In this engaging conversation, Alan Moore, a British designer and entrepreneur, challenges us to rethink the concept of beauty in business. He argues for a shift in Key Performance Indicators to prioritize societal well-being as the main stakeholder. Drawing on examples like the French shoemaker Veja, Moore discusses how sustainable practices can create beautiful businesses. He also critiques modern capitalism and highlights the importance of regenerating societal value. Prepare to be inspired by the potential for ethical innovation in today's world.
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Alan Moore's Background
Alan Moore started as a self-taught book designer after a sports injury ended his athletic career.
His dyslexia and lack of formal training led him to explore diverse creative fields.
insights INSIGHT
Tired of Ugly
Alan Moore emphasizes the need to address the "ugliness" in the world.
This includes social, political, and environmental issues like pollution and economic inequality.
insights INSIGHT
Why Ugly Wins
"Ugly" businesses, focused on short-term gains and exploitation, appear to be thriving.
This is exemplified by the rise of ultra-fast fashion and its unsustainable practices.
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Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
The Dawn of Everything
A New History of Humanity
David Wengrow
David Graeber
This book offers a dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging fundamental assumptions about social evolution, the development of agriculture, cities, the state, democracy, and inequality. Graeber and Wengrow argue that traditional theories of human history, such as those posited by Hobbes and Rousseau, are not supported by anthropological or archaeological evidence. Instead, they show that humans have lived in large, complex, but decentralized societies for millennia, often without ruling elites or hierarchical systems. The authors draw on extensive research in archaeology and anthropology to reveal a history that is more varied and hopeful than previously assumed, emphasizing human experimentation with different social arrangements and the potential for new forms of freedom and societal organization.
Do Build
Alan Moore
Can business be beautiful? Today's distinguished guest seems to think so. British author, artist and entrepreneur and poet Alan Moore has dedicated a large part of his career to building businesses that are beautiful by design, aesthetics, and ethics. But before he tells how business can be beautiful, he has a bone to pick with all the ugliness around. Prepare to reimagine beauty.
Guest: Alan Moore is a British designer, artist, poet, and entrepreneur. He has held advisory positions at major companies such as Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, and Coca Cola to help them improve their businesses and provide better products and services. He’s the author of four books on creativity, marketing, and business design. Moore strives to lead his life as beautifully as he can every day.
Learning points:
•To create a thriving and ethical business, we need to change our KPIs.
•Society should always be the main stakeholder for any business
•Why French shoemaker Veja is what Alan refers to, as beautiful business
Reimagine is a podcast with host Babak Behrad, brought to you by Society Lab.
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