Sense Worldwide https://senseworldwide.com Sense Worldwide manages a global network of creative individuals that collaborate with brands to provide inspiration and feedback to accelerate innovation. Fri, 13 Dec 2019 09:46:56 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.1 Sense Supper Clubs // Stockholm Edition https://senseworldwide.com/news/sense-supper-clubs-stockholm-edition/ Tue, 15 Oct 2019 13:03:03 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473894
The Stockholm edition of Sense Supper Clubs collided liked-minded people from worlds unlike one another to share their work and side-projects and to passionately debate on subjects such as climate anxiety, electric scooters, introversion… and legumes.

By Senser co-hosts, Solveig & Åsa.

Sense Supper Club Quote
Meet the table

Solveig // Storyteller & Dance Addict
Åsa // Curious Culture Consultant
Sebastian // Data Scientist & Wine Buff
Rachel // Butter Loving Globe Trotter
Javier // Free Soul into Synchronicity
Ludvig // Entrepreneur, Product & People Guy
Divya // Pulse Nerd & Traveller
Erik // Company Developer
Norhan // Journalist & Parisian at Heart
Jill // Founder, Editor & Crossfit Lover
Carl-Arvid // Creator and Happiness Hunter

Check out our Instagram story of the evening, and meet all the guests, here.

Stockholm Sense Supper Club

Here are some of the big, sometimes weird, topics that were hotly debated around the table with passion and intelligence:

  • What makes a company fail? And does it have something in common with Van Gogh? Are failures a sign of a product-market mismatch?

  • Are we being “greenwashed”?  Are we giving a generation anxiety over climate change when really, their role in it is minuscule? How much can and should one person do?

  • Are electric scooters REALLY good for the environment? Or our mental health? Or are they encouraging us to live more hectic, stressed lives?

  • Peanuts are legumes. Cashews are nuts. But what is a fruit?! “The definition of a fruit is seeds.”  Or is it?

  • Speaking of fruits: Are peaches really better if peeled with your left hand? (Wait…peeling peaches is a thing?)

  • What does it mean to be an introvert or extrovert? And is it innate, or conditioned? Is there a “magic number” of people at a dinner table where both introverts and extroverts feel comfortable and can speak up equally?

Want a taster of the what extraordinary conversations evolve when worlds collide? Here are some links to the brain food that was shared around the table on the night…

  • The Karma app: reducing food waste or increasing consumerism? Love it or loathe it, it’s something worth checking out, both for your brain and your tastebuds.

  • The Impossible Burger: an article about the meat-free burger which actually “bleeds”. Because whaaaaat?

  • 8 deepfake examples that terrified the internet: Whether you love AI, like Sebastian, or are terrified of it, like Carl-Arvid, there’s no denying deepfakes are having an impact!

  • Baljväxtakademin: What are pulses and why are they awesome? Check out Divya’s work with the Swedish Pulses Society. Go learn something new!
  • Carl-Arvid’s LinkedIn profile. Because he’s looking for a CTO, and also, if you didn’t get a chance to try the squat game… (And vote for a name for it!)

  • Videos of Solveig’s professional bellydance group – and a signup link for the ladies and gents who want to take classes!

  • LittleBearAbroad: Jill’s company and website helping increase international talent retention in Sweden, by helping expat parents with kids settle in.

Check out some snaps of the evening below:
If you’d like to join us around the table, register to attend in your city here.
You can read about the conversations around the table in Mexico City here.
]]> Robot Atta! – The Future Of Robot Experience Design https://senseworldwide.com/news/robot-atta-the-future-of-robot-experience-design/ Wed, 02 Oct 2019 17:50:33 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473889

Before we start… in Japanese, the ‘Atta!’ exclamation is used when something has been finally found.

Exploring the future of ‘Robot Experience Design’

Jaime Garcia, a product designer and Senser in Tokyo, reached out to engage The Sense Network on a project he was embarking on with Japanese robotics company, Incubion. Together, they were exploring the future of ‘Robot Experience Design’ so that, irrespective of whether a person is tech-savvy or not, everyone in the world has the opportunity to learn about what robots are out there, as well as what makes them special. Ultimately allowing us all to recognise and identify real-world applications for future human-robot collaborations.

However at such an early stage of the project, they knew they were lacking a global footprint of perspectives to expand their minds. They wanted to go wide and go global to build a robust foundation of understanding of consumers’ perception of robots, and the robotic landscape, to ensure the product they were designing was created with the end user front of mind.

Shoko Takahashi, CEO and Founder of Incubion
Shoko Takahashi, CEO and Founder of Incubion

How talking to The Sense Network gave them a global viewpoint

Incubion were well aware of the contrasting views that the East and West hold about robotics. On the one hand, they are thought to provide opportunities for the people we care about to live a more meaningful life. On the other, they are seen as a menace that may eventually take over human roles in society.

Jaime says, “these polar views are simply the consequence of being walking blindfolded towards the introduction of a near future. What’s important is that we’re educated. We need to increase robot literacy by providing accessible, accurate and up-to-date information to responsibly evolve the conversation for the future.”

In short, their team needed smart, diverse and global perspectives to help them find and design better, more conscious human-robot collaborations for every aspect of our daily activities, work, interactions and art. Longterm, Incubion want to be the reason for this exclamation: Robot, Atta!

Incubion Robotic Art
Artistic applications of robotics

How The Sense Network expanding Incubion’s minds

“The response from The Sense Network was so invaluable for us; not only because the global footprint of their responses, but also because their answers and opinions were far more diverse than we originally expected. They really helped broaden our perspective at this early stage.” – Shoko, CEO of Incubion

The Sense Network were probed about their current experience and understanding of robots and the robotics landscape. From the research and discovery phase, to the application of robotics products and services themselves, The Sense Network’s smart, reflective and articulate input helped challenge the team’s world view and build confidence in the design of stage two.

Here are just a few learnings that Sensers from across the world helped the Incubion team formalise:

    • There’s power with the people: Humans look to rely on other humans before starting any search into robotics – word of mouth is key to build trust in the discovery phase. The more specialised the group of peers is, the more refined the search can become. However with specialist knowledge also comes an unavoidable bias about the application of the technology within these fields and opportunities for wider applications can be missed.
      How might we best harness feedback from diverse perspectives, skillsets and professions to design a product that builds trust and encourages exploration across industry and application?

 

    • Understanding the niche in order to go mainstream: Robots are still relatively niche in our wider lexicon and applications, and the discovery journey tends to only move forward if those interested in robotics solutions fully understand the specifications they are looking for in advance (i.e. the search for a solution for a specific project/problem). It became clear that consultants and researchers in the space are indeed key players that hunt for this information. However it’s actually the general office workers and designers that are (or will be) the regular users long term. The Sense Network helped Incubion realise the potential in designing a product that allows both groups to explore the potential of robots, regardless of the problem/project.
      How might we learn from the current niche needs and behaviours to better design for a more mainstream audience in the future – irrespective of the technological knowledge or challenge at hand?

 

    • It’s not you, it’s me:  The Sense Network expanded Incubion’s minds and kept them thinking… Is the problem really the way we specifically search for robots? Or instead, is it the way humans search in general?
      How might we challenge our own biases throughout the project to consider and explore wider human attitudes and behaviours that might affect the way we search for new technologies? 

 

What’s next? Atta!

With Stage One of Project Atta! complete, Incubion will now be looking to conduct in person interviews with select Sensers across the globe as they dive deeper into the discovery phase of consumer journeys. These detailed learnings will then lead Jaime and the Incubion team into their ideation phase, where they will start to map all The Sense Network’s feedback into tangible designs for what the Atta! product/service could look like as it aims to increase robot literacy around the world.

Those Sensers that volunteered their time to input in Stage One will also be provided exclusive access to the report so watch this space!

Watch this space – we will be following their journey closely and sharing stories with you all as we hear them!

 

In the meantime read more about Incubion here and follow them on Facebook here.

]]> Sense Supper Clubs // Mexico City Edition https://senseworldwide.com/news/sense-supper-clubs-mexico-city-edition/ Thu, 01 Aug 2019 08:58:10 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473869
The first Sense Supper Club in Mexico City gathered liked-minded people from different backgrounds and fields to share their projects, side-hustles and to speak their minds about on culture, consumption, sustainability and social innovation. 

by Rodrigo Herrera, Senser host

It is impossible to ignore to the weather if you live in Mexico City; it may switch from winter to summer, to a thunderstorm in the same day! Recently, we have had lot of hail (it messes the city up and makes everybody really crabby). This why, as trivial as it sounds, weather was our starting point that naturally lead the conversation to climate change. 

Moving deep into our conversation and experiences, I discovered several takeaways and challenged my preconceptions around the future of work (and the new economies based on services), the influence of our parents in our feeding habits, the difference between interpreting and translating, and the reality of people living with a hearing impairment.  

Meet the table

Mexico City Sense Supper Club 7

Rodrigo Herrera // Marketer & Equality Campaigner
Marilaura Lopez // Making Music Accessible For Hearing Loss
Iris Carolina Garcia Lugo // Children’s Cook
Adriana Lopez Marroquin // Street Art Lover & Entrepreneur
Mariana Gabriela Hernandez Carranza // Interior & Lighting Designer
Javier Barriopedro // Writer & Translator
Clarisa Segura // Industrial Engineer & Travelling Lover
Sofia Hernandez Montero // Market Research & Hobbyist
Alejandra García // Global Language Lover
Paola Reyes // Business Editor & Yoga Lover

Check out our Instagram story of the evening, and meet all the guests, here.

What I found in common about the people gathered at the table was their self-awareness. We all wanted to learn, share, build and buy better; we also want to be better people.

We are interested in how people are solving paradigms like pollution and consumerism, and while we praise the companies and brands that take a step forward to sustainability, we also question the double standard or superficiality of their involvement; we were all linked in some way or another. 

Below are some references and take aways from the evening. 

  • There is a lot going on about sustainability but not a lot for climate change. There are very few companies that account for most of the plastic pollution of the ocean, for example. We tend to satanise the plastic, but talk very little about changing our everyday actions.
  • Here’s a great article on 9 companies recycling PET for products
  • Eliminating junk food should be the priority for school (public and private); Mexico has the world’s worst rates of childhood obesity. We are not taught to eat, children get their habits from parents. She doesn’t eat fish because at their house they never cooked it.
  • The awesome and festive props for music festival by Adriana!
    Mexico City Sense Supper Club 5
    Adriana’s amazing festival hat designs

     

  • The realities of people living with a hearing impairment: Marilaura told us about how children with a hearing impairment are often diagnosed incorrectly. For example it can be mistaken for autism because of the signs and traits shown at early age. From the moment a person starts losing their hearing, to the moment they are correctly diagnosed, 10 years may have passed!

Mexico City Sense Supper Club 6

 

  • Talk of the town… masculinities: In some cases, the strong bond that can be created between fathers and daughters can have a counterpart manifesting as a distant relation between the father and his son.
     

 

Mexico City Sense Supper Club 5
Adriana's amazing festival hat designs
Mexico City Sense Supper Club 6
Mexico City Sense Supper Club 7

If you’d like to join us around the table, register to attend in your city here.

You can read about the conversations around the table in Barcelona here.

]]> Felix Burghardt // Amsterdam https://senseworldwide.com/senser-stories/felix-burghardt-amsterdam/ Wed, 31 Jul 2019 15:28:33 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473855
Introducing Felix; a book lover, daydreamer and Service & Experience Designer based in Amsterdam.
Felix Burghardt, Amsterdam

Hey I’m…
Felix

I’m currently based in..
Amsterdam, Holland

I’m…
German

And my day job is…
Freelance Service & Experience Designer

You can find me on….

LinkedIn & Instagram
www.felixburghardt.com

Hi, I’m Felix…

I am an Amsterdam-based service and experience designer with a hospitality background, German roots, a problem-solving brain and an eye for detail.

So tell us Felix, what are you passionate about?

My biggest passion is to constantly think about new ideas and eventually turn these ideas into projects and experiences. It’s quite simple but I just love creating experiences that foster positive emotions, make people smile and are useful to others. Besides that I love sports, daydreaming, Sundays, books, a great turkey melt sandwich and above all – my family.

Felix Burghardt, Surfer

What keeps you busy at the moment?

As mentioned earlier, I am currently freelancing as a Service & Experience Designer. I decided to go for experience design because it’s the truest, most fulfilling way I can realise my full potential. This career allows me to both grow professionally and personally. I can make impactful business decisions for this world, but also help people in the process. 

I just recently helped a Paris-based co-living company develop an on-boarding journey that puts their tenants’ needs front and centre, while building a stronger community. 

At the moment I am assessing my next client opportunities and additionally to my freelance projects, I am also working on a personal idea around creating city hubs that combine solitude, silence and sensory experiences to help people reconnect with themselves. To fight loneliness for example we don’t only need to surround ourselves with more people, but we also need to start feeling comfortable with ourselves while being alone. This project ties into this philosophy.  

And lastly, besides my freelance work and the personal project, what always keeps me busy is learning. Learning new things that have an immediate impact on what I do. So currently I am taking part in a workshop on how to build a better brand.

Felix Burghardt, Amsterdam

What are my biggest learnings? 

  • Read books: They have been my saviours along the way when facing any kind of challenges (i.e. branding, sales, people’s skills)
  • Trust yourself and let yourself guided by your heart and gut, even if there is no safe or clear plan: After I graduated I decided to move to Amsterdam and go for an internship instead of a well-paid job. It felt like the right thing to do to improve myself and to reach my bigger goals. And even when I started freelancing, I was still missing a lot of knowledge.But it would have been more “painful” for  me to start a normal job again instead of trying to find a way to become really good at what I really, really love doing. 
  • Test your assumptions (this works with everything in life): I always wanted to have my own company and never really settle for a corporate job. So before investing much time and money I decided to freelance in order to see if I like this way of working and living. And this test has been a success so far!
  • Don’t feel shy, ask for advice and help others: People love to help other people. I once spoke to a VC who was very busy with agriculture projects in Africa for some advice on a project. Despite his busy schedule he took the time to help me. I asked him why and he replied that when he started his career, he asked a lot of people for support and he will never forget how important this was for him. So his credo was to always spare some time for people who ask him for help. A mindset I adopted as well.
  • Show that you care: This mindset helped me land freelance jobs, build and sustain relationships and in many other aspects in life. 
  • Set clear goals and focus on what matters most to move forward: This is still something I am trying to master. When I started to work for myself I was a bit overwhelmed with everything on my to-do list. I started to ask myself, “What is the most important thing I have to do in this moment to reach the next goal?” This helped me avoid distractions and focus on what matters most.

Additionally:

  • Talk with and learn from people who are how you want to be
  • Be patient and don’t push too hard
  • Leave out the bullshit and come straight to the essence
  • Add humour to everything you do
We know everyone’s working process is different. We also know you can learn a lot from the experiences of others so share yours below.


When are you most productive/creative? How do you get into the flow?

I am the most productive when I set a clear purpose and have a bigger perspective or longer vision. This helps me with bigger projects but also when it comes to plan my day. I need to know where I am going to avoid floating around and focusing on tasks that don’t bring me anywhere.

When it comes to doing tasks I don’t really like, experience design taught me that you can turn every negative event into something positive. I strongly disliked Mondays in the past. Also because I never wanted Sundays to end. One day I started to implement a ritual that changed my perspective. I connected going to my favourite burrito place (frequent visitor) with Mondays. The only rule was to have the burrito only on Mondays. And since then Mondays didn’t seem so bad anymore. 

Show us a picture of your favourite working spot.

I do like to work at home but thanks to a good friend I am currently enjoying working at Spaces in Amsterdam.

Spaces, Amsterdam
My working spot in Spaces, Amsterdam

What playlist is on in the background and why?

There is not much music playing in the background. I actually really like to work in silence in order to fully focus. But I do appreciate the sound of nature while working – like a good old thunderstorm including heavy rain. And if I do decide for music, it’s usually Tom Misch.

 

Tell us a bit about the place you’re living right now.

Where is home at the moment?

I am currently based in Amsterdam living in the beautiful district of the Jordaan.

Jordaan, Amsterdam
Jordaan, Amsterdam

What do you love about this place? Is there anything you feel makes it unique?

I really like Amsterdam for its relaxed atmosphere, open mindset and safe bike lanes. There’s just something different about being able to cycle everywhere within the city rather than taking a cramped subway. I also feel it’s such an innovative and inspiring city that gives you a lot of energy.

Amsterdam
Tell us about the hidden gems that you’d take your visitors/friends to where you live and why you chose them?
  • ‘La Perla’: Rumors say that you will most likely find the best Pizza of Amsterdam at this beautiful location.
  • Vuurtoren Eiland: If you plan your trip in advance try to reserve a spot at Vuurtoren Eiland. Especially if you are into local food and special dining experiences that feel like a little mini vacation.
  • Mediamatic: If you are looking for a place that combines art, culture and new technologies you should definitely visit Mediamatic for some inspiring workshops ().
  • Zoku: Zoku is a home/office hybrid made for mobile professionals and a really inspiring place to connect with people from all over the world.
    Zoku, Amsterdam
    Zoku, Amsterdam

     

  • Amsterdamse Bos: This is the perfect place to get away from the city and reconnect with nature. It easy to reach by bike and you will be rewarded with lots of nature and the opportunity to cuddle with goats!

    Amsterdamse Bos
    Amsterdamse Bos

    Amsterdamse Bos
    Hanging out with the goats in Amsterdamse Bos
Collaborating with The Sense Network


I could support others in the Network by..

… /in building memorable experiences for their customers or employees.

I’d like to collaborate with Sensers that would like to…

… bounce off ideas, learn from each other or simply exchange experiences.

 

The Sense Network work together to make things better and make better things. Tell us about the one thing you’d change in the world…

I am actually going to reframe this questions to: What is working in the world and how can we do more of it?

I see a lot of great rising movements and organisations that support communities that don’t have the same opportunities as others. 

Thanks to my girlfriend I got to know a project called Klabu. Klabu is a non-profit organisation, that builds sports club within refugee camps and raising money by selling high quality sportswear.

Klabu
Get your Klabu jersey!

I started to support this project and bought a jersey. And instead of suggesting a completely new idea on how to save this world that probably won’t have any impact, I would kindly ask you to follow this project and have a look at their jerseys!

Read ‘The Courage to be Disliked‘ by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga to discover a new perspective.

Listen to Everything is alive to hear the life stories of everyday objects.

Watch Ze Frank to inspire yourself to start again.

Sign up to the Monocle Minute to stay informed and inspired.

More Senser Stories

]]> Sense Supper Clubs // Barcelona Edition https://senseworldwide.com/news/sense-supper-clubs-barcelona-edition/ Mon, 22 Jul 2019 12:52:35 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473841
Read on to find out how third culture kids, alien enthusiasts, artists and bot entrepreneurs all came together at this month’s Sense Supper Club in the beautiful Barcelona, with Senser co-hosts Rachel and Kate.

Barcelona Sense Supper Club

by Emma Skipper, Network Lead (and guest on the night!)

I’ve never worked in a business were serendipity takes hold so often. This July saw fate in full force as Vienna/London-based Senser, Kate, dropped the team a note asking if there were any like-minded souls in Barcelona that she could connect to while she was undertaking a summer course in the city.

Of course, her wish was our command and I immediately connected her with Rachel; a self proclaimed compulsive organiser, social sheepdog, sideways scientist (and queen of potatoes). It didn’t take long before we all realised there couldn’t be a better excuse for them both to co-host a Sense Supper Club; colliding newcomer Kate’s world with other extraordinary Sensers from worlds unlike hers living in the city.

Within just a few days we had our table plan lined up* and private room booked at the brilliant Chido One in Gracia. From third culture kids to alien enthusiasts and artists to bot entrepreneurs; the diversity of skillsets and interests and divergence of thought and opinion was remarkable… and it’s safe to say we were not short of energy, openness, enthusiasm and conversation on the night. You can see our Instagram highlight of the evening here for a taster of what went on.

*I’d also recently discovered through Ana’s Senser Story that we might be able to collaborate on a graphic novel together so it was the perfect opportunity to get us all together in person.

“Wow! Such an incredible mix of people, places, verbal, physical & emotional languages, ideas and creative journeys! The Barcelona Supper Club was such a unique opportunity to have real conversations that surprise you, keep you guessing, and in some cases completely change your misconceptions about things (you thought) you’d never considered before. A killer way to spend a Wednesday night – already looking forward to the next one!” – Rachel, Co-Host

Meet the guests around the table

Rachel Cruickshank // Compulsive Organiser & Social Sheepdog
Kate Ruston // Community Collider & Alien Intrigued
Sandra Julve // Cultural Philosopher & Artist
Henrik Beckmann // Bot Entrepreneur & Multiverse Theorist
Ana Larrosa // Upcycler and Illustrator
Ned Howey // Political Technologist & Musician
Emma Skipper // Maker Of Make Believe
Mayya Papaya // Foodist & Third Culture Kid
Hanna Bekefi // UX Designer & Monster Illustrator
Barcelona Sense Supper Club
The calm for the huge storm that descended on us (but didn't dampen our spirits!).
Barcelona Sense Supper Club
Ned perusing the amazing Mexican food at Chido One.
Barcelona Sense Supper Club
Ana sharing Hanna's story!
Barcelona Sense Supper Club
Rachel sharing Kate's life story (and love of aliens!)
Barcelona Sense Supper Club
Kate trying to decipher Sandra's life story!
Barcelona Sense Supper Club
Ned sharing Mayya's love of food and community with the table.
Barcelona Sense Supper Club
Co-host Kate doing what she does best!
Barcelona Sense Supper Club
The table all set for the guests to arrive!

To give you an idea of the kind of conversation you can expect to experience (or eavesdrop on from the other end of the table), here are just a few of the cerebral snacks that were shared on the night:

Do you want to make things better and make better things? For people, businesses and the planet?

You’re not alone. Sensers are all like-minded individuals for worlds unlike each others. They are more than just their job titles and definitely don’t fit into a box. Sense Supper Clubs are evenings hosted in cities all over the world and are designed for members of The Sense Network to come together and make things better and make better things, together.

Guests around the table all have unique life experiences to share and these dinners offer a space for local Sensers to come together in-person and meaningfully connect with like-minded guests over delicious food and unexpected conversation. Curious connections will be made, inspiring stories shared, lasting relationships forged and future frontiers explored. Because individually our Sensers are remarkable. But together we are extraordinary.

So, whether you are a graffiti artist, doctor, dominatrix, glassblower, beatboxer, astronomer, retiree, single father, skydiver, pagan witch, poet, scientist, collector, academic or gamer; if you want to explore how you can use and develop your own unique creative intelligence to make things better and make better things, you’ve got a place at the table.

We look forward to colliding your world with ours. Register to attend in your city here.

]]> Ana La Rosa // Barcelona https://senseworldwide.com/senser-stories/ana-la-rosa-barcelona/ Fri, 12 Jul 2019 14:36:12 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473823
Introducing Ana; a designer, illustrator, sustainability lover and foodie based in Barcelona.
Ana Rita La Rosa

Hey I’m…
Ana

I’m currently based in..
Barcelona, Spain

I’m…
Spanish

And my day job is…
Designer and illustrator at Frita Studio

You can find me on….

Instagram
www.fritastudio.com

Hi, I’m Ana.

I am lucky enough to work as a self employed designer in my beautiful studio in Poblenou, Barcelona. On a typical day, I sit down at my desk wearing comfy clothes and, facing the blue sky, I get the creativity going. The uncertainty of not knowing what my next project will be, keeps me excited and thrilled. 

So tell us Ana, what are you passionate about?

My thing is drawing and painting! It’s therapeutic, relaxing. It helps me communicate and tell stories, enthuse and generate emotions. I try to do it as much as I can and, sometimes, I get to incorporate it in my design work.

Ana La Rosa Designer Illustrator
Some of my illustrations from my hobby.

Ana La Rosa heidi illustration

Ana La Rosa Designer Illustrator

Coming from a family of chefs and basically having grown up in a kitchen, cooking is also a passion of mine (and then eating it)! I used to have a food blog (RIP) which is where the name of my studio comes from FRITA (in Spanish: ‘fried’)

Oh and I just adopted a cat who doesn’t have a name yet! Accepting ideas… 🙂

adopted cat
My new adopted cat… name ideas welcome!
What keeps you busy at the moment?

I am focussing on a studio rebrand, working with two other girls: a community manager and a photographer to create a multidisciplinary boutique studio and offers bespoke design and marketing solutions that are heavily focussed on strong brand strategy, innovation and communication.

Ana Rita La Rosa Studio

Throughout this journey I have learnt to accept and be grateful.

Work wise, I have learnt that neither failure nor success define me and that I should never listen to my ego. Yet, confidence and believing in yourself is crucial to achieve anything.

ps. I know it sounds cliche AF, but I was my worst enemy and sabotaged myself for a long time, so I mean it!

We know everyone’s working process is different. We also know you can learn a lot from the experiences of others so share yours below.


When are you most productive/creative? How do you get into the flow?

Creativity doesn’t always work 9 to 5, unfortunately, but working for it helps.

The first thing is surrounding yourself with the project and getting to know your client as much as you can. Observing and learning about them, to find what their needs are (they don’t always know it themselves…). Once you dive into a project, you breath it, then the inspiration will hit you when you least expect it… and then off you go! 

If I am ever stuck, ideation games do help to see beyond the surface (ishikawa diagrams, mind maps, card games…)

Ana Rita La Rosa The studio
Inspiration in the studio

Show us a picture of your favourite working spot.

Ana Rita La Rosa
My favourite working spot in the studio!

What playlist is on in the background and why?

Huge radiohead fan, so any album , specially In Rainbows keeps me happy.

Good old soul like this playlist.

And this one if I’m feeling sexy.

 

Tell us a bit about the place you’re living right now.

Where is home at the moment?

Home is where I was born: Barcelona, where I moved back a while ago after 9 years in the UK (Liverpool, Brighton & London).

What do you love about this place? Is there anything you feel makes it unique?

Living in this sunny and beautiful city feels like being on a permanent holiday! The sea, the blue sky, the funny people, the relaxing vibes, the beautiful (and cheap) wine. And the food, of course!

Tell us about the hidden gems that you’d take your visitors/friends to where you live and why you chose them?

My neighbourhood is a total gem: Poblenou. Away from the city centre buzz: it’s quiet,  but lively at the same time. Full of creative studios, galleries, independent cafes… An old industrial area, I call it Brooklyn by the sea.

A street in Poblenou, Barcelona
A street in Poblenou, Barcelona

Here is a beautiful video but the history of this area told by their neighbours.

 

Collaborating with The Sense Network


I could support others in the Network by..

… helping them develop a visual language that represents them and delivers their message adequately. Together, exploring each others’ environments, we can learn and find the best way to connect effectively with others.

I’d like to collaborate with Sensers that would like to…

…without limit to my imagination to bring those world-changing projects to life.

As creators, I feel it is our responsibility to minimise the negative impact of the products we develop. I believe that placing users at the centre of the design process and having an awareness of their environment is the key to designing efficiently.

 

The Sense Network work together to make things better and make better things. Tell us about the one thing you’d change in the world…

Plastic! I would love a world without plastic. I studied sustainable design to create products that do not harm this world as much as plastic does. It is possible!

You can read some of my University research for designing plastic-less in the street food disposable world below:

Disposable: A report on disposable packaging

Chilled Meat Packaging & The Older Adult: A report on inclusive design

You’ve got to read cradle to cradle because it is a bible for sustainable design. Watch an overview here.

Listen to Folamour to make you feel Happy.

Watch Mujica to inspire Faith in the world.

Watch Kiwi! to inspire self-determination.

More Senser Stories

]]> Stylés Akira // Los Angeles https://senseworldwide.com/senser-stories/styles-akira-los-angeles/ Thu, 27 Jun 2019 15:31:03 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473799
Introducing Stylés; a composer, designer, and writer from Los Angeles.

Hey I’m…
Stylés Akira

I’m currently based in..
Los Angeles, CA, USA 

I’m…
American

And my day job is…
Brand Strategist/Market Researcher/University Lecturer

You can find me on….
Linkedin
www.casaladonicce.com

Hi, I’m Stylés. I’m a composer, a designer, and a writer. I also have a children’s entertainment line that I develop cartoons, music, books and merchandise for.
So tell us Stylés, what are you passionate about?

I produce a variety of material but my primary work at the moment focuses on a children’s entertainment line I created called the Mighty Mighty SnackBox Brigade. It includes books, comics, animation, music, and branded merchandise.

Stylés Akira - The Mighty Mighty SnackBox Brigade
The Mighty Mighty SnackBox Brigade

I compose in all genres and the inspiration behind the SnackBox was to fill a void by creating high quality children’s songs that adults can enjoy—because most children’s music sounds like nursery rhymes that kids appreciate, but as a kid I liked listening to the music on the radio as well, though I didn’t always understand its meaning. There are children’s songs that sound like mainstream pop music but these are all either youth vocal covers of pop hits as in Razor & Tie’s Kidz Bop series, or mediocre pastiche of commercial pop.

The idea behind my project is to have a virtual band of animated characters singing creatively informed, original compositions for kids that any adult can fully appreciate without missing a beat.

It was a bit of a challenge getting there, but once I got the hang of it—in writing the stories, developing the characters and merchandise, and composing the music—it has become one of the most enriching experiences of my life and the defining work of my creative career. 

I’m really passionate about producing work that children can enjoy because in my understanding we’re all still really just children inside.

You grow out of it in character, but it never escapes you deep down, because being a child means being in a stage in life where you’re constantly vulnerable and dependent on others. When we become adults we may seem as though we’re invulnerable and that we are self sufficient, but on a societal level we always encounter these precarious conditions, and in this way we see that our social engagement is constantly driven by childlike ambitions such as cooperation, which constitutes depending on others, or the need for security—economically, politically, environmentally, etc., i.e. a sanctuary from our vulnerabilities.  

In addition to this, I created the Youthful Offender Clothing line, which can be described by the following:

Youthful Offender is an ode to the misguided ambitions of the forgotten adolescents of every era. Outcasts on the fringe of social acceptability, they find refuge in the reckless abandonment of juvenile mischief and the delinquent antics of a heart spirited by the freedom to be young and wild amidst a world full of rules and boundaries. Youthful Offender celebrates those of all ages who resist the oppression of the status quo in the constant struggle for progressive change in the name of justice and equality.

Stylés Akira - Youthful Offender - IVVENILIS REVS T-Shirt
Youthful Offender – IVVENILIS REVS T-Shirt

Stylés Akira - Youthful Offender Handcuff Schematic T-Shirt
Youthful Offender Handcuff Schematic T-Shirt

Stylés Akira - Youthful Offender Basic T-Shirt
Youthful Offender Basic T-Shirt

I’m also in the process of finalizing a short documentary that I produced from my dissertation work at USC, which I directed, produced, and composed the musical score and soundtrack for. It’s called Project Designer ID and it looks at the influences that brands and consumers can have on our perceived social identity of one another using the T-Shirt as the medium of communication.

Stylés Akira - Project Designer ID Movie Poster
Project Designer ID Movie Poster

Stylés Akira - Project Designer ID Book
Project Designer ID Book

Stylés Akira - Project Designer ID T-Shirt
Project Designer ID T-Shirt

What keeps you busy at the moment?

After one year of lecturing, this year I started a marketing services agency by taking the most elite graduate students I’ve taught in the USC Annenberg Master of Communication Management (MCM) program, and creating an opportunity for them to gain professional experience and build portfolios with their own business enterprises through an organization I called The Annie Agency, LLC. 

Stylés Akira - The Annie Agency

The organization’s first initiative is its altruistic promotion of equality and justice, used to empower those who have been left behind and forgotten by the modern work economy.

It has accomplished this by establishing an egalitarian business model where every agent is compensated equally with the lion’s share of the earnings from their labor—from the newest hire to the CEO.

At the same time we maintain an unparalleled ability to perform in the market using these same philosophical principles of Positive Deviance to collect information, analyze its meaning, and draw rational conclusions in ways that no-one else is doing. 

The company’s core values are using PURE INGENUITY to create something from nothing. And to be A NEW KIND OF AGENCY with A NEW BUSINESS MODEL, and A NEW WAY OF THINKING. 

It’s mission is to change the way people see the world by asking the questions no one is asking and finding the answers.

 

We know everyone’s working process is different. We also know you can learn a lot from the experiences of others so share yours below.


When are you most productive/creative? How do you get into the flow?

I’m most product/creative when I’m alone, often late at night. I get into that flow by meditating either on the now and how I feel in the present, or on the past by conjuring up some momentous emotion I’ve felt before. This drives me to create, to scribble things in notepads in a frenzy, to stop the world around me while I work to achieve my goals. It is a form of inspiration, but more so it is a form of desperation in the desire to complete what is unfinished.

Show us a picture of your favourite working spot.

Stylés Akira - SnackBox Studios
SnackBox Studios

What playlist is on in the background and why?

The Mighty SnackBox Brigade plays nonstop in this space, because this is the home of the SnackBox. This is where it’s all made.

 

Tell us a bit about the place you’re living right now.

Where is home at the moment?

I currently live in Los Angeles, California, on the west coast of the United States.

What do you love about this place? Is there anything you feel makes it unique?

I love the weather of Los Angeles. It’s always sunny and warm. I also love the diversity of this city. There is a very cosmopolitan mixture here that isn’t rigidly siloed off but instead is often heavily integrated. This town is driven by the culture of the entertainment industry and is arguably the global capital of that business. Those things combined with the weather make it a place where anything can happen at any time, and it usually does…for better or for worse. The excitement of that unpredictability and uncertainty make it adventurous to live in LA. A lot of trends in the recent past have started here and expanded from here. It’s fun to see those cultural constructs develop on the streets of Los Angeles and trickle their way out to the national and even global masses.

Tell us about the hidden gems that you’d take your visitors/friends to where you live and why you chose them?

When friends come to town I like to take them to the Pacific Palisades where you can hike up oceanside mountain trails and see the city and the sea horizons all at once from the tops of the cliffs.

Stylés Akira - Pacific Palisades
The Pacific Palisades

 

Everybody wants In N’ Out Burger but I like to take people to this former illegal, underground spot that was selling burgers out of the founder’s backyard called Burgers Never Say Die. They recently went legit and opened an official restaurant space in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock. They serve insane smash burgers on a minimalist menu with the most delicious fries. 

Stylés Akira - Burgers Never Say Die
Burgers Never Say Die

If it’s summer time I’d also take them to see jazz for free in the outdoor court of LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) on Fridays.

Stylés Akira - LACMA Jazz
LACMA Jazz
Collaborating with The Sense Network


I could support others in the Network by..
… constantly scanning the cultural landscape for insights into the current momentum of the zeitgeist. Sharing those insights in the form of snackable nuggets of data and informational resources. And building bridges between myself and others where we could have opportunities to collaborate and make interesting findings together, comparatively between our distinct markets and in the global market at large.

I’d like to collaborate with Sensers that would like to…
… understand the world we live in and change it for the better.

 

The Sense Network work together to make things better and make better things. Tell us about the one thing you’d change in the world…

Burt Bacharach and Hal David once wrote that, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.”

While I concur with this sentiment, there are many that may argue that the notion of love in all its forms—Eros, Philos, and Agape—is little more than a psychological reflex that evolved in humans and other animals and prevailed through natural selection in order to help our species survive by stimulating our ability to reproduce, and our desire to remain in family units while providing a selfless degree of protection and assistance for our offspring, partners, and close kinship networks. These are the same endocrine driven phenomena that cause the tendency for us to have a naturally higher affinity for people that look like us, sound like us, or people who look or sound similar people we like or admire. In short, they can be deduced to visceral chemical reactions in the brain and body that lead us to certain affective and cognitive states from whence a socially desirable set of behaviors is most likely to occur.

I propose that what the world needs now more than ever is EMPATHY. Empathy is closest in form to love as Agape, and is not contingent upon a prior relation or any preferential biases for its activation. However, even Agape is predicated on a chemically driven, reflexively induced, uncontrolled internal mind state that stimulates the desire to be compassionate. Empathy by contrast is a rational disposition contingent upon self-reflection and the ability to share in the external mind states of others such that one gains the understanding that, “If it were me, this is how I would feel, this is what I would want, and this is what I would not want.” This, we often call The Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” That is empathy, and that is the basis of a productive society that works. Empathy, by all means, could still be reduced to innate psychological processes that have advanced through evolution due to its benefits for species survival. However, empathy can be argued to be dictated by higher order cognitive thinking as opposed to the base, visceral, affects that guide the behavior controlled by love.

The lack of empathy can be legitimately argued to be the cause of nearly all of the tragedy in the world from wars, to plastic in the ocean and nuclear proliferation. All of this and beyond is brought about by a lack of empathy. If we had empathy this would all disappear and we could focus solely on fighting unpreventable disease and natural disasters. So if I could change the world I would build systems of communication that constantly reinforce the idea that empathy should dominate the reasoning behind every part of every action that we commit. And I would help our global cultures evolve so that a lack of empathy is not only deeply frowned upon, but it is wholly rejected by the society.

Read more on the science behind love here, and here.

You’ve got to read The 48 Laws of Power because it’s a cold world.

Listen to Earl Nightingale’s 30 Day Challenge to make you feel Motivated.

Watch Kiwi! to inspire self-determination.

Sign up to Vox to keep up to date with Politics, Culture, and International Affairs.

More Senser Stories

]]> Susie Kahlich // Berlin https://senseworldwide.com/senser-stories/susie-kahlich-berlin/ Tue, 04 Jun 2019 13:21:06 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473786
Introducing Susie; a martial artist, art podcaster and astronomy lover from Berlin.

Hey I’m…
Susie Kahlich

I’m currently based in..
Berlin, Germany 

I’m…
German-American (American-German)

And my day job is…
Founder & Lead Instructor, Pretty Deadly Self Defense and Founder & Executive Producer, SINGE Network

You can find me on Instagram…
Pretty Deadly Self Defense

Hi, I’m Susie Kahlich. I run a self defense program that I developed designed to make learning self defense more accessible, effective, and fun (especially for beginners).

I also host and produce Artipoeus, a podcast telling stories about art — it’s like The Moth meets Modern Art. And I executive produce a podcast hosted by two legal sex workers here in Berlin, as the first product of my mini media empire, SINGE Network. 

So tell us Susie, what are you passionate about?

I really love soundscapes and audio art, although I can’t do them nearly on the same level as the people I go see perform live. I also love physics, and dream of visiting the collider at CERN — I’ve already visited a smaller superconductor here in Berlin, and this summer will be visiting BESSIE. My biggest dream to combine those two things and stage an opera electronica I’ve been working for the past few years at CERN. In other news, lately I’m really curious about astronomy, and crows.

A particle accelerator! I wanted to give it a forever home, but it got away from me.

 

What keeps you busy at the moment?

Right now the thing that keeps me most busy is Pretty Deadly, not only teaching the courses, but overseeing the mobile app we’re building to make self defense accessible everywhere, as well as an increasing number of invitations for talks and presentations, which I greatly enjoy.

Susie Kalich Presenter

When I’m not working on Pretty Deadly or training, I’m developing the second season marketing for the Business or Pleasure podcast, and trying to figure out how to evolve Artipoeus next.

And of course scheming about a few other projects that are always percolating.  

When I’m not doing any of those things, you might find me at a live concert, or on stage at a poetry slam, or strength training at the gym — I recently got back into weight lifting and found a great partner to train with, which makes it so much easier. Or just hanging out with my neighbors and practicing my German at my local Kneipe.  And keeping an eye out for good graffiti trucks.

Berlin graffiti trucks
Berlin! When I first got here there were no graffiti trucks, and now – bam! Graffiti trucks!

 

Thinking about your journey here, what are your biggest learnings?

I dropped out of college in NYC in the ‘80s, because I thought the university of life would give me a better education. I learned how to do sound for live bands at CBGB’s, working Punk Rock Sundays, and even once did sound for Sun Ra at the Original Knitting Factory! But I also fell in with a ragtag group of neo-expressionist painters, and hung out with them and absorbed All the Art Knowledge when I wasn’t working. I fell in love with a guy who edited film, and I learned all about filmmaking from the editing point of view, which brought me to LA where I tried my hand at being a screenwriter.

Before I could get very far with that career move, I became the victim of a violent crime — an incident that launched me into martial arts, and looking for a way to help women who suffer violence and don’t have the supportive community I did. My mom was my first self defense client, and teaching a Japanese martial art to a stubborn, unathletic old Swede is how I came up with Pretty Deadly.

Susie Kalich Black belt and Ki
My black belt & ki

Eventually, I moved on to Paris where I found a place to use my audio skills, screenwriting skills, and love of art in a little radio segment I produced called Expo Paris for World Radio Paris. That became Artipoeus, while I continued to refine Pretty Deadly and teach Ninjutsu along the way.

Et… voila! Here I am, the founder of SINGE Network, an online and real-time live event platform that uses storytelling, the immigrant experience (and a few Ninja skills) as the foundation of all our activities.

My learnings: when I started to pay attention to the things I sought out and did at every stage in life, and every where I went — the things that stuck — it was easier for me to stop trying to fit into other roles, and figure out a way to carve my own.

We know everyone’s working process is different. We also know you can learn a lot from the experiences of others so share yours below.


When are you most productive/creative? How do you get into the flow?

I’m a morning person, so much so that I usually have to fight myself whether I should workout first thing, or write first thing, or do admin, or- or- or…   I do start every day with movement, even if it’s just cleaning up from the night before, and that movement gets me going. By the middle of my first cup of coffee, I’ve jumped into my day. It really doesn’t take much to get into a flow these days, because I’m just really excited about what I do. That’s such a privilege, to have that feeling!

Show us a picture of your favourite working spot.

Susie Kalich Office
Home!

What playlist is on in the background and why?

I have an old mini iPod that has about 10 years of audio stored on it, mostly from an old laptop that exploded a few years ago. When I have a lot of admin work to get through, I plug this into the speakers and put it on shuffle. It’s a mix of favorite music in different genres, some comedy albums I was listening to when training for a marathon, and Pimsler French lessons when I was getting ready to move to France. The ebb and flow of sounds move from background music to grabbing my attention (Ecoutez, et repetez!), and creates a nice working rythm between bursts of focused activity and forced little breaks.

 

Tell us a bit about the place you’re living right now.

Where is home at the moment?

I’m based in Berlin – specifically, the curious island of Moabit.

 

What do you love about this place? Is there anything you feel makes it unique?

I love Berlin for the weird wormhole quality of it. You can move from 1980s Berlin to the future in less than block and oftentimes at the same party; geographical, it feels and is pretty vast, but then you’re out for a walk somewhere, turn a corner and suddenly realize you’re really close to something you thought was clear across town. It’s like a time-traveling, shape-shifting urban small town.

 

Tell us about the hidden gems that you’d take your visitors/friends to where you live and why you chose them?


The Secret Beer Garden – this actually has another name that I don’t remember because I never use it, and isn’t all that secret to folks local to the neighborhood where it lives, but it’s in a really surprising place and once you enter, you feel like you’ve stepped into a totally different city.

Naturkundunmuseum – this museum not only has one of the most wonderful dinosaur displays I’ve ever seen, but Berlin’s Natural History Museum prides itself on its massive collection of taxidermized animals. While it’s a little heart-wrenching to see Berlin’s famous polar bear, Knute, restored through taxidermy, the museum began it’s collection at the turn of the last century and allows you to view animals that are extinct — they have a real Dodo!  Also, their totally bizarre collection of stuff in jars is steam-punk paradise.

Naturkundunmuseum
The Naturkundunmuseum

Monkey Bar at 25 Hour Hotel – this place is hard to get into because they’re always packed, but I’ve never been in another place quite like it. On the top floor of the 25 Hour Hotel, it features floor to ceiling windows and stadium seating, where you can sip cocktails and watch the residents in the monkey and baboon houses in the Berlin Zoo, that the hotel overlooks. It’s so cool!

Thai Park – another thing totally unique to Berlin!  Every Sunday during the summer months, Berlin’s Thai community sets up a food market where you can go and feast on traditional Thai food for reasonable prices (including fried worms, ants, cockroaches and grasshoppers!). The whole thing is totally illegal but the City turns a blind eye because it’s such a tradition now, and it’s so good.

 

Thai Park Berlin
Thai Park in the sun

Kraftwerk Berlin – Berlin has a practice of re-purposing buildings, rather than tearing them down and building new ones.  This former electric factory is an incredible space for music, and is host to the annual The Long Now festival. It’s breathtaking and dramatic and you feel like you’re inbetween time here.

Kraftwerk Berlin
Collaborating with The Sense Network


I could support others in the Network by..
…sharing what I know about building confidence and empowerment, and how to apply martial arts skills to business. I’m also a very out of the box thinker, and can help find innovations when feeling stuck.  I’m also really good at story structure, set-ups and pay-offs, and can help mould a story into something impactful.

I’d like to collaborate with Sensers that would like to…  
…compose electronic music / play with body-mapping technology to stage the opera I mentioned above… or anyone who wants to tell good stories!

The Sense Network work together to make things better and make better things. Tell us about the one thing you’d change in the world…

There is a large mural that was painted on the wall of a building on the corner of my street last year, and I see it every time I come home. It says, ‘As long as you are standing, give a hand to those who are fallen.’ I would make this a mantra for everyone, replace the Golden Rule with it, and teach it in schools.

Moabit Mural

You’ve got to read The Story of Your Life, by Ted Chiang because it’s an incredible piece of fiction, structure-wise.

Listen to the Female Pressure Podcast to make you feel like you’re up on the latest music, all produced by extremely talented women.

Watch Chinese Dragon Dancers practice videos to inspire the incredible feats of beauty and balance we are really capable of.

Sign up to my Medium to keep up to date with my musings about art, gender politics and slam poetry.

More Senser Stories

]]> Emma Skipper // London https://senseworldwide.com/senser-stories/emma-skipper-london/ Thu, 23 May 2019 09:03:11 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473761
Introducing Emma, maker of make believe and Network Lead for the The Sense Network.

Emma Skipper

Hey I’m…
Emma Skipper

I’m currently based in..
London, UK

I’m…
British

And my day job is…
Network Lead for The Sense Network

You can find me at…
@emmaskipper

And there’s more about my work here…
medium.com/making-make-believe

Hi, I’m Emma and I make make believe for a living.

My day job is Network Lead for The Sense Network, a global community of people that want to make things better and make better things. We work to explore, uncover and tell stories about what the future of the worlds biggest brands might look like, and then we design for it. On the side I make believe as a fantasy author working on my fiction novel, The Stonekeepers. I’m documenting my personal exploration across the two over on my new Medium channel Making Make Believe if you’re curious. It explores how great stories can change human behaviour.

So tell us Emma, what are you passionate about?

I’m an information sponge and a bit of a nerd. I love nothing better than trying to turn my hand to new things and currently I’m experimenting with the Argentine Tango, botany, fantasy and sci-fi and, of course, my writing at The London Library here in my hometown. I’m really passionate about connecting people and get a lot of energy from making meaningful connections between people that wouldn’t normally interact with each other.

Emma Skipper The Sense Network

And of course, I can’t forget my midget sausage dog Mimi (who the team at HQ are convinced shares my soul… and personality).

Emma Skipper Mimi
What keeps you busy at the moment? Thinking about your journey here, what are your biggest learnings?

What keeps me busy… Well, if you’re part of The Sense Network you’ll have almost certainly have heard from me before. I head up the Network at our HQ and I am responsible for its growth and member experience. Whether through project management in the innovation work we do, or curating Sense Supper Clubs all over the world; I work to explore how to meaningfully connect extraordinary humans on a daily basis. I also commit a few days a week on getting a very specific story out of my head. It’s a fantasy novel that explores what a world would look like if memory was a natural resource… watch this space.

Emma Skipper Sense Supper Clubs
The Amsterdam Sense Supper Club

When I’m not busy with my day gig you can find me solo travelling around the world, surfing, biking… basically exploring the outdoors and getting out from behind my desk.

Emma Skipper Surfing Sri Lanka
Surfing in Sri Lanka

When it comes to my biggest learnings, I really had to pause for thought… which was unexpected as I think about it a lot.

Throughout my life I’ve been everything from a photographer, Palynologist, makeup artist, journalist, web design company founder, digital strategist, innovation consultant and author. It’s taken me a really long time to feel comfortable with saying that list out loud as it tends to be met with a sense that I’m just too indecisive to settle… or perhaps that I like change a little too much. Over the years I’ve realised that perhaps neither of those are actually too far from the truth. I never settle. I love to work at the forefront of disciplines and connect with like minded, hungry people that constantly strive and change for the better.

And that’s my biggest learning. Be open. To new ideas, connections and experiences.

You can never fully understand your own opinions and place in the world unless you surround yourself with ideas, individuals and experiences that support and challenge your core in equal measure. Your strength comes from taking all these elements and putting your own personal spin on it. You don’t need to be original. No unicorns need apply. You just need to know yourself and own it. It’s remarkable the shift that occurs when you accept this… it took me a long time to be confident in the fact that my job title will likely not be mainstream for years. That big corporations might struggle to see the benefit of my wide ranging experience. But that’s exciting as it forces me to constantly hunt out for the trailblazers at the edges that get it and spur me on to do better. Come to think of it… most of them are Sensers (or should be).

Life’s too short to settle. Expect more from yourself and you’ll likely surprise yourself.

We know everyone’s working process is different. We also know you can learn a lot from the experiences of others so share yours below.

When are you most productive/creative? How do you get into the flow?

Space and time are what I need to be ‘creative’. Focus comes sporadically for me so, with the writing for example, I need to carve out more time than I need to allow myself the freedom to be as productive as possible. My most creative moments come to me at my old writing desk in my new flat, amongst the shelves in The London Library or out in the open countryside where I can see the sky and feel small.

On writing this it’s occurred to me that contrast is a very important part of my creative process and transcends everything I do. I need a balance of noise and quiet, city and country, solitude and socialising, similar and opposing opinions and sources.

Emma Skipper Creative Process
The open forest I like to explore behind my parents’ house

Show us a picture of your favourite working spot.

Emma Skipper Writer
My desk at home… looking unusually tidy 😉

What playlist is on in the background and why?

I work best to electronic music. Anything from deep house to Röyksopp. The beats and lack of complex vocals allows my brain to really focus. Although if I’m in the office I’ll often just have my headphones in with no sound… the vacuum helps me apply myself without interruption.

I’m really digging Anden Sound Room podcast at the moment – great if you’re into progressive house.

Tell us a bit about the place you’re living right now.

Where is home at the moment?

I’ve just bought a flat in south west London and, having moved every year for the last five, feel very good about NOT moving for the foreseeable future. I periodically have wanderlust to move abroad and would love to experience another ‘home’ in the future but I’m pumped to set up shop here for a while.

house
Plants, books and my paintings. The perfect combination.

What do you love about this place? Is there anything you feel makes it unique?

London is amazing place but it’s city that never stops. You often feel guilty for doing too much or too little and I’m only beginning to find a balance now I’ve moved slightly further out of town. The space around Wandsworth is amazing. Lots of green with a community vibe and only a 10 minute train into the hustle and bustle of town. It makes my life here a bit calmer as I have to choose how I spend my time rather than get wrapped up in the craziness of it all… which, by the way, is what makes this city unique. You have everything at your doorstep.

House
My garden looking onto the common.

Tell us about the hidden gems that you’d take your visitors/friends to where you live and why you chose them?

– For culture: No one knows about The London Library. If you’re a bookworm, go and get a free tour. The list of member alumnis is basically the roster of Penguin classic authors. Also, there is a Waterstones book shop right next to it that has an awesome bar on the roof so you can make a little trip out of it.

The London Library
The London Library


– For drinks: Archer Street in Soho is a blast. All the waiters are theatrically trained and will get up and bust out a show tune on the bar every few minutes.

– For country in the city: Head on over to the Isabella Plantation in the middle of Richmond Park. It’s a stunning secret garden you’d never know about… plus you get to see the deer in the park which is always cool if you’re visiting.

The Isabella Plantation in Richmond
The Isabella Plantation in Richmond


– For food: I love asian food so try Shoryu in Soho for Ramen, On the Bab for Korean fried chicken near Covent Garden and if you want to splurge Chotto Matte is wild.

Collaborating with The Sense Network

I could support others in the Network by / in…
I’m lucky enough to speak to Sensers everyday so if you need help with, or feedback on, a burgeoning idea, want to meet like-minded people unlike you in your city (or next holiday destination) or just want to chat about storytelling, just drop me an email.

I’d like to collaborate with Sensers that would like to…
I’m desperately on the hunt for someone to collaborate on a graphic novel with me. I have the story, just need the artist! So if you know anyone let me know!

 

The Sense Network work together to make things better and make better things. Tell us about the one thing you’d change in the world…

I would increase public funding to libraries all over the world. Not necessarily solely as stores for information, but as community buildings. The more people come together, the more we can share a common experience, the more we can build empathy and understanding. Libraries are treasuries for knowledge, not just physical books, and I’d love to explore what the future of these buildings could look like in the age of the internet. Rather than closing them down BECAUSE of the web, I’m sure there is a way they can coexist and thrive. I think the opportunity here is really exciting.

You’ve got to read War and Turpentine because it’s one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read for years. Half the author’s grandfathers’ war memoir, half exploration into his yearning and love of great art, the language he uses is a triumph.

California Soul by Marlene Shaw is my fire because it takes me back to developing 35mm photographic film in the dark room of my school. We were encouraged to experiment and play with different developing methods and I remember it coming on just as I’d discovered that tracing paper acting as an awesome ageing-effect on an architectural series I was developing a the time.

Neil Gaiman’s talk on Making Good Art is the best thing since sliced bread. Especially if you’re about to embark on a career change or need to confidence in your intuition/process. I couldn’t recommend it enough if you need to find/rediscover your mojo.

Senser Gemma Milne’s Brain Reel newsletter lights up my inbox because firstly, you feel like your in the room with here as she’s writing, and secondly because her work explores what’s happening at the edges of scientific discovery. I don’t pretend to know much about what she writes about but she manages to distill incredibly complex and inaccessible topics into clear and rationale narratives that anyone can enjoy.

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]]> The Art Of Imagination: Watch The Winner Annouced! https://senseworldwide.com/hero/the-art-of-imagination-watch-the-winner-annouced/ Tue, 07 May 2019 17:06:49 +0000 https://senseworldwide.com/?p=176473735

We believe that innovation is driven by human ingenuity. We call this Creative Intelligence; the ability to understand, interpret and act with imagination. The Sense Network is a home for people with Creative Intelligence and earlier this year we embarked on the #TheArtOfImagination; a global creative experiment to explore the diversity of Creative Intelligence harnessed within The Sense Network. Read on to watch the video of our judges choosing the winning submission…

In collaboration with two international Sensers; Beirut-based artist and human-centred designer, Dima Boulad and London-based print master, plant lover and music enthusiast Yiğit Gürcihan, we designed a set of unique creative elements to put the power of The Sense Network’s imagination to the test.

The Art Of Imagination

Dima’s designed her creative toolkits to cater for any skill and interest to ensure everyone could take part, experiment and play for themselves. From Yiğit’s sticker sets to digital files, these simple toolkits were requested and sent to every continent on the planet and we were completely in awe as submissions rolled in from our international Sensers.

From artists to trend analysts, musicians to mothers, community leads to physicists; no one submission was the same.

The diversity of thought, skillset and creative process that was applied to the elements was mind blowing. Some Sensers chose to teach themselves a new skill, some built on their professional skills, some decided to take over their cities and others opted to try and bring to life their own life story. Each was unique to its creator, which in itself is a powerful reminder that Creative Intelligence is a uniquely human skill and one that should be treasured and developed.

But the judges had to choose a winning submission… and they unanimously voted for Aaron Pinto in Mumbai!

See his submissions and watch the judges discuss the process together below.

Art Of Imagination_Toolkit
This is pretty much me in a minimal space. I tried to be as fluid as I could be in my approach when I did this. Everything flows into everything. There is chaos but there is harmony as well. - Aaron
This was inspired by Picasso. I visited a bunch of his museums when I was in Europe and I think that aesthetic stuck with me. The face was the first thing I saw when I saw the toolkit. - Aaron
This was inspired by one of my favourite artists Noma Bar. I tried to use negative space in a quirky way. There is a lot of double entendres in this one. -Aaron

Dima said…
“I didn’t know if we were going to agree on the winner or not but, without a shadow of a doubt, our winner is Aaron. When we saw it on instagram we were so so happy with it, it’s mind blowing what he did with negative space. Having the most prominent part of the face as negative space rather than one of the elements was genius.”

Watch the judges discuss the process and debate the winning selection below.

We’d also like to give a special shout out to our runner’s up; Zahra (Dubai), Frances (UK) and Andreiy (Ukraine). Who prove that, once again, The Sense Network is one of the most diverse and creative communities on the planet. The judges were so impressed with the diversity of thought that went into your reinterpretations and creative processes they couldn’t NOT give your efforts a commendation.

A selection of the global entries

Andreiy, Ukraine
Zahra, Dubai
Zyen, Wilmslow
Tarin, Bangkok
Monica, Cheshire
Frances, UK
Adah, London
Andreiy, Ukraine
Kate, Vienna
Hosherdar, Mumbai
Jude, London
Alex, London
Emma, London
Emma, London
Anya, NYC
Susan, Paris
Susan, Paris
Courtney, NZ

If you’d like to request a toolkit and try the experiment out for yourself in your own time, drop Emma an email at emma.skipper@senseworldwide.com.

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