13 September 2023
Angelio Teo - The Future of Storytelling
Futurist, Storyteller, Semiotician (Interpreting signals into communication)
Storytelling is important to help people get engaged with you! Story has always been a part of our history, to see the world in different ways and embrace other perspectives. These narratives allow us to step outside ourselves and view our realities in a new perspective.
A narrative says why this matters and why others should care. Convey your message!
Stories can leave a huge mark on others
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For example: Oliver Jeffer’s invite only party where he paint the people in his life and dip half of it into paint. So that only the invited people can view the full image.
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Jacquemius: cherry on top
The common field that all the examples have is the depiction of human experience through art. It’s how you feel after listening to the story that matters the most!!
To tell good stories you need curiosity and tension.
You also need a hero and plot.
(Plot: time needs to shift!)
And of course choices.
(The story can’t move without progress)
You can’t tell everyone’s stories, so you have to make the proper choices.
Steps of starting your own story!
Step 1: Be your own hero
(Believe in what you are!)
Step 2: Map your story arc
(Stories can start from before you, and even after you)
Step 3: Edit yourself
(Make out your goal and achieve it through the right ways)
Just make sure to complete your story!
QnA:
Storytelling has an issue where AI is taking over it, but humans are always way more full of creativity.
20 September 2023
Ryan Ho- "So You Want to Make Design Your Business — Lessons in Putting Your Creativity to Work"
Head of GXS Future Labs
Advice to the students:
1. You are not crazy to be in the art major/impractical decision (Ok, maybe a little because you have passion in arts and you’ve decided not to choose engineering, etc).
Tip: Look around you! You’re not alone, and pick who you surround yourself with, not just for keeping sane, but also keeping sharp.
2. Your biggest value-add is the way you see the world (it’s not the product that matters, but the way you view the world! Don’t sell yourself short).
Tip: The faster you get comfortable being different, the faster you make an impact. Challenging things and not following the rules is your job! It’s crucial to have a critical opinion, give “why” and “what if” questions!
3. The difference between good designers and shit ones is speed & accuracy. This is trained!
Tip: -Throw out your first 20 ideas, even if you like them (because those are probably the ideas that others have already come up with)
-Use shortcuts, add in new constraints, collaboration, context
-Find insights, not just observation
-Get crits and hold your ideas loosely (especially in the industry where stakeholders have lots of money on you, don’t take it personally!)
4. Nobody is magically holding a spot open, waiting for you to show up. Creativity at work is both getting ideas out of your brain and putting them into the world.
Tip: It is on you to connect your work to the people it’s for.
-Know who you’re sharing with (what common language can you lean on?)
-Overshare (Don’t assume they have the context necessary to just “get it” - Document your process because other people won’t get what you go through)
-Tell YOUR story (Your business is in emotion, even if nobody else wants to admit it)
-Know what you want and ask for it
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5. You will have a much better time if you pick people to work with, not companies to work for (People will take care of you, not companies).
Tip: A job is just a project/brief/cause or team you think you can meaningfully contribute to - not your entire life’s value. Hold it loosely.
Your immediate circle makes all the difference on your working life, progress, and experience. Chase people! Not companies! Smaller teams and companies might be good to start with, the little guys will let you do much more.
6. Feed yourself creatively (It can be pretty lonely when you get out there because of the lack of arts here).
Tip: Singapore is small, so are your disciplines, or whatever industry you end up working in. Remember to look up and look out!
Getting inspired is how you stay at the top of your game and you can’t do it last minute. Go out and feed! Play more, eat more, walk more, watch more. Make this a part of your professional practice.
7. You will get it wrong, a whole bunch. Just remember to have fun!
Tip:
-Novel, brave and interesting work takes visionary people willing to make bets, if you want a safe work that never misses, get into engineering.
-You will screw something up! The relationship, the pitch, but there is art in working through it. The creativity act was the friends you made along the way.
-You have the luxury of enjoying what you actually do, so make sure you do! (People are alr looking at you weird lol)
QnA:
Finding fun through agency work is up to you!
Motivation can only be build up from rest, let it come naturally.