Creativity during Uncertainty

The beautiful tension of pandemic-induced survival mode and pandemic-induced physical constraints have resulted in inspiring examples of creative ingenuity. I wanted to share a few things that have moved me deeply in the recent weeks. Hopefully it will inspire you as well. In no particular order,

1. In the truest example of the-show-must-go-on, Vanity Fair made their June issue over Zoom and shot their story on Catherine O'Hara with drones.
2. Jamie Beck, my absolute favorite photographer began (and recently ended) a 60 day #isolationcreation challenge. Everyday she created a photograph - either inspired by her daily foraging of wild flowers in the South of France (where she lives) or images inspired by her own dreams and desires for the future, featuring her husband and her daughter. The series of 60 images is available for purchase as posters on her site with a percentage of all proceeds going to COVID relief. Each poster also comes with a link to an Instagram Story that shows the making-of the image. During the isolation, she used her Instagram Stories as a platform to highlight creative projects of her fans and followers. Her generosity, a shining gift to her community during this time.
3. Former Teen Vogue EIC and author Elaine Welteroth pulled off a beautiful, simple, and deeply connected wedding ceremony on her Brooklyn stoop. The Vogue story and accompanying 50+ pictures are an intimate glimpse into the life and people she holds precious. Here's a beautiful conversation between Priya Parker (author of The Art of Gathering) and Elaine Welteroth on taking vows amid the virus.
4. Gucci sent their models Fall-Winter 2020 collection and had them take self-portraits - and present them as characters (with lives, interests, reflections). In fairness, the conception of this campaign began in a pre-COVID world as an extension of his FW2020 show Creative Director Alessandro Michele blurred the boundaries between backstage and front-of-house: shining a light on both the models and the backstage cast of make-up artists and assistants. Watch the stunning video here. That his print campaign was birthed in a COVID world now feels like a premonition - an emerging playbook for creatives and brands everywhere.
5. In March, renowned actors and actresses in India came together and without leaving their homes created a short film (also features a cameo by Priyanka Chopra) to reinforce why staying at home is important.

One thing I've heard every leader echo is how decisions that would've taken months are now taking hours and pivots that would've taken years to actualize are now live within weeks. Are we building new muscle memories or recalling old ones? Learning to rely on gut, intuition, common sense - not just data and experience. Ironically, this tension - survive within constraints - has unblocked our creativity and it is flowing. Oh yes, it is.