Strands of Genius: Playful Workspace, Age of Invention: the Second Soul, Just Say No
Guest curated by Claire Strickett, Strategy Director at Anomaly London
Each year we aim to highlight 50 creative thinkers that have inspired us by giving them the opportunity to guest curate this newsletter, Strands of Genius. This edition is guest curated by Claire Strickett, Strategy Director at Anomaly London.
:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, CLAIRE STRICKETT ::
LOCATION: London
Hello, genius thieves. I'm Claire, a London-based brand strategist, Twitter addict (still! I know!) and author. Taking a moment to think about what to write here (aren't introductions always so hard?), I reflected above all that I really don't think I'd be where I am in my career - and all the other parts of my life I owe to it - without the generosity of lovely people on the Internet like Faris and Rosie, and the community they've built. And here I am benefitting from that again, but with a chance to pay things forward a bit too. It feels good and I'm grateful.
Editor’s Note (Genius Steals): HI CLAIRE! We are so happy you are here with us today. We too are Twitter addicts (more so Faris than Rosie) and Faris has been Twitter friends with Claire for a long time. We don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting in person but have always observed her thoughts on advertising, wine, and her devotion to her cats with great interest and affection. Thank you for sharing your insightful links and we do hope to meet up with you in person sometime soon!
BTW! Claire co-wrote a book! It’s called : "What Wine When" What to drink with the food you love.
:: THE LINKS ::
PLAYFUL WORKSPACE
“The Demise of the Playful Workspace” is one of my favourite episodes of my favourite podcasts, from Tim Harford. We know habitats are important for other creatures, yet we're oddly cavalier about how our own headspace is deeply affected by the physical spaces we exist within on the daily. If you, like me, have ever wished you had evidence and data to back up why you don't love open-plan offices or hot-desking, this is a must-listen. It unpacks the psychology behind why some spaces are conducive to work, and others not, in a way that is deliciously counter-intuitive and yet also rings instantly true. (Tim Harford)
AGE OF INVENTION: THE SECOND SOUL
Anton Howes is a historian of innovation - a concept I adore because, firstly, I find we talk a lot about innovation without stepping back and asking what it is we actually mean by it, and secondly, because I really believe that while the particulars of life change, the principles that underpin it mostly don't - or at least, they change very, very slowly. In other words, the best way to read the future is to read the past. This essay about salt - yes, salt - gets to the heart of one of my favourite subjects: namely, how important tangible, structural elements are when it comes to generating what defines societies and cultures, and all the seemingly intangible things that make them what they are. (Age of Invention)
JUST SAY NO
“Assertiveness: Just Say No” is one of the many brilliant essays that Debbie Cameron, feminist linguistics professor, shares on her excellent blog, 'Language: A Feminist Guide'. Professor Cameron brings a keen nose for bullshit and a depth of historical and cultural understanding that is often missing from the subjects she covers - and this critique of assertiveness training as an approach to gender inequity is no exception. (Debuk)
Looking for more from Claire? Coming Friday, look for an interview from her in your inbox!
:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::
:: City :: Paris. Full of art, good things to eat and drink, perfect people-watching and above all, dear friends.
:: Book :: The Long View by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Hilary Mantel said it was one of her favourites which meant I had to read it immediately. It's perfect - and devastating.
:: Podcast :: Savage Lovecast
:: Song :: Free Man in Paris by Joni Mitchell
:: QUOTE OF THE DAY ::
“All our final decisions are made in a state of mind that is not going to last.” - Marcel Proust. I find this a humbling and liberating thought. We never know ourselves as well as we think, and we can never be sure who our future self will be. That alone means life is a process of endless discovery, if we can accept it.
See you somewhere on the Internet. Or maybe beyond.
Twitter
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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 :)