The Creative Boom Podcast The Spark: Brian Collins on Poetry, Playfulness and the Perfect Cookie
Oct 30, 2025
In a playful and candid conversation, legendary designer Brian Collins shares insights from his creative journey. He reveals why he ignores conventional presentation advice, his secret wish to master postmodern dance, and his unwavering defense of team ideas. Brian describes Oreos as the ultimate cookie, akin to a perfect design, and explains why orange is his defining color. He reflects on the importance of helpfulness over happiness and names Pablo Neruda as his dream dinner guest, all while showcasing his trademark humor and creativity.
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Present Futures, Not Safe Middle Options
- Avoid the 'Goldilocks' presentation trick of offering safe, middle-ground design options.
- Present distinct futures aligned to company values and ask which future they want to build.
Anchor Ideas To Company Values
- When presenting, anchor ideas to values like connection, speed or generosity rather than comfort.
- Ask which future the client wants to build and present work that rehearses that future.
Imperfection Lets The Light In
- Poetry and song lyrics can name feelings you can't yet ask about and provide comfort.
- Leonard Cohen's line about cracks letting light in reframed Brian's perfectionism.