For our first installment of “Ask Me Anything (AMA)”, Rei answers questions on what he believes to be the most important when stepping up to becoming chief creative officer at an agency. He shares past mistakes, what he’s learned from these experiences, and detailed steps that he’s taken to become a better leader. Carren O’Keefe comes on our show with questions as she makes her transition to step up as Chief Creative Officer role at Digitas UK and London.◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Creatives are often seen as the crazy ones, and creativity as a nice-to-have in the context of business. But that’s not going to be enough for businesses and individuals in an age where creativity may be the only job left for humankind.On this week’s episode, we welcome back David Lee, Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, to hear about the importance of creativity at the adult’s table, effective ways to understand a company’s value proposition and what it truly cares about, and insights on companies placing ads during the Super Bowl.David Lee is the Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, leading their award-winning creative team. David has been honored as Brand CCO of The Year by Ad Age in addition to his team becoming Ad Age In-House Agency of the Year. During his time, Squarespace has been honored as the Brand of the Year by the Art Directors Club, and the number one globally awarded in-house agency of the year at the One Club for Creativity. David has won an Emmy Award, been included in the Adweek Creative 100 List and named as one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. He has also been recognized by the Gold House A100 list, honoring Asian Pacific leaders who made the greatest impact on culture and society. David graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and currently serves on their Board of Trustees.◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoTimestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:02:06 Defining creativity at the adult’s table and what that meant for David00:07:13 Company founders are the answer to what a company cares about00:08:52 Specifics that convinced a new beginning00:10:34 Work and life spaces are the best brand expressions00:19:27 Moments where creativity propelled business at Squarespace00:28:45 Is an ad spot during the Super Bowl worth it for companies?00:36:19 Career questions and a Midlife crisis00:43:55 Lightning Questions00:48:12 Three takeawaysSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world around us keeps changing, and that’s unlikely to slow down any time soon. What does it take to remain relevant in a deindustrialized world increasingly automated age of AI and machines?On this week’s episode, we welcome David Lee, Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, to hear his journey from designer to leader at one of the most successful tech companies in the US, his thoughts on why creativity is the only job left for humankind, and the increasing importance of working close to decision-makers to have a meaningful impact on business.David Lee is the Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, leading their award-winning creative team. David has been honored as Brand CCO of The Year by Ad Age in addition to his team becoming Ad Age In-House Agency of the Year. During his time, Squarespace has been honored as the Brand of the Year by the Art Directors Club, and the number one globally awarded in-house agency of the year at the One Club for Creativity. David has won an Emmy Award, been included in the Adweek Creative 100 List and named as one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. He has also been recognized by the Gold House A100 list, honoring Asian Pacific leaders who made the greatest impact on culture and society. David graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and currently serves on their Board of Trustees.◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoTimestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:02:37 David’s leap from advertising to tech00:04:09 Brand is a culmination of touch points00:05:48 David’s journey to become CCO at Squarespace00:08:58 Initial learnings about critical thinking00:19:45 Transitioning from an independent agency to a big holding company00:27:00 Creativity is the only job left for humankind00:28:09 Machines are good at analyzing patterns, Humans are good at breaking patterns00:31:26 Humanity needs to move upstream00:32:26 Creativity is about coming up with unique ideas to solve a problem00:37:02 Three takeawaysSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI won’t replace you, but humans using AI will, according to PJ Pereira.On this week’s episode, we welcome back PJ, this time as the marketing & advertising creative director PJ Pereira, to hear his perspectives on the good and bad news in a world with AI, what production companies need to be doing to remain relevant, and how the understanding of computing gave him a competitive edge in his career.PJ Pereira (also known as PJ Caldas) is an advertising and entertainment pioneer. He believes agencies must provide return not only for brands, but for the time consumers spend with the work. That balance is the ultimate challenge marketers face today. PJ's credentials in content, digital, and advertising have made him one of the industry's most influential and respected creatives. He has been named to Adweek's Creative 100 as Top CCO, Ad Age's Creativity 50, and to the 4A's 100 People Who Make Advertising Great. Most recently PJ was named jury president of the inaugural AI discipline at 2023 ADC Awards. In 2023, PJ will release a book (his 5th) about the unlikely combination of Artificial Intelligence and kung fu. Pereira is particularly drawn to the concept of an AI’s influence in design and creativity, and he tries to engage this emerging tech in his own creative process whenever possible.◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoTimestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:01:29 Bad news about AI00:01:49 AI won’t replace you, but humans using AI will00:05:18 Good news about AI00:11:25 Aspects of PJ’s agency that will remain relevant and should be replaced in the coming years00:12:56 Should production companies be worried?00:13:22 Inspiration happens inside the human being00:14:15 Advice to youth joining creative industry00:16:35 Understand computing to reap creative benefits00:18:07 Lightning Questions00:20:11 ClosingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens if you used ChatGPT to produce books, and are writers an obsolete job now with the rise of Generative AI?On this week’s episode, we welcome PJ Caldas, founder and creative chairman at Pereira and O’Dell, and best-selling author, to hear about his experiences using AI to produce his latest book, “The Girl from Wudang”. He shares the specifics of where he split the work with AI, his thoughts on machine learning being a trendsetter, and his insight on how one can constructively use AI to boost creativity.PJ Caldas (also known as PJ Pereira) is an advertising and entertainment pioneer. He believes agencies must provide return not only for brands, but for the time consumers spend with the work. That balance is the ultimate challenge marketers face today. PJ's credentials in content, digital, and advertising have made him one of the industry's most influential and respected creatives. He has been named to Adweek's Creative 100 as Top CCO, Ad Age's Creativity 50, and to the 4A's 100 People Who Make Advertising Great. Most recently PJ was named jury president of the inaugural AI discipline at 2023 ADC Awards. In 2023, PJ will release a book (his 5th) about the unlikely combination of Artificial Intelligence and kung fu. Caldas is particularly drawn to the concept of an AI’s influence in design and creativity, and he tries to engage this emerging tech in his own creative process whenever possible.Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:02:06 About PJ’s upcoming book “The Girl from Wudang”00:05:51 Uses of AI in production00:10:00 Small players have big storytelling opportunities through AI00:12:41 If Photoshop is a bicycle, AI is a horse00:16:03 Visuals v. Writing by AI00:21:13 The best brainstorming partner00:23:01 Machine learning is no different from devaluation of art00:24:10 Own your writing and make it yours00:25:55 Play with the audience’s expectations and emotions00:27:54 Three takeaways◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s a given that respect is important in any form of communication, but brands often struggle to keep this in mind when communicating with their audience.On this week’s episode, we welcome back John C Jay, the Creative Chairman at Uniqlo, to take a deep dive into the specifics of his work in Tokyo, his experience working with Japanese CEOs during the transformative era of the 1980s, and how his humble beginnings continue to shape his career. He talks about personal battles with self-confidence and the powerful realization that propelled him to overcome his insecurities. In sharing his past work for Uniqlo, he emphasizes the importance of audience respect and how this is key to localization. He also talks about how not having money is the greatest opportunity for creativity.John C Jay serves as President of Global Creative for Uniqlo and its parent company, Fast Retailing, living and working in Tokyo, Portland, and NYC. Jay has a diverse creative career across disciplines and cultures. He started in journalism, then lifestyle/ fashion marketing as Creative Director for Bloomingdales, followed by 21 years at the iconic creative agency Wieden + Kennedy. There, Jay was a partner and Global Creative Director. During this time, Jay opened the agency's offices in Tokyo and Shanghai. Living in Tokyo, Jay launched Uniqlo's first brand campaign in 1999. Years later, Jay joined Uniqlo's Founder and Chairman, Tadashi Yanai, in 2014 to help the brand evolve into a truly global brand of leadership and influence. Jay was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame and named as one of the top ten "Most influential art directors in the past 50 Years" by Graphic Design USA magazine.Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:01:31 Challenges as a minority00:02:26 Racism, bias, and bigotry lies underneath the surface00:03:56 Career turning points00:06:15 Relocation allows unlearning and rethinking00:10:20 Fundamentally we’re all equal00:12:02 Traveling is humbling and educational00:12:29 Not having money is a great opportunity to be more creative00:13:33 The Fleece Campaign changed Uniqlo and the way brands advertise00:15:01 Localization is respect00:17:51 Three takeaways◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How does the power of asking good questions shape one’s approach to creativity and problem-solving?On this week’s episode, we welcome John C Jay, the Creative Chairman at Uniqlo, to hear about his humble beginnings as an Asian immigrant to the United States, how he found his way to pursue creativity as his calling, and the philosophies behind his creativity in work and life. He emphasizes that all problems exist within context and how this ties in with the importance of asking good questions. He also talks about how he overcame lack of experience throughout his career, and the mentality that he has to continue to thrive to this day.John C Jay serves as President of Global Creative for Uniqlo and its parent company, Fast Retailing, living and working in Tokyo, Portland, and NYC. Jay has a diverse creative career across disciplines and cultures. He started in journalism, then lifestyle/ fashion marketing as Creative Director for Bloomingdales, followed by 21 years at the iconic creative agency Wieden + Kennedy. There, Jay was a partner and Global Creative Director. During this time, Jay opened the agency's offices in Tokyo and Shanghai. Living in Tokyo, Jay launched Uniqlo's first brand campaign in 1999. Years later, Jay joined Uniqlo's Founder and Chairman, Tadashi Yanai, in 2014 to help the brand evolve into a truly global brand of leadership and influence. Jay was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame and named as one of the top ten "Most influential art directors in the past 50 Years" by Graphic Design USA magazine.Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:02:34 Is creativity nature or nurture?00:05:03 Knowing nothing drives curiosity00:06:48 Critical thinking is elusive00:07:50 Business problems exist in context00:08:40 The question is not what is the answer, but what is the question00:13:35 Remake portfolios for each life opportunity00:15:02 Unlearning and Relearning to stay relevant00:18:24 John C Jay’s secret weapon to outshine the smarter, richer, and more talented00:18:54 Three takeaways◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it mean to be creative, and is creativity a privilege reserved for the wealthy?On this episode, we welcome back Dr. John Maeda, former professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and current VP of Design and Artificial Intelligence at Microsoft, to hear his definition of creativity and his candid thoughts on what it takes to be creative. He also reflects on personal experiences as an Asian American, his childhood idol, Tora-san, and the importance of resilience in building your career.Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:01:14 Is creativity nature or nurture?00:02:55 Creativity is a privilege00:04:31 Advice from a legendary graphic designer: Money gives you the liberty to choose what to do and what not to do00:05:55 Asian American heritage and personal experiences00:11:05 Crossing boundaries to bring people together00:11:55 An actor of integrity00:15:28 Learnings crossing over from academia to business00:18:30 Three takeaways◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Working across different disciplines is no easy feat, and requires interdisciplinary knowledge, empathy, and perseverance.On this week's episode, we welcome John Maeda, former professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and currently VP of Design and Artificial Intelligence at Microsoft, to hear about his experiences as a Japanese American in the US and Japan, pivot from engineer to designer, and his mission as a "bridge person" to help people transcend between disciplines and cultures.John Maeda is an American technologist and product experience leader with a passion for RESILIENCE and renewal. Currently serving as chief technology officer of Everbridge where he leads the company’s long-term technology and product vision, including innovation and IP strategy.Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:05:27 John’s Beginnings: The son of a tofuya00:09:30 What was your impression of Japanese designers?00:10:02 Every culture likes to build a wall around itself00:11:15 How did you become a designer?00:14:41 Transitioning from Japan back to the US00:16:00 How would you teach creativity to a “non-creative” person?00:17:13 Artists and designers suffer more, and the root of all interesting design is a good problem.00:19:03 The advantage of being a “bridge person”, seeing all the problems around you and helping to solve these problems00:20:06 Pros and Cons of being a bridge person00:20:59 Three takeaways◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We wanted to let our listeners know that we’ll be making a small change to our podcast release schedule. Starting this week, our podcast will be moving to a brand new day of the week. Instead of releasing new episodes on Mondays, you can now look forward to hearing from us every other Thursday. So stay tuned this Thursday to welcome our next guest, John Maeda. Thanks for tuning in!◆Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/◆Twitterhttps://twitter.com/reiinamotoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.