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Creativity Unpacked

Author: Nicole Velik

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Welcome to Creativity Unpacked, I'm Nicole Velik, head ideas girl at innovation and creativity company, The Ideas Bodega.

Over the past 12 years I’ve been fortunate enough to unlock creativity in thousands of people around the world across many different industries. From Nike to LEGO, Google to The United Nations. And What I know for a fact is that creativity isn’t an illusive gift for a chosen few. It’s actually an innate part of being human that every single one of us possess. Creativity is a muscle. You can build it and you can get better at it.

Ultimately, this podcast is a celebration of our creativity.

Its for those of you like me who have a curiosity and a desire to understand it.
You might be asking, where do great ideas come from? How can I hack my brain to get into creative flow? How do I flick the switch and get ideas on demand? How do I break through my creative blocks.

And its also for those who need to lead people and teams and get the best creativity out of others. You have a desire to build a workplace culture that oozes creativity – the kind that you just feel and is palpable when you walk through the door of a really creative organisation.

In each episode we will unpack, demystify and dive into all facets of creativity.

Here you’re going to meet some incredible creatives. We’ll go deep into their brains and break down their creative processes, habits and dissect what it is that makes them successful so you can learn from the best.

And I’ll teach you creativity tools and techniques that you can apply right away in your own work. Techniques that I’ve used to help my clients get creative and innovate.

Each episode is designed to fire you up with creatively, shower you with inspiration and arm you with practical techniques so you can go forth and create some epic stuff.
15 Episodes
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In this episode I’m speaking with the brilliant Damon Stapleton. He is the Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of The Monkeys Aotearoa, New Zealand. I have been a huge fan of Damon and his work since I discovered his blog on Creativity called Damon’s Brain.  Damon is a highly awarded and successful Advertising Creative. He’s recognised as one of the top 10 Executive Creative Directors globally and he’s won over 500 international awards including Cannes Lions, D&AD Pencils and Clios. Damon has worked on some truely incredible and famous campaigns like the ‘The Zimbabwean Newspaper’ campaign where the Zimbabwean trillion dollar note became the advertising medium and the Samsung iTest - where they were able get iPhone users to turn their phones into a Samsung! Sounds crazy right? We’ll unpack those ideas in the episode.  Damon is not only a brilliant creative but an inspiring leader of creativity. We discuss what needs to be present for creativity to thrive in an organisation.  This conversation with Damon is full of gems. I loved this chat and I hope you do too. You can follow Damon's epic blog here https://damonsbrain.com And you can follow me, Nicole Velik at www.theideasbodega.com.au
In this episode I am speaking with the brilliant Gabby Lord. Gabby is an Australian designer and art director, who is now based in New York City. She recently co-founded a branding studio in New York called Super Keen. Prior to this, Gabby worked in Sydney and Berlin. Throughout her career she's worked on some pretty big brands such as Netflix, the Apple Music Awards, Ableton, Macquarie Bank and Qantas. I first met Gabby, when I invited her to speak at CreativeMornings Sydney, five years ago. It has been really inspiring to watch her journey and the incredible leaps that she's made in such a short amount of time. From Tamworth to Sydney to Berlin and now New York, Gabby is living a truely creative life, although not always easy! In this episode, we discuss how to keep moving forward - as Gabby says, "You can't steer a parked car". We discuss her creative journeys through Berlin and now her new life in New York, starting a studio on the other side of the world, and how she nurtures and feeds her own creativity. Gabby has so much lived experience and advice. She has this way of articulating lessons so they really drop. I honestly think all these "Gabbyisms" should be bumper stickers! You can't not be inspired by her wisdom. You can find Gabby at her studio https://superkeen.studio/ and you can sign up to her brilliant newsletter called OMG LORD here https://omglord.com/ You can find me, Nicole Velik at www.theideasbodega.com.au
In this episode of Creativity Unpacked I'm speaking with Carly Heaton, the Executive Producer of the award winning Netflix show Heartbreak High and Head of Scripted at Fremantle Australia. Carly and I met about a decade ago when she brought me into Foxtel to train her TV Promos team in creative thinking. One of the things that really struck me about Carly was her leadership style. Still to this day I have never met a leader who empowered, inspired and championed creativity in her team the way that she did. Carly is a creative powerhouse in her own right and in this episode we'll unpack her creative process and how she pulls her best ideas from the zeitgeist for the TV shows she makes. She also tells some pretty crazy stories about the remaking of Heartbreak High and a behind the scenes look at what it really takes to pull off creating a global Netflix hit. You can find Carly Heaton on LinkedIn. And you can find me Nicole Velik at The Ideas Bodega
Welcome to season two of creativity unpacked. I’m kicking off season two with a bang and bringing you the legendary internationally recognised designer and author Kevin Finn.  Kevin is also an old friend of mine from our days at advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi and it was so wonderful to jump in the studio and have this chat with him. In this episode we not only unpack some epic projects Kevin has done -  like the work he did for Edward de Bono but to me it’s really clear that Kevin’s whole life is a creative project. I am so fascinated by the way he zigzags, he takes huge leaps and risks and never ever follows a trodden path. I think he’s such a pioneer.  If you’re someone who’s feeling a little lost at the moment or maybe there’s that voice inside that’s quietly telling you that there’s something else you should be doing or maybe a creative project that you should be starting, you’re going to get a lot from this episode and Kevin’s advice. You can find Kevin at https://thesumof.com.au and you can purchase his new book Brand Principals at Booktopia You can find me at The Ideas Bodega or Nicole Velik on LinkedIn
I got to chat to the wonderful Peter Brennan. Pete is the co-founder of the non-alcoholic Aussie beer sensation Heaps Normal. He also owns a Branding and Design Studio called, Electric and Analog. Interestingly, this week I was in Melbourne, having a drink in a pretty swanky cocktail bar. The guy sitting at the bar next to me was drinking Heaps Normal. And I have to say, I don't think that would have happened a few years ago, especially with the way Aussies love to drink. So, this incredible beer is changing drinking culture, challenging what’s normal and offering a beautiful solution to what is a huge problem for a lot of people. In this episode we dive into why some ideas fly and others don't. You see Pete’s launched a few businesses before this one but never had the success Heaps Normal is having. So What's the difference you might ask and why did this one blow up? It’s definitely a few things like timing, having the right people and skills but I’d say it’s all about purpose. Pete has a very personal motive driving him and he’s deeply connected to the brand’s purpose. In this episode you’ll hear Pete's story from growing up with an abusive alcoholic father and his own struggles with alcohol and why he had to scratch his own itch. Pete took on the crazy challenge of creating a non-alcoholic beer that actually tastes good!  Pete gives us all a creative challenge and it's got to do with finding your purpose. I hope you enjoy the episode.  You can find Peter Brennan at his branding and design studio Electric and Analog  or on LinkedIn. You can find me, Nicole Velik at www.theideasbodega.com.au or Nicole Velik on LinkedIn.
In this episode I speak with Emile Rademeyer the Executive Director of Creative Strategy at VANDAL in Sydney, Australia. We discuss his fascinating, multi-lingual upbringing in a highly controlled South Africa and the impact that has had on his creativity. We also discuss how sometimes the best ideas are executed at the wrong time. Enter "Sushi TV". But Emile doesn't believe in failure. He believes that every idea you have is part of your creative journey and failures are a necessary part of that journey. We dive into the Metaverse, NFT's and the first digital only fashion show that recently happened in Decentraland. Emile also gives us some sound advice on how to get yourself out of a creative rut. I hope you enjoy this episode! You can find out more about Emile and the amazing work he does at Vandal here. https://vandal.sydney/ And you can find me Nicole Velik here www.theideasbodega.com.au
In this episode I'm speaking with my good friend Ben Cooper. He is the Group Innovation Director for M&C Saatchi and the Founder of Tricky Jigsaw, their innovation capability. Ben and I share a passion for all things creativity and innovation. Every time I meet up with Ben, I learn something and this chat was no exception. He's one of the smartest, most interesting and humble people I know. He has had such an interesting life and career journey and he's worked on some incredible innovations. I can't wait for you to hear us unpack some of these epic ideas such as the infamous Clever Buoy - an idea that started from one Brit's fear of sharks ended up solving a global problem and winning the coveted Titanium Lion at Cannes amongst many other accolades. You'll also hear about the brilliant work Ben has done for Uber. Rather than just hand them ideas, Ben and his team created a tool that helps Uber's employees generate their own ideas, stay creative and disruptive. Ben is also really into technology so brace yourselves as we dive into how you can get creative in the Metaverse, with NFT's and blockchain. Ben points out that with NFTs, Creatives have an incredible opportunity right now to create and get paid for their work in a way they haven't before. This chat was really inspiring. I hope you enjoy it! You can find Ben here https://www.trickyjigsaw.com And you can find me here theideasbodega.com.au
In this episode I speak with my good friend Justine Moyle. Justine is a Film Director and Creative Producer. She has had a very eclectic career working across film, advertising and radio over the past 20 years. In June this year Justine did something pretty incredible...she released her directorial debut feature documentary called Tall Poppy: A Skater's Story and it was shown in cinemas around Australia. The documentary has been close to 10 years in the making. The film follows young Australian Skateboarder Poppy Starr as she comes of age on the road to becoming one of the first skateboarders to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympic Games. She came 5th in the world! Poppy's story is no small feat but I have to say as a friend watching Justine create this documentary, her journey has been equally as epic. When it comes to creative resilience, Justine has a bucket load. I really hope you enjoy this episode and inspires you to take on that creative project that's burning inside you, no matter how big or small. You can find Justine here http://www.justinemoylefilm.com And you can find Tall Poppy: A Skater's Story here https://www.tallpoppymovie.com/ And you can find me, Nicole, here www.theideasbodega.com.au
In this episode I speak with Tara Mckenty, Creative Head for Google in the Asia Pacific Region. Tara is an absolute creative powerhouse! We unpack why the best creative ideas come from really understanding the audience you're creating for on a deep level. Tara brings to life some of her best ideas that have earned her some of the most prestigious accolades in the advertising industry from Cannes Gold Lions , D&AD Pencils, Clios and Effies. I can't wait for you to hear the story about Penny the Pirate and how Tara has managed to brilliantly combine ideas for Google with dog food and also The Wiggles. We also dive into her creative process, what it's like being a creative working at Google and the powerful initiative called Rare that Tara has created with her 20% Google time. Rare is a global program that provides equitable opportunities for underrepresented creatives to thrive at every stage of their career. You can find more info about Rare (and Tara) here https://rare.withgoogle.com/ And you can find me, Nicole Velik here www.theideasbodega.com.au
In this episode I'm speaking to the incredible Graphic Designer Jarmaine Stojanovic. He runs a multi disciplinary design studio based in Sydney that he founded in 2016. It's called SCCO Studio. Jarmaine took a risk and started his own studio as a young designer instead of taking the well-trodden path of working at one of the big design agencies. It paid off as he hasn't been restricted by working, designing and creating in the conventional way. He attracts clients who love his unconventional style and let him push his ideas to the limits and we discuss why hospitality venues offer the perfect environment to do some boundary pushing design. In this episode we unpack and dive into Jarmaine's design process, his career journey and the techniques he uses to get some of his best ideas. You can find Jarmaine here https://scco.studio/ and www.instagram.com/scco.studio And you can find me Nicole here, www.theideasbodega.com.au
In episode 4 of Creativity Unpacked, I speak with Beck Feiner. She's an illustrator, designer and author living in Sydney Australia. Her illustrations, stories and memes shine a spotlight on social issues and tap into what's going on in society at the time. We dive into one of Beck's most brilliant ideas that went viral, The Aussie Legends Alphabet. She got so bored with the generic material and design out there that she created her own alphabet for kids. Instead of A is for apple and B is for banana, Beck created something truly legendary, A is for Adam Goodes, B is for Bob Hawke, C is for Cathy Freeman etc. This brilliant idea went viral, earned Beck a book publishing deal and propelled her career as a full time illustrator. Beck lets us under the bonnet and she shares some of the creative techniques that she learned working in advertising, lessons that she still uses in her daily creative practice. You can find Beck on instagram at www.instagram.com/beckfeiner_illustrations And you can find me, Nicole Velik at www.theideasbodega.com.au
In this episode we dive into purpose led creativity. Chloe Saintilan is a Creative Director currently at Afterpay in New York. She has had an incredible career as a copywriter in advertising at some of the best ad agencies in the world from TBWA Sydney to R/GA NYC. "If something makes you angry. Do something!" This is Chloe's credo. In this episode Chloe tells us some incredible stories of how she has used her creativity for purpose. She tells us how purpose led creativity has made a huge impact with her advertising clients in particular with Mercedes Benz where she challenged gender norms of what makes a "boys toy" or a "girls toy". The results of this campaign are mind-blowing. Chloe also tells us about how she recently created a side hustle called Merch Aid that teamed up famous New York designers with small businesses that were greatly suffering through Covid. This initiative went viral and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Chloe leaves us with a creative challenge. She reckons that you don't have to be a professional Creative to use your creativity to make a positive impact on people's lives. This episode will leave you inspired and wanting to use your own creativity for purpose. "Creativity is what makes the world a better place. When we chase it and when we apply it". You can find Chloe here: http://chloesaintilan.info/ and her newsletter here https://hypewomen.substack.com/ And you can find me, Nicole Velik here www.theideasbodega.com.au https://www.instagram.com/theideasbodega/
In this episode we dive into creative confidence and I bust the biggest myth around - that some people are born creative and others are not. This is such an important topic because when there is an underlying fear or lack of confidence when it comes to ones creativity, it becomes a huge block and impediment. Before learning any innovation or creativity tools or techniques, we need to have a good baseline of creative confidence. I then give you three practical ways to boost your creative confidence. You'll learn about my favourite word in the English language "Neoteny" and why I recommend that you embrace the willingness to be really crap at something new.
In this episode I speak to Andrew Hoyne, Founder of Hoyne - A place visioning, property branding and marketing company. We dive into his journey as a creative from being a designer on the tools to Founding Principal of Hoyne where he leads a team across three offices in Australia. When it comes to leading for creativity, Andy shares some brilliant and somewhat quirky initiatives and rituals that are the DNA of Hoyne's creative culture. Andy's roles have changed over the years and his relationship to creativity has too. We unpack what it is that drives him, his successes and his failures and his wildest dream...to build a city!
In this very first episode of Creativity Unpacked, I share a bit about myself and my beliefs on creativity. I also share what you can expect to hear in each episode, including the amazing guests I'll have on the show, practical creativity and innovation techniques and advice you'll be getting along the way to become the best creative you can be. Let's dive in and unpack some creativity!