After a personal and generally challenging year, much has been learned, and the message is strong: we must fight for a baseline of optimism for creativity to thrive!

This will be the final episode of 2025, back to the usual weekly podcasts January 7th.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

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Help the brave Ukrainian creative community during this horrible time of war at https://ui.org.ua

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In this entry of The Creativity Diary:

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Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

Wiedemann Lampe uses the beautiful term 'cultureful brands' to describe their work. They work globally, at scale, on entire cities and cultureful institutions.

I joined co-founders Benji Wiedemann and Alex Lampe in London to talk about creating impact at scale, their methods of forging a meaningful brand, and their origin stories, and there's a lot to get through!

As ever The Creative Condition podcast is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X https://illustrationx.com

Today's guests can be found here: https://wiedemannlampe.com/

Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

A bonus chat with last week's guest, author and vanlifer Charlotte Bradman in which we discuss the current challenges facing working-class people and stifling their creativity.

In a divided, expensive, technologically obsessed society, it's increasingly hard for those even with moderate incomes to make ends meet, to free up enough psychological safety to create, let alone those living from week to week, day to day.

And because of this, we all miss out on rich points of view and different thinking.

https://www.yellowkitebooks.co.uk/titles/charlotte-bradman/the-happy-nomad/9781399720588/

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Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

Charlotte Bradman had to go through major trauma, including the repossession of her house, before she could truly access her creativity.

Now she lives full-time in her converted camper van, and she joins The Creative Condition to share her story.

In a cost-of-living crisis, under financial strain and facing much upheaval in our creative industry, designers, artists, writers, and all kinds of creators are struggling to make ends meet, but Charlotte has some wise words and a beautiful story to tell that might just change our thinking around money and the traditional version of success.

As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com

Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

Covered in this instalment of 'The Creativity Diary':

As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com

Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com

See the brand new illustrator-specific coaching offer now

Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

Today, change occurs almost constantly, at a speed never before seen in human history. We are in a technological revolution that some are likening to the advent of agriculture. Incomprehensible news headlines bombard us, and underneath it, we must still find a way to make sense of it and create for a living.

Los Angeles and New York-based creative company Sibling Rivalry is a shining example of adaptation and flexibility in this new economy.

Co-founder Mikon van Gastel joins me to share the agency's story. As someone who went into business shortly before 9/11, has steered the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, like the rest of us, attempts to understand and move harmoniously with artificial intelligence, Mikon explains what it takes to keep growing and creating with joy in this crazed economy.

As ever, The Creative Condition podcast is supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com

And find out about the new illustrator-specific coaching offer.

Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

As I continue to work on the downside of my high sensitivity to counter anxiety and overthinking, I turn to the Buddhist teachings and Marcus Aurelius' Meditations about impermanence after a sobering visit to my hometown.

And of course, apply them to our current moment in the creative industry.

As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com

See the brand new illustrator-specific coaching offer now

Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

The Railway History exhibition: https://railway200.co.uk/

Few artists or designers transcend the industry when it comes to name recognition, but Anthony Burrill is one of them. His iconic typographic artworks, including 'work hard and be nice to people,' adorn the walls of many far beyond the creative industry, hitting the sweet spot between mass appeal and personal intimacy.

I travel to Rye and visit Anthony's studio, which overlooks a stunning wildflower meadow created with his lovely wife and garden designer, Emma, where he takes me on a journey through his career.

From working-class roots to his standing as an inspiration to many in the arts, via study in Manchester, London, and commercial art and design, it's a beauty.

As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com

Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

Covered in this instalment of 'The Creativity Diary':

As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com

See the brand new illustrator-specific coaching offer now

Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com

Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua