Welcome to the first edition.

I hope you'll find inspiration, fresh ideas, thinking, and creative distractions in this newsletter.

You'll find an appendix of links at the end of the newsletter.

'Open To Work'

There are a lot of creative people who are 'Open To Work', but some of them banded together and made a fun short film about it.

Standing out in a crowded market can be a challenge, but these agency creatives found a fun way to do just that.

The Importance of Side Projects

I'm a big fan of creative side projects. They keep you motivated and inspired, they're also fun.

Here's a fun one from NYC-based designer and creative - Victoria Rosselli, her day gig is as a designer at The Wall Street Journal, but she created a fun zine about the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn.

Side projects should be on the 'to-do' list of every creative. Find something that you think might inspire you, and maybe others (but that's not important) and dive into it. It could be a zine as per the above project, a photography project, an art show, a t-shirt label, a short film, a band, crochet-made dinosaurs, or whatever.

You're Never Too Old To Make a Creative Comeback

I recently posted about the ageism issue in advertising - something that seems to be prevalent in the ad industry but not in others. Age doesn't seem to be an issue in music, fashion, art and other industries.

Renowned streetwear and surf designer behind the Stussy brand, which he left in 1996 is making a comeback. In 2008 he launched his S/Double brand, which seemed to have petered out for some reason - well now he is bringing it back...and he just turned 70.

Art Is Good For The Soul

Visiting art galleries should be a regular thing for every creative, you'll never know what will spark a new idea or simply inspire you to create more work.

In the links below you'll find some shows in London and NYC to check out.

Book Club

Looking for a book to inspire some ideas and thinking? If this one is not on your bookshelf then please consider adding it. First published in 2003, like all great creativity - it has aged well.

I hope some things here inspired you or at least you found interesting. I will build up content for this newsletter in the hopes of making it something that may help spark a few ideas or motivate you to do more fresh work.

Stay tuned.

Rodd Chant

Creative Director / Creative Coach

• 'Open To Work' - check it out here > Chris Barnard on Vimeo .
• Read more about Victoria Rosselli's Park Slope Food Coop zine here .
• More about Shawn Stussy's creative comeback can be found here .
• Art show rundown in London, Cardiff & NYC .
• The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp.