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Gathering inspiration as a force of creation

A couple of things in my thoughts are coming together; recently I have been reading the Virgil Abloh chronicle “Make it ours” and the book Abloh-isms. In it you find reference to his 3% rule. Separately have I been working on migrating all my Instagram saved posts to Are.na. “Mooooooooodboard”, something Loïc Prigent always says in his videos (of which I have watched this recent one) and apparently is also a website of his. Also did I watch this video tour of Diplo’s Jamaican house (mansion), making me think of Major Lazer and its graphic record sleeves.

“Abloh became even more committed to his belief in a 3-persent principle – the idea that an object altered by 3 percent becomes something wholly new. […] By touting his 3-percent philosophy, Abloh spotlighted fashion’s reliance on reiterating what had come before.”

From ‘”Make it ours” – Crashing the Gates of Culture with Virgil Abloh’ by Robin Givhan

How can moodboards and the 3% rule lead to more creative creation and freedom

Combing these thoughts, I’ve had the realisation that a way to progress in my creative pursuit to create a fashion brand is to be more intuitive in the way I create. As I have been educated in my Bachelor to be able to come up with well formulated concepts, I now have the tendency to start not in the creation phase but in the explanatory phase of a creative project. I notice in myself that finding the explanation for why I’m creating (something), an idea, research reference or fully formed concept is how I want to start of my making process. The process of intuitive creation based on subconscious inspiration has been lost on my a little bit. Re-igniting that child like making and creating process is very important if I want to be able to progress in my creative pursuit as I imagine myself to be.

Moodboards Setting myself a challenge to make a weekly mood-board of inspiration, however (un)co-herent it may be. By setting aside half an hour to a full hour of free roaming on Are.na and printing out (part of) this mood-board and sticking it onto a foam board pannel.

3% rule Challenging myself to be more open to using found inspiration as a direct input for creation. Authenticity can come from how you reposition and repurpose. Freeing myself from creative limitations like this could help me progress towards a visual identity and style that over time I can make my-own.

Major Lazer Finding inspiration in different cultures can be a great resource towards making something new and inexistent. I want to relieve myself from the constraint that I’m not myself part of the cultures that inspire me, and instead use these inspirations to create things that relate and build on that which instigates my curiosities.

Major Lazer is a fictive character for an electronic dancehall project by two (white) producers. Although it raised some eye-brows in the beginning (as they themselves where not coming from a background in which the dancehall music was founded and created), they have kept going and are now widely accepted as a major group in the scene. It’s a prime example of not letting yourself be limited to only working within your own confounds (culturural upbringing/heritage). See also my own reflection cultural inspiration.

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How a NATO summit got me sucked in and thought me something

Watching the recap of the concluding second NATO day in The Hague, I couldn’t help but feel enthralled by the spectacle of it. World leaders physically coming together, all with a certain cache, making decisions which will shape the world of tomorrow on topics that are of international significance – it’s a theater show that is hard to look away from, even for someone who doesn’t regularly like to be engrossed in the news cycle at all. It’s particularly interesting to see how the former Dutch prime minister, now NATO secretary general Mark Rutte presents itself, in stark contrast to the current Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof. And then the Beast as they call him; Donald Trump, whose second term as president of the US is developing quite differently to its first it seems. Where his first term was more about being a frontier and fighting the establishment, now it seems he is developing more as a leader of his newly formed establishment – he seems more likable and universally political. But this is where I’m also confronted with the horror of the whole spectacle, as the confidence of Trump is also a sign of dictatorial quality that is developing within him and his regime.

I don’t like to get sucked into the new cycle because it’s based on entertainment en awe, more than information and education. Most things that are covered in the news don’t have direct influence on my day to day life and life decisions, and they therefor feel only distracting to that which matters most to me; my family, health and creative pursuits. When being distracted by the news, you are being entertained with thoughts of a world that is colliding and collapsing all the time; negativity is the main protagonists. Change and growth happens by being aspirational to a future that can be better and improved. For that you do need problems to solve and issues to deal with, but you mostly need a positive and change mindset, which can’t be fueled with doomsday thinking.

The NATO top was an amalgamation of these thoughts coming together for me; the scale of the theater was so huge that by being entertained I could see more clearly the thoughts I have had lingering in my mind for a while.

I’m interested in developing a brand that can talk about world issues in an inspiring and positive way. Today has brought me this HMW (How Might We) question; How might we use tactics of political leaders and news cycles to take part in – and form a conversation about – restorative change and inspirational development around the world?

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Hobbies for life?

As a home-owner, there is always another thing to improve or fix. The next project I always looming. YouTube is full with videos to teach me yet another new skill. And although most of the things I learn will stay with me for the rest of my life anyway, woodworking in particular feels like something a little more special – like a new hobby.

Japanese hand plane and it’s first proper shavings

On the one hand have I gotten quite interested and invested into Japanese woodworking tools and learning to use them. On the other hand do I question my investment in this new hobby, particularly when it comes to the Japanese hand plane that I bought.

Setting up the hand plane was a laborious task – which in all fairness I had been warned for – that has thought me a useful new skills (sharpening) but has also cost me quite a bit of time; time spend preparing a tool to perform a certain task in our endeavour to own and improve our home (and not even that, as it’s the outdoor furniture that I’m currently making, which we will take with us anyway).

At what point changes time spend on these new personal endeavours from being inspirational and energising, to laborious and draining? I’m not sure. But these thoughts have been rummaging in my mind and are perhaps a sign of that turning point being nearly met in this instance.

New beginnings

This blog is about beginning; starting, mobilising thoughts and preparing to take off in their direction. But going through this process of learning how to set up a Japanese plane, which definitely wasn’t easy, has thought me a valuable lesson. Not every begin is equal for me, or rather, there is an appropriate time for everything and perhaps now is not the right time exactly for this new hobby to fully form.

I have a dream – to start a fashion business – which is more important to me than becoming a fully-fledged woodworker, right now at least. There are many skills to learn still in designing and making clothing, that I would much rather try and focus on right now. That is not to say that I AM going to make the outdoor furniture, AND gates, and what-not else. But I don’t also have to at the same time learn how to create micron thin shavings with a tool used by highly skilled craftsmen – that can be done later in live when the time is right and focus can be concentrated towards it.

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Cold & grey

Browsing through the bookstore looking at cookbooks, books on fashion, photography, art, architecture, gardening, I feel excited and inspired. Walking to a restaurant where I sit down to have a Neapolitan style pizza, I feel energised. Coming to a French brasserie-bar, I feel sophisticated. A single night out in the city is a much needed luxury these days.

As we are busy being parents, partners, family, friends, professionals and do-it-(y)ourselfers it’s sometimes easy to feel not only a little drained but also uninspired and thinly spread. I listened to this podcast earlier this week as I cycled to work (which in- and of-itself uplifted my moods a little) in which the speaker talks about how dopamine addiction is also an escapism of having to profile ourselves all the time.

“Modern life requires us to just constantly think about ourselves and be on display. And the use of these ways to take us out of ourselves is increasing because we’re constantly narcissistically thinking about ourselves.”

From the NYT Interview: Digital Drugs Have Us Hooked. Dr. Anna Lembke Sees a Way Out.

So that’s why we love to scroll Instagram and just be mindlessly looking at other people profiling themselves. I could get into that theory. But trying to stop this habit (as I am) brings the challenge with it that it becomes harder to relax the mind for a minute… interesting, that’s an observation to be let simmering.

I was also watching this video by Van Neistat on Easy flow vs. Hard flow state in which he talks about procrastination being a form of “western” and efficient relaxation. Another interesting thought to let linger.

I was feeling a little flat and down the past two weeks (ever since Blue Monday to be honest). Slowly I have become more aware of it and trying to understand why I feel this way. Is it a mild depression because of the cold, wet, grey weather? Is it because of the hard work on the garden that’s making me tired? Is it all the things going on in the family?

Exactly a year ago we were loving life in sunny Australia. Off course the fact that we were on holiday made for a relaxing start to the year. But the climate, temperature, sun and environment definitely were as important in making the otherwise most difficult months of the year in terms of mood more manageable. Upon return it was a bit of a deception to life our normal live again within our usual surrounds. People told us “you missed nothing, it was only rain throughout the time you were away.”

It’s mid February and I have felt what those people did last year – a mild mid-winter depression. After returning from New York at the start of this year, I was feeling very uplifted and excited, energised! How could I create moments in my daily life that create this same feeling for me with minimal and ready-at-hand means? That’s an observation to think about in the next few weeks. Ta-ta

New York trip Dec. 2024

Itinerary for reference (2024)

AMS 09:15 11 Dec (Wed) Amsterdam, Schiphol Intl.
EWR 10:40 11 Dec (Wed) New York, Newark
UA71 Boeing 777-200 – Flying time: 8hrs 25mins

EWR 18:05 27 Dec (Fri) New York, Newark.
AMS 07:15 28 Dec (Sat) Amsterdam, Schiphol Intl.
UA70 Boeing 777-200 – Flying time: 7hrs 10mins

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Assessing cultural inspiration

Unpacking the brand positioning of being diversely culturally inspired and taking locality as inspiration a little further;

What does it mean to use these sources of inspiration as a starting point for clothing/brand design.

Using something as inspiration, does not mean the outcome will be a literal translation of that which has been the starting point (inspiration). It rather means that a source (of inspiration) has become seminal in the thoughts process, helping in forming a certain cohesion in thought, concept and creation. Although the final outcome does not necessarily need to have any resemblance or visual/physical queue to what has been used as a source of inspiration, the mention of the inspiration also can’t be frivolous. When the source of inspiration is an important factor to the design or positioning and is communicated as such, the synergy between inspiration and final product has to be relevant to some degree for it to be convincing.

Then, the question is; does the brand positioning need to be linked to the sources of inspiration? Or rather; is that which is described as the source of inspiration actually what is the starting point of the clothing designs, or is it a bogus attempt to be more culturally relevant? Here it becomes important to remind yourself that “using something as inspiration, does not mean the outcome will be a literal translation of that which has been the starting point (inspiration)”. And if [BRAND NAME]’s HOW (being diversely culturally inspired) and WHY (challenging the globalised (homogenised) world/industry) are genuine, there needs to be no fear as such.

Is it cultural appropriation to use these sources of inspiration?

Although genuine, are these diverse cultural inspirations and the use thereof for brand positioning (outside of those cultural environments) appropriate? Or is it a sort of cultural appropriation and therefor inappropriate? It depends on how literal the translation is between source of inspiration and creative output. It also depends on the way it’s translated into something new. When inspiration is used properly to create something entirely new, it would be appropriate as what is being made doesn’t pertain to be of that which is used as inspiration. However, if what is being made is leaning more to a copy, it wouldn’t be as appropriate. This is about (cultural) ownership and representation.

“Creativity is the focused combination of unlikely things. Your mind locks onto a certain element and then searches widely for something unexpected that fits with it. What can scuba diving teach you about agriculture? What can trees teach you about public speaking? There is always some connective tissue between disciplines. If you wish to be more creative, look for the connections between two previously unconnected things.”

by James Clear, as found in his 3-2-1 newsletter

True creativity comes from being inspired, which means you make connections between unlikely things and use that as the starting point for the creation of new things. Therefor, cultural inspiration is fine and appropriate, as long as it leads to something genuinely new and is done so with respect to it’s source.

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Donut economy

The original TED talk in which Kate Raworth proposes a new perspective on growth – not forever growth, but regenerative and distributive.

“But as well as being regenerative by design, our economies must be distributive by design […] focus on thriving and balance within the social and the ecological boundaries of the doughnut.”

by Kate Raworth

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The What, How & Why

The original TED talk in which Simon explains the basic principles of the What, How, Why with some brand examples.

Simon Sinek’s why as described on his website: We are here to inspire people to do the things that inspire them so that, together, each of us can change our world for the better. Why = what is your purpose or cause or believe

Those are the 3 steps on how to sell a product en why a product can be successful or not. […] The Why is about why you begin with selling products and what therein is the end-goal.

Said by Olaf Hussein (said in Dutch) in the Neyenrode Podcast

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DSM

One of my favourite places in London is Dover Street Market (probably my No.1 favourite place to be honest). I have been going there for many years to soak up the vibe and gain immense inspiration from the store design/layout, clothing designs on display, people that go and work there and Rose bakery. The complete package makes it’s worth visiting with frequency because there is always something new to discover or gain creatively.

The DSM logo has come to represent this experience and memory I have of this place. When I look at their logo, I feel connected to my inspired self. Analysing the logo further;

  • The shape is a sort of primal drawing shape, representing a house. This simplicity creates a sort of open platform for the diverse selection of brands and styles within the store.
  • A home which represents the family, which is very suited to their store concept; a group of brands together under one roof, some united by brand origin (Comme des Garçons) some related to it and yet others invited in as new friends.
  • “Dover Street Market” as a form of an adres places it in a space and time, a location*. Variations of the logo add the city name underneath “Market” (NEW YORK, LONDON, GINZA).
  • “Market” signifies a collection of sellers/retailers and a certain temporality to what’s on offer. It also brings up an image of a lively and communal atmosphere.

*Dover Street Market London, which was the first location of all DSM locations, was located originally on Dover Street in Mayfair, London. This is where its name originates from. Although the London store has since moved to Haymarket, its name is still linked to the first store location, rooting it in a place and linking it to a certain time.

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Observations on trend

Clothing design creates garments that may or may not be trendy.

Trend is based on community, on mass; when a majority considers something of a new/unique (design)style and want to associate themselves with it, you could see a trend appearing of appreciation for this certain style.

When a garment or style is in trend i.e. trendy, you could also say it is in fashion.

A trend being constant would mean it at some point becomes the norm to some extend. When a trend increases for it to degrease at a later stage, you could say it is a fashionable trend. For example; it has come into fashion to be associated with this trend (A), but trend A subsequently becomes surpassed by another trend (B), thus A is not able to sustain itself to become the new norm.

Fashion design therefor is a rather misguided term as it is not the designer that creates fashion, its the people that decide what is in fashion (which in tern is based on trend).

Something can be fashionable when it is designed to go along a certain trend that is currently in fashion. However, it is very unlikely that a designer creates something that will become fashionable, if it is not linked to a current trend within society. The term fashion designer therefor merely means that the designer is designing something that follows a currently fashionable trend (which either can be on the rise or decline, depending on the foresight of the designer). Success as a designer, or the success of their designs, is somewhat dependent on a variety they can bring within the boundaries of a current trend and on the suitability with a currently fashionable trend.