The Creative Rising

Introducing SNACKS, practical bite-sized tips for your creative journey. In between seasons, we will bring you quick jolts of inspiration in these mini-episodes.
 
This week's SNACK is brought to you by author, speaker, and creative guru Sam Harrison. He shares how to create better feedback and idea narrowing systems for helping teams find the best ideas possible.

If you have tips for a future bite-sized episode, let us know! Email [email protected]

• For more on Sam Harrison visit: www.zingzone.com
• Or buy his book, Creative Zing! here or wherever you get books  
• Produced by Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Hosted by Blake Howard
• Editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor: www.rachel-eleanor.com

Michael Benford, creative director of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, went from a career in music to leading design for the major leagues. In this final episode of season 3, Benford tackles the product and process of creating highly-visible design — from stadium signage to redesigning team uniforms — and shares how to stay innovative season over season.

• For more on Michael Benford visit: www.mikebenford.com
• Produced by Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Hosted by Blake Howard
• Intermission music & editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor: www.rachel-eleanor.com

Who says creativity has to stay on a fixed course? In this episode of The Creative Rising, watercolorist Richard Sullivan traces his path from professional athlete to an acclaimed artist. Bringing the same passion and determination to the canvas as he did the field, Sullivan illustrates the complexity of the creative identity.

• For more on Richard Sullivan visit: www.richardsullivanillustration.com
• Hosted by Blake Howard
• Produced by Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Intermission music & editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor: www.rachel-eleanor.com

While it may seem like some people always land on their feet, in reality, everyone’s career path has unexpected twists, turns, and the occasional dead end. Carly Ayres, now working on UX Community & Culture at Google, has plenty of titles under her belt (designer at Creative Mornings, author at CommunicationArts, co-founder of Hawraf, to name a few) but her journey as a creative began with a drive to explore the unknown and lean into learning, wherever the opportunity presented itself.  

• For more on Carly Ayers visit: www.carlyayres.com
• Hosted by Blake Howard
• Produced by Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Intermission music & editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor: www.rachel-eleanor.com

• For more on Bobby and Champions visit: www.championsdesign.com
• Hosted and produced by Blake Howard
• As always, special thanks to Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Intermission music & editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor: www.rachel-eleanor.com

Sometimes it’s hard to drink up the creative juices when the pressure of deadlines and timelines are closing in. Adam Weiss, founder and creative director of brand strategy and design studio Landscape, lends his perspective to staying curious, creative, and experimental without constraint.

• For more on Adam and Landscape visit: www.thisislandscape.com
• Special thanks to Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Hosted and produced by Blake Howard
• Intermission music & editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor: www.rachel-eleanor.com

Originally released in September of 2019, this conversation with author, speaker, and racial justice expert, Bethaney Wilkinson, is more relevant than ever. How does the creative community’s lack of diversity limit collective creativity? How does privilege play into who gets hired? Anyone willing to listen and learn can actually make a difference and, in this conversation, Bethaney gives us sage advice for taking meaningful action. 

• For more on Bethaney Wilkinson and The Diversity Project visit: www.thediversitygap.com
• Listen to and support The Diversity Gap podcast! 
• Special thanks to Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Hosted and produced by Blake Howard
• Intermission music & editing by Michael Engelking 

What happens when career and ambition suddenly get halted due to uncontrollable factors? In this episode, host Blake Howard sits down with Toke Nygaard, the Chief Creative Officer at Zendesk, to talk about his story, an unexpected disease, and the power of empathy in action. 

• For more on Toke visit him on twitter: @tokenygaard 
• Special thanks to Matchstic: www.matchstic.com 
• Hosted and produced by Blake Howard 
• Editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor www.rachel-eleanor.com 

Is it possible to change the World, stay in love, and have healthy relationships? In this episode, we talk with Jeff and Andre Shinabarger, the hosts of the podcast Love or Work. Andre is on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 as a Physicians Assistant and Jeff is the founder of Plywood People, a non-profit in Atlanta that leads a community of start-ups doing good.

• For more on the podcast Love or Work visit: www.loveorwork.com
• For more on Plywood People visit: www.plywoodpeople.com 
• Special thanks to Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Hosted and produced by Blake Howard
• Editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor www.rachel-eleanor.com

You’re supposed to have your finger on the pulse of what’s new, cool, and creative, but what if you’re feeling out of touch? Matt Luckhurst, co-founder of The New Company (and former COLLINS co-founder and executive creative director) shares his perspective on conquering the fear of being irrelevant.

• For more on Matt Luckhurst visit: www.new.company
• Special thanks to Matchstic: www.matchstic.com
• Hosted and produced by Blake Howard
• Editing by Michael Engelking 
• Illustration by Rachel Eleanor www.rachel-eleanor.com