepping out of your old identity will feel scary. But choosing who you want to be is the bravest risk you can take.” — Marko Pfann 

Playing it safe can feel logical in an unpredictable market, but in this current creative landscape, safe work is quietly making creatives replaceable. It keeps your work familiar, your opportunities limited, and your identity tied to who you were instead of who you have the potential to become.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, creative coach and Paradiso co-founder Marko Pfann joins Simon for a conversation about risk, identity, and the real work behind being seen as an artist. They explore why creatives fall into the safety trap, how imitation dilutes your voice, and why standing out now requires choosing who you want to be long before the world validates you.

Marko has spent years helping creatives and studios break out of the patterns that keep them stuck. He once had everything creatives are told to want: seven-figure revenue, huge teams, worldwide branding work, and a stack of awards.

On paper he had “made it,” but inside, he felt empty. So he sold his studio and walked away from the safety everyone else expected him to hold onto.

Together with Héctor Ayuso, Marko co-founded Paradiso, a creative retreat and community where he helps creatives reconnect to the part we lose under pressure: identity. His work blends psychology, language, and creative strategy to help people reconnect to their inner compass. To the emotional core that gets buried under deadlines, comparison, and fear.

Together, Marko and Simon discuss how the industry is shifting. Output is becoming more efficient while trends are collapsing faster. In a world like this, your value comes from what only you can bring: your taste, your language, your lived experience, and the identity you’re willing to stand behind.

The conversation traces everything from creative bravery to reputation, from personality-led positioning to the mindset shift required to stay relevant. They explore why the biggest studios invest in R&D, why long-form expression builds trust, and why your “voice” is now as important as your portfolio.

Whether you’re independent, running a studio, or rethinking your next step, this episode offers a grounded path forward. A reminder that creativity is about choosing who you want to be, and having the courage to act on it.

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Connect with Marko on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markopfann/ 

Discover Paradiso: 

https://paradisofest.com/

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Connect with Simon on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram: 

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“Worldbuilding is how humans make sense of the world. It’s how we learn to play.” — Chris Eyerman

Worldbuilding is how imagination permeates and becomes culture. It’s the practice of creating meaning people can experience and belong to.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, Simon speaks with Chris Eyerman, creative director, worldbuilder, and business architect shaping the future of storytelling through sport, media, and technology.

As the founder of TRBLMKR Sports and creative lead for Luka Dončić’s brand 77X, Chris is redefining what it means to build worlds around athletes, bridging creativity, commerce, and community.

Before founding TRBLMKR, Chris helped pioneer transmedia storytelling alongside Ridley Scott at 3AM, turning films like Prometheus and Alien: Covenant into immersive digital experiences. He later led TikTok’s Creative Lab, guiding the platform’s creative direction during its rise to a billion users and changing how culture spreads online.

Together, Simon and Chris explore how worldbuilding extends beyond film and gaming into fandom, brand ecosystems, and personal identity. They discuss the tension between creativity and business, the power of empathy in leadership, and why understanding both emotion and structure is essential to meaningful storytelling.

The episode centers around the athlete-creator economy, the psychology of building trust and lore around people, and how new technologies, from AI to social platforms, are expanding the relationship between creators, culture, and ownership.

This conversation is about designing culture, and how the worlds we build shape what people believe in, belong to, and build next.

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Chris’ Website:

https://chriseyerman.com/

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Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriseyerman/

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Lore Drops Substack: https://loredrops.substack.com/

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TRBLMKR Sports: https://www.trblmkr.co/

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Connect with Simon:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram: 

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“There’s a difference between being humble and minimizing yourself.” — Mahaneela

A fulfilling career is built from who you are, not just what you make.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, filmmaker, artist, and creative director Mahaneela joins Simon for a conversation about architecting your own career, bridging identity and community, and learning to separate who you are from what you make.

Over the past decade, Mahaneela has built a practice that blends cultural depth with commercial impact, collaborating with global icons like Beyoncé, Nike, and FKA twigs. 

Recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30, she is known for crafting authentic stories that live at the intersection of music, art, and commerce. Now represented as a director by Partizan and Red Eye, she continues to push boundaries in film, photography, and brand storytelling.

Together, Simon and Mahaneela discuss why titles can limit progress, how to use a “creative spirit” compass—Curiosity, Joy, Community—to choose the right projects, and the subtle difference between humility and minimizing yourself. Mahaneela shares advice on securing repeat work with agencies, reading the room on calls, and why presentation, delegation, and people skills matter as much as taste.

The episode also explores how community acts as a creative lifeline, how healthy competition can elevate peers, and why building your own ecosystem is essential. They debate Web3 and AI as emerging tools for connection and creative ownership, while emphasizing that identity and lived experience must remain at the core of every artist’s process.

Whether you’re building a portfolio, pitching in bigger rooms, or trying to stay aligned with your purpose, this conversation offers a blueprint for architecting a career that serves your life, not the other way around.

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Connect with Mahaneela on Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/mahaneela.jpg/

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Mahaneela’s Website:

https://www.mahaneela.com/

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Connect with Mahaneela on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahaneela-choudhury-reid-485631385/

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Connect with Simon:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram: 

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“Privacy is sovereignty. It’s about choosing what’s mine to share.” — Digitalgal

In a hyper-public internet, visibility has become currency. We’re taught that more platforms, more posts, and more personal detail equate to more opportunity.

“Building in public” became the expectation and mantra for creators and founders, particularly in Web3. Visibility was everything. Share more, show more, and success would follow.

But what happens when the persona you project starts costing you your privacy, your safety, your quality of output, and your time?

In this episode of Object Subject Form, Simon sits down with Digitalgal (@dgtlgal), co-founder of Inner Core Ventures, a Puerto Rico–based venture studio building acquisition-ready digital startups.

Digitalgal is an entrepreneur who retired at 31 and chose freedom as her design constraint. An early Web3 adopter since 2016, she has built companies, incubated products, championed remote-first teams, and eventually chose pseudonymity as a way to align her work with her values of privacy and sovereignty. 

She has been committed throughout her career to maximizing the productive potential of remote working, global teams, and freedom-based digital business models.

Together, they talk about early retirement as positive liberty, why “chasing fear” can restore purpose, and how mindset—not mechanics—creates lasting results. They also explore Web3: self-custody, DAOs, token-gated communities, and why strategic anonymity is as much a creative tool as it is a shield.

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

This one is for you.

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Connect with Digitalgal on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgweb3/

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Connect with Digitalgal on X: 

https://x.com/dgtlgal

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Connect with Simon:

https://zaap.bio/simonclowes

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Object Subject Form on Instagram: 

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform