Business
A conversation with Tao de la Torre. We discuss freelancing, brand design and new business strategy, the design process, agency culture and burn-out. This podcast is in ENGLISH. SHOWNOTES: Edenspiekermann agency, Berlin https://www.edenspiekermann.com/eu/ Here is an article I referenced during the podcast about the agency culture at Edenspiekermann. https://www.edenspiekermann.com/insights/what-i-learned-as-an-intern-at-edenspiekermann/ However, I couldn’t find an attribution for the “there are no emergencies in design” quote. I might be remembering wrongly, but I’m pretty sure it was someone at Edenspiekermann. Baud, the brand consultancy where Tao is a partner: https://www.baud.com/ At 29:30 I asked Tao about the role of designers as experts. I referenced Tim Harfords’ book Adapt, but that’s not 100% clear from the audio alone. I referred to the author Tim Harfords' point about the widely held (false) belief experts are the harbingers of ready-made solutions to complex problems. This blurb for the book sums it up well: “When faced with complex problems, we have all become accustomed to looking to our leaders to set out a grand vision, experts to draw up a detailed plan of action, or gurus who can provide us with some infallible solution. (…) Harford argues that today’s challenges simply cannot be tackled with ready-made solutions and expert opinions; the world has become far too unpredictable and profoundly complex. “ I highly recommend this book: http://timharford.com/books/adapt/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250007550/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_yGDmEb8WW46DS https://www.bol.com/nl/p/adapt/1001004011259066/?bltgh=p92jMn3Iek5XpPFMiPFNnw.1_4.5.ProductTitle I love Tao’s insight at 16:40 - “we are not taught how to hunt our own food” A good articles on A.I. Centaurs. My advice; become one, or risk getting stomped by one. https://medium.com/conversations-with-tyler/garry-kasparov-tyler-cowen-chess-iq-ai-putin-3bf28baf4dba I first read about A.I. Centaurs in the book “The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly (founding executive editor of Wired magazine). https://www.bol.com/nl/f/the-inevitable/9200000050674156/?country=BE https://www.amazon.com/Inevitable-Understanding-Technological-Forces-Future/dp/0143110373/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=kevin+kelly&qid=1580324112&sr=8-2 1:29:00 - To clarify, I misspoke when I remarked to Tao: “design was never an option for you” I meant to say “NOT being a designer was never an option for you”. It worked out, and I could course-correct, but still wanted to point that out. Tao’s website: https://taodelatorre.com/ Tao’s linkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taodelatorre You can find me on linkedIn: https://be.linkedin.com/in/mikeweytjens