21: The Arcoíris Approach to Creativity

 
Alex wearing a rainbow set standing in front of a white wall with flowers taped all over it
 

“I really treat design like a science experiment. It's not just a one-and-done type thing.”

Have you ever paused to ponder where creativity truly begins? Today, on Rainbow Reflections, our host Alex McGinness walks us through her design process and the possibility that originality, as we know it, might be nothing more than a seductive myth. Alex pulls inspiration from Kirby Ferguson's riveting documentary "Everything is a Remix" to spark a conversation that challenges the very core of our creative beliefs.

This episode is not just a journey through the design process, but a deep dive into the ethics of creativity and the blurred lines between homage and outright imitation. Alex shares tales from her personal treasure trove of design experiences, where the magic often emerges from a mix of patience, unexpected inspiration, and those serendipitous moments that all creators crave. She dissects the notion of creative copying, its role as a stepping stone in learning, and the subsequent leap toward true creative innovation—a leap that defines our integrity and value in the ever-evolving tapestry of the design world.

Key Topics:

  • Intro and Updates! (00:11)

  • Nothing is an Original Idea (04:25)

  • Kirby Ferguson & Everything is a Remix (05:53)

  • Walkthrough of How a Design Project Works at Arcoíris (07:25)

  • Remixes Upon Remixes of Other Ideas in the World (12:50)

  • The Mood Boarding Phase (13:14)

  • Inspiration vs. Copying and Letting Ideas Ideas Marinate (15:55)

  • Giving Space for Ideas and Creativity to Bloom (18:45)

  • Technology and Blatant Copying (22:13)

  • Wrap-Up (24:33)

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Alex McGinness

Founder & Lead Designer at Arcoíris Design Studio

https://arcoiris.design
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The Arcoíris Approach to Creativity