Let’s review Seth Godin’s latest and apply it to our current circumstances — Given the urgency and influence of AI… Now would absolutely be a productive time to discuss the significance of creativity, never mind the significance of the work and impact each of us aspires to deliver. AI is here — and it’s already come for the kind of work I do every day. And yet, I suit up…

“Designed in California” isn’t a song, it’s an ethos — I am not a Grateful Dead fan. But I am a history nerd, and a student of convergence. What might Newton have been listening to, if anything, under that apple tree? What might have mesmerized Stephanie Kwolek in 1965 before she figured out the chemical bath which created kevlar? Or…

Apple has opened a new kitchen; what will we create in it? — Like many, I watched Apple’s WWDC event live. That last sentence is both hilarious and fascinating. Yet, I can’t think of another brand who’s developer press conference I could stomach watching. Takeaway #1: Apple knows how to invest in a kind of storytelling which makes UX, interface design, tech specs…

“What’s the job number for making myself invaluable here?” — One of the benefits of creativity is any human can do it, any time, with little or near zero skill. You can just “have an idea.” 🤔💡 You can spark a transformative moment in history. Or not. Likely not. But the opportunity exists. The call is clear. Of course the…

Let’s remember humans are creating the age of AI — Are your friends and family asking you about AI? Have you given thought yet to where or how AI might unlock or enable a better version of you and your work? The joke coming out of Google’s I/O 2023 conference Wednesday (which had gorgeous stage design IMHO), was CEO Sundar…

I’m hosting a MIMA panel discussion on AI-generative tech and creativity February 16 — The video below: I asked ChatGPT to write a first-person script introducing me and my thoughts on creativity fueled by artificial intelligence. I ended up editing the final script from six different iterations it generated because I’m a control freak. Then I gave ElevenLabs a sample of my voice (40…

⏩⏩ TL;DR: Modern creative leaders deliver extraordinary value inside agencies and marketers through specific, measurable, and inspiring effort. Unlike AI-generative tech, an effective and valued CD is proactive. — Does the world of business and creativity need Creative Directors any more? After all, we use machine learning and algorithms to tell us which advertising creative performs best across digital platforms. And now we’re in the nascent era of AI-generative creative. Is leadership of creative endeavors at risk?

We are already augmented and only becoming more so. Word processing augmented our ability or inability to spell and leverage grammar. Smartphones augmented our ability to take photos. Virtual assistants augment, even mitigate, the ability to write. Design platforms unlock and augment that realm and process. And in the past…

p.s. I could really use your help — And we’re back. I first taught the “Future of Advertising” course at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD.edu) in 2008, then updated and taught the curriculum several times since. Starting mid January 2023 we’ll return to this expanding realm. But I need your help. When I first taught the course, MySpace was still…