Summary
Debbie Millman joins Kedar to talk about what creativity is, why making things matters, and what keeps creative people going. We discuss confidence and courage, personal branding, discipline, design as deliberate differentiation, the responsibility designers have to society, and why reaching the top too quickly may not be the goal. She also reflects on what Design Matters has taught her over time.
About the guest
Debbie Millman is a designer, writer, educator, brand consultant and host of Design Matters. For over two decades, she has interviewed some of the world’s most creative people.
Who should listen
• Designers and creative professionals thinking about how to sustain a creative career.
• People who keep waiting for confidence before starting something.
• Anyone spending more time building a personal brand than building their work.
• Creators thinking about discipline, ambition, success and what they want their work to leave behind.
Topics discussed in the episode
[00:00] Intro [01:22] What is common between a chef and a poet? [02:11] How can one spot commonality? [02:51] What is the essence of creativity? [03:57] How do you connect the dots? [06:25] Three habits and patterns of creative people [08:13] How do you see response and reaction? [09:27] Key lessons from Design Matters [13:31] How has your definition of design changed? [14:40] Short announcement [15:41] Do designers owe anything to society? [17:30] What could incentivise designers to contribute to society? [19:16] How to build a personal brand? [21:44] How to balance consistency and intensity? [24:13] How to create work that outlasts your life? [25:08] How can your work help people 50 years from now?
Reference links
* Debbie Millman
* Design Matters on Apple Podcasts
* Design Matters on Spotify
* Debbie Millman on Instagram
* Debbie Millman on LinkedIn
* Debbie Millman on X
* Debbie Millman on TED
* Debbie Millman at School of Visual Arts
* Books by Debbie Millman
* Debbie Millman at Type Directors Club
* Debbie Millman on Wikipedia
* Is the world getting uglier?
* Debbie Millman on creativity and leadership
* Debbie Millman on creating brands that stand the test of time
Would you rather build a personal brand or a body of work?
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