Strands of Genius: Nature for Inspiration, Inclusivity for All, World's Strangest Books
Guest curated by Gareth Jones
This year we’re aiming to highlight 50 creative thinkers that have inspired us, by giving them the opportunity to guest curate this newsletter, Strands of Genius. Faris and Rosie met Gareth when working with him on Wunderman Thompson’s Transform event.
:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, GARETH JONES ::
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Wunderman Thompson
I'm a Brit living in Seattle. Full-time marketer, creative thinker, writer. Part time mountaineer, photographer, guitar player. Currently SVP, Global Marketing Director at Wunderman Thompson, responsible for marketing, events, thought-leadership and other fun stuff that helps grow the business.
Editor’s Note (Rosie): We got to know Gareth through our involvement with Wunderman Thompson’s Transform conference. Our conversation with him was bright and fast-paced and left us hoping that we’ll have other opportunities to interact with each other, whether over strategy, the world’s problems, or simply over drinks… in a post-COVID world, of course. We’re thrilled to have Gareth guest curating today, and hope that you enjoy his insight as much as we do! Thanks, Gareth!
:: THE LINKS ::
LOOKING TO NATURE FOR INSPIRATION
Hermit crabs use social networking tactics to find new homes. Corals turn sunlight into vibrant color. Ant colonies respond quickly to distribute food. Welcome to asknature.org, where, 'since 2008, an evolving team at Biomimicry Institute has been hard at work developing and curating content that helps innovators find inspiration in nature.'
We spend an increasing amount of time staring at screens, but sometimes nature has the best answers. (Biomimicry)
INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL
After the Black Death ravaged Florence in the 14th Century, the city bounced back to become Europe’s premier center of artistic, cultural and scientific creativity. Can we really hope for the coronavirus to usher in a golden age of economic mobility, creativity, learning and artistic achievement?
THE WORLD’S STRANGEST BOOKS
If, like me, you love books, here are some of the world's weirdest and most wonderful; from the 605-page Qur’an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein to the American civil war soldier who inscribed his journal of the conflict on to the violin he carried. Stories are powerful but sometimes the medium can truly be the message. (The Guardian)
Looking for more from Gareth Jones? Those enrolled in The School of Stolen Genius will receive a deep dive from him in their inbox shortly! You can access all our expert interviews for SOSG here.
:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::
:: Game :: Monopoly, the true game of kings.
:: City :: New York - all of life's wonderful contradictions in one place
:: Book :: The Old Man and The Sea, Earnest Hemingway
:: Podcast :: Disgraceland, Jake Brennan
:: Album :: Astral Weeks, Van Morrison
:: ONLY ROCK AND ROLL ::
"Rumble, young musicians, rumble. Open your ears and open your hearts. Don’t take yourself too seriously, and take yourself as seriously as death itself. Don’t worry. Worry your ass off. Have ironclad confidence, but doubt – it keeps you awake and alert. Believe you are the baddest ass in town, and, you suck! It keeps you honest. Be able to keep two completely contradictory ideas alive and well inside of your heart and head at all times. If it doesn’t drive you crazy, it will make you strong. And stay hard, stay hungry, and stay alive. And when you walk onstage on tonight to bring the noise, treat it like it’s all we have. And then remember, it’s only rock and roll." Bruce Springsteen, SXSW.
Gareth Jones
Gareth.jones@wundermanthompson.com
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It's called Genius Steals because we believe ideas are new combinations and that nothing can come from nothing. But copying is lazy. We believe the best way to innovate is to look at the best of that which came before and combine those elements into new solutions.
Co-Founders Faris & Rosie are award-winning strategists and creative directors, writers, consultants and public speakers who have been living on the road/runway since March 2013, working with companies all over the world. Our Director of Operations is nomadic like us, our accounting team is based out of Washington, our company is registered in Tennessee, and our collaborators are all over the world. Being nomadic allows us to go wherever clients need us to be, and to be inspired by the world in between.
Hit reply and let’s talk about how we might be able to work together :)