The New Abnormal

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Jens Laugesen, the Danish Fashion Design Practitioner / Advisor / Educator / Video Artist, who is known for a conceptual approach to creative design thinking.He's recently launched an innovative Global Graduate Design Showcase in partnership with the art & design portfolio platform ARTSTHREAD and i-D Magazine. Jens is very interested in how C19 can be seen as a creative catalyst and an opportunity for change. In this podcast we discuss how he was inspired by 9/11 to create a 'Ground Zero' design trilogy that resulted in the development of a personal design philosophy named 'Hybrid Reconstruction' born from what he describes as the post 9/11 ideological vacuum which he also saw as being the end of modernism. Today, Jens is also a video artist fascinated by the ‘glitch' and we therefore discuss this, alongside his background at the 'Navy SEALS of Fashion (Central St Martins) and the Institute de la Mode. He explains his views on contemporary culture, why the influence of Lars von Trier (and the Dogme 95 manifesto) was so influential, and today's students - the 'Pilots of Chaos' that are challenging existing thinking. Finally, we discuss the issue of meta-modernism and trust in a post-truth world; in the context of morals, values and responsibility. 

William Higham, a former music industry professional, discusses his experiences working with iconic figures like Alice Cooper and the Stranglers. He also talks about cultural trends and their impact on brands, including the importance of understanding consumer behavior during the pandemic. The conversation covers generational marketing, rebellion in the tech industry, and shifting attitudes towards technology. The podcast explores various anecdotes, quotes, and historical events that highlight changing consumer attitudes.

Series OneThis episode of 'The New Abnormal' features Tom Morton, a member of the leadership team at R/GA, one of the world's most creative and innovative companies, where he's the Global Chief Strategy Officer. R/GA advise brands on what they should stand for and how they should behave and innovate in order to thrive in the connected world. Tom's work extends into media and popular culture, he's been a political pundit for the BBC and The Guardian, an Effies judge and a jury chair for the 4As Jay Chiat Strategy Awards. He's also been a keynote speaker for the Cannes Lions, the ICA and Advertising Week. In this podcast (from the early days of #TheNewAbnormal) we discuss his views on how circumstances drive values, the ever greater need for leaders to demonstrate emotional intelligence, and why the vital question for brands is 'how can we help have a positive impact'? 

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Khalil Zafar, who is a renowned HR & Strategy Consultant in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.He's also travelled widely around the world, teaching and consulting about human resources and leadership. An ex-journalist, who still writes for a range of international magazines and newspapers, he's also the author of the recently published 'Future of Work: Simplified'. In it, he explores the issues of business management, leadership, employment and automation. In order to write the book, Khalil interviewed and collaborated with leading thinkers on an international basis to set out the possibilities, challenges, changes and scenarios that could emerge Post-Covid as they relate to workforces and workplaces.Therefore, in this episode, we discuss his viewpoints on a wide range of issues relating to the future of work, with a particular focus on the reinvention of leadership, emerging technology, upskilling, cultural eloquence, organisational renewal, and the freelance revolution. 

Series OneThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal features the multiple award-winning magazine editor and brand consultant Steve Beale, who's observed / written about / been part of leading-edge subcultures for many years. The ex-editor of the legendary Sleaze Nation, he then went on to write for an array of titles, including being Editor at Large of The Face and Senior Editor of Arena...before making the entirely obvious move to join Fighters Only, the world's largest mixed martial arts mag, as Editor in Chief. He then became a Director with the Lazarides Gallery Group - the most influential art gallery of the 21st Century. He's now Editorial Director of the brand editing collective Langsford Crimson, whilst also being a Director of the world's only premium fightwear brand 'Battles of London' which was described by The Times as 'Combat Sports Luxe'. So this interview is as wide-ranging and interesting as you'd expect; including everything from the cutting-edge publishing scene to combat sports. 

Series OneThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal features Jussi Solja -  'one of the beasts' at the Finland-based ' Sexy Beast' who are an 'anti-agency for startups and bold brands'.  Nicely put!  Jussi has many years of global experience in marketing strategy, digital marketing, service and user experience design to branding, content strategy and beyond. Over the years he's founded and managed agencies, launched a Finnish hiphop phenomenon, ran the marketing of the biggest classifieds platform in the Middle-East, worked with multiple startups, and headed a global team responsible for Nokia’s flagship products, winning multiple international awards in the process. So we discuss a range of insights linked to the above, why he thinks there's a rather odd 'in-built animosity between many agencies and their clients' and why that led to the highly unusual and dynamic approach taken by The Sexy Beast. (Which essentially involves 'getting great people in a room for five days' in order to create catalytic brand / product / service / comms concepts).He also discusses why he believes there's been a fundamental shift in how we do 'brand purpose' where we essentially ask ourselves "what's the genuine brand role in this new society"? And when it comes to issues relating to my themes of "hope, community and resilience",  you'll learn why the Finnish ethos of 'talkoot' and 'sisu' are so important...

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal I interviewed Carl Ratcliff,  just after he’d set-up his consultancy 'This is the Day'. Prior to that, he was Chief Strategy Officer at DDB Group Australia, whilst other previous roles included being CEO of One Green Bean in Sydney, CEO of Naked Communications and MD of BWM Dentsu in Melbourne. Back in the day, he was Exec Planning Director at MCBD/Elvis in London, Head of Marketing at Channel Five TV, and Planning Partner at TBWA London. In this podcast, we discuss the view from Australia re: corporate / Govt levels of trust, positive brand behaviour as an expectation, reframing brand values, issues around behavioural economics, and building Post-C19 resilience.

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Ole Petter Nyhaug, who  is a high-profile trend researcher from Oslo, who conducts research across Scandinavia and, further afield, in numerous countries around the world. He's the Global Head of Research for Opinion AS, and works with clients such as Coca-Cola, IKEA, Unilever, Audi and Vodafone. I first met him years ago, when we specialised in youth-culture research and often used to be on the speaker-list at seemingly endless trend conferences. In this interview, we discuss his views on a wide range of issues impacting culture and society, and debate how these do, or do not, differ across countries and regions. Along the way, we cover his views on the new punk/DIY generation, Green Swans, brand relevance, and Orwell... 

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview the writer, educator and consultant, Nilgin Yusuf. The ex-Creative Director of the School of Communication at London College of Fashion and a graduate of Central St Martins. She's also been a journalist of over 30 years, including being Fashion Editor of the Sunday Times. Nilgin is currently working on her third fashion book and studying for a BA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck. With work that spans print, film curation, exhibition concepts and events, she believes that meaningful narratives are key. In this episode, we discuss her career and her viewpoints across a wide range of social / cultural issues that have been impacted (or illuminated) by C19; such as inequality, wellbeing, compassion, mindfulness and indeed why Covid has been such a learning opportunity. Finally, and along with her insights into digital storytelling (she was the Media Programme Director at LCF for many years), she also explains why Warbler is her favourite app...

Series TwoIn this episode of The New Abnormal, I interviewed the Creative Director & Editorial Consultant, Navaz Batliwalla. A fashion journalist and stylist regularly contributing to international publications, Navaz is the author of 'The New Garconne' (which identified a new tribe of 'considered consumers'), the publisher of the renowned blog #Disneyrollergirl and co-founder of The Beauty Conversation. She's collaborated with a huge range of brands; recently including Agnes b, Chanel, Dior, Smythson, Turnbull & Asser, Levis's, Grenson and Shinola. So...we discuss a range of issues including her interest in brands and products that 'have a real reason to exist and are made to last', why the years '78-'82 mean to such to her (linked to growing up nearby the legendary punk venue, the Nashville), how Chelsea College of Art was so catalytic, why running a blog means 'being opinionated', cultural and social intersectionality, the 'Dance Art TikTok Explosion', charity shop style, creative collaboration, the crucial issue of craft, a renewed focus on design thinking, the myth of convenience, and 'where next' for influencer culture and activism...