Inspiration.
As creatives we are constantly searching for it.
Ask around Portfolio Center and you will certainly get a good idea of where we search for inspiration. Some of us look through design annuals or the work of our favorite artists. Others take nature walks or yoga classes hoping for creative sparks. And I kid you not; several people swear they find their best inspiration in the shower. However it comes, the bottom line is that although we are constantly searching for inspiration, we tend to forget that as creatives in our industry we have an incredible ability to inspire other people. And no matter if we are inspiring anti-war sentiments, corporate identities, or the type of soda people are drinking, we have a tremendous power to influence the world.
Pash, (née Matt Pashkow) writes about just this in the foreword of his book, Inspirability.
“Inspiration is defined as any stimulus to thought or action, and put simply, that is what we do. We are in the business of creating artwork that influences people’s thinking or behavior.”
Inspirability was born in the months following 9/11 when Pash was asked to give an "inspirational" presentation at the 2002 HOW Design Conference. Not feeling very inspirational at the time, Pash set out on a mission to find out what it was that really fuelled the top creatives in the industry. Eventually, he had compiled interviews with 40 influential, interesting, and inspiring designers. Excerpts from each interview are included in the book as well as photos, examples of work, and a one-page survey each person filled out by hand. The result takes us on a journey into the minds of the some of the people we admire most.
Portfolio Center had the pleasure of having Pash all to ourselves for a day, and in his presentation, we had the opportunity to actually listen to some of the phone conversations and watch some of the video interviews that inspired the book. Each person was asked the same question - “Where do you find inspiration?” and each answer was surprisingly unique.
Stefan Sagmeister spoke fondly of the people who inspire him, Erik Spiekermann swore the only real inspiration comes when under pressure, and Noreen Morioka expressed that her inspiration comes purely from living. In addition to other design greats, such as Paula Scher and even Milton Glaser, Pash posed the same question to everyday people - the guy working the McDonald’s drive through, people he met on the street, and even his own mother.
An interview with “Eric the fireman” particularly stood out.
Pash, having wanted to be a fireman himself through much of his childhood (see related survey question below!), first asked Eric what it took to be a fireman. I think we were all a bit amused when he dead panned, “no criminal record, no history of abusing women, at least a GED and some kind of athletic ability.” But what really stood out as he spoke of his job, was how he stayed inspired to keep coming back even after 17 years of service.
When a fireman has been in direct presence of a death or critical injury while on the job - they are sent home immediately for a for a 3 day leave, basically to pull themselves together, rest, and reflect before coming back to work and meeting with counsellors. When asked how he gets through such hard times, Eric paused and then stated with sad smile that he goes home, closes himself in his room, and turns on Jimi Hendrix. Pash was moved at the thought of Jimi "rescuing" Eric, and I think as he recounted this story, all of us in the audience thought about our own "personal “jimis” - and how at times, inspiration can only come while searching within ourselves.
One thing I often notice about exceptional people is their tendency to speak so passionately about the things that truly inspire them. And although Pash interviewed design greats on their inspirations, he is extremely talented and inspiring in his own right. Not only did he serve on the board of directors for AIGA Los Angeles for several years, he served as the chapter’s president from 2002 to 2004. He is often invited to lecture on graphic design at conferences around the world, and he even teaches design classes at UCLA extension. Having run his own design firm called Digital Soup for 12 years, he is currently the creative director at CINQ Group, an L.A.-based brand development agency specializing in premier lifestyle marketing and image development.
But most importantly, Pash communicates his passion for life through his work. I noticed that when Pash spoke about many things his eyes lit up, but especially so when spoke of his wife Jessica and his daughter Mirabelle, teaching, great food, France, chocolate, movies, new explorations and discoveries, jazz, and of course design. When I had the opportunity to interview Pash, we spoke about all of these passions - and afterwards, I turned the tables on the designer who has surveyed some of the top designers in the country, and he kindly completed a survey of my own:
How do I achieve balance in my life? Pretty simple formula, really: gotta love my work. If my work really turns me on then things seem to balance pretty well—home life and work life need one another. I’m a big believer in working hard and playing hard. _
What was my favorite subject in elementary school? Girls. _
Do I have a favorite quote? Several, actually. But to me the granddaddy of them all is, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” I suppose the fact that I love this statement may be the best evidence of me being a “glass half full” kind of person. Because even after more than 200 years of our own country failing to truly make good on this promise, it still fills my heart with hope. _
Do I have a tattoo? Nope. _
Is everyone an artist? I tend to have very high criteria for someone being an artist, here it is: they must be exceptional at what they do. Doesn’t really matter what they do, just that they’re exceptional at it. Hope that doesn’t offend anyone reading this who has “artist” on their business card. _
What did I want to be when I was eight? A fireman. When I was nine I wanted to be a comedian. When I was ten I wanted to be a postal inspector. When I was eleven I wanted to be a fireman again. I finally settled on being an actor, because an actor can be any and all of these things. Luckily design hit me over the head about 15 minutes after getting an acting career going, so “Plan A” was short-lived. “Plan B” has been in full effect ever since. _
What do I look for in a student portfolio? Money. Or chocolate. I rarely find either of these items. Once I establish that there are no bribes or treats, I look for a confident, capable, talented person who can tell a knockout of a story in 10 to 20 pages. _
What am I hungry for? Sushi. Also, freshly popped popcorn, ice cream, and blueberries (not mixed together, if that’s what you’re thinking). _
What do I know for sure? This I know for sure: I need to find a way to introduce my wife to Oprah. She’ll consider it the best gift I ever give her. And that includes all the cool jewelry. _
My favorite place to travel? France. Can’t help it—it’s in my blood. But my French (and more specifically, my accent) is good enough that I can blend in pretty well, which makes it all the more fun. _
Who rescues me—who is my Jimi? Jessica is definitely my main Jimi. She always seems to know just what to say right when I need to hear it. Mirabelle has her own version of Jimi qualities—let’s just say there is a lot of power in humor and cuteness. Jimi is one of my Jimis; there’s something about that man’s music that just sounds like there are little bits of magic dancing around among the notes. And then the cinema is definitely a strong Jimi for me. It’s my official go-to option when I badly need a vacation but only have two hours to get away. _
Do I have any guilty pleasures? See question about being hungry. _
Do I enjoy watching television? Yes, I do—particularly thanks to my friend TiVo. I generally dislike name-dropping (even brand-name dropping) but in this case, I can honestly say that I think that he (she?) has positively influenced what was already a pretty decent creative medium. TiVo allows me to watch much less television and get much more out of it. _
Who is my favorite jazz musician? Oh, my—WAY too many to name just one. Davis. Monk. Parker. Ellington. Coltraine. Armstrong. Holiday. Reinhardt. Blakey. Fitzgerald. _
Do I have any regrets? Yes. _
Am I an East Coast boy or West Coast boy at heart? Well, I’ve lived out here on the west side long enough that it’s pretty much who I am. But New York is one of my favorite places in the world and I need to go there at least twice a year or I don’t feel complete. _
What is my most valuable possession? Wow, I have a lot of those. Here’s a short list: My taxicab. My original Charles M. Shulz. My vintage children’s books. A sepia-tone photograph of my grandmother visiting the U.S. Capitol with her high school graduating class during the great depression. My “paper antique” collection. Jacques and Lyle. _
Outside of design, what do I live and breathe? Many things, several of which are mentioned elsewhere in this interview. But I also love NBA basketball, running, teaching, learning, great design, great music, great food, great people. _
Do I think design can save the world? I sure hope so, because everything else that was supposed to save it (religion, democratic governments, technology, etc) seems to be on a fast-track to destroying it. _
Portfolio Center students share a strong desire to communicate ideas, the willingness to let go of preconceived notions, and the compulsion to learn new ways of thinking. These qualities are fostered by the school’s constant stream of industry bigwigs, who bring their varied and colorful perspectives from all over the country. These creatives, who are always generous with their time and energy, tend to hang out with students, conducting informal workshops and continuing the day’s discussions over dinner. Often, what results are provocative interviews—written, shot, and designed by PC students.
