As creatives, so much of what we do outside of work influences our professional output. From music and art to history, architecture, science and beyond, everything we see, explore and engage with can be filed away as a reference, ready to be drawn on when the project or brief is right.
As creatives, so much of what we do outside of work influences our professional output. From music and art to history, architecture, science and beyond, everything we see, explore and engage with can be filed away as a reference, ready to be drawn on when the project or brief is right.
As creatives, so much of what we do outside of work influences our professional output. From music and art to history, architecture, science and beyond, everything we see, explore and engage with can be filed away as a reference, ready to be drawn on when the project or brief is right.
Early in my career, I was lucky enough to work somewhere that encouraged us to engage with the cultural and artistic history of the city we lived in, and when I joined Accord last year, I knew I wanted our creative team to make the most of being right in the centre of London with so much inspiration on our doorstep. So, at the start of this year, I launched the Cultural Calendar.
It’s a schedule of events and exhibitions that takes us away from our desks to explore all that the world (or at least London, zones 1 and 2) has to offer. Once a month, we close our laptops, hop on the tube and spend the afternoon exploring galleries, museums or new creative skills.
In January, the inaugural outing was to one of my favourite places in London: The Photographers’ Gallery. In February, we visited the Design Museum to see Wes Anderson: The Archive, an exhibition so impressive it made fans of even the most agnostic of our team. And, last month, Accord Studio swapped computers for sketchbooks to take part in a portraiture class - and there’ll be more on that later.
Early in my career, I was lucky enough to work somewhere that encouraged us to engage with the cultural and artistic history of the city we lived in, and when I joined Accord last year, I knew I wanted our creative team to make the most of being right in the centre of London with so much inspiration on our doorstep. So, at the start of this year, I launched the Cultural Calendar.
It’s a schedule of events and exhibitions that takes us away from our desks to explore all that the world (or at least London, zones 1 and 2) has to offer. Once a month, we close our laptops, hop on the tube and spend the afternoon exploring galleries, museums or new creative skills.
In January, the inaugural outing was to one of my favourite places in London: The Photographers’ Gallery. In February, we visited the Design Museum to see Wes Anderson: The Archive, an exhibition so impressive it made fans of even the most agnostic of our team. And, last month, Accord Studio swapped computers for sketchbooks to take part in a portraiture class - and there’ll be more on that later.
Early in my career, I was lucky enough to work somewhere that encouraged us to engage with the cultural and artistic history of the city we lived in, and when I joined Accord last year, I knew I wanted our creative team to make the most of being right in the centre of London with so much inspiration on our doorstep. So, at the start of this year, I launched the Cultural Calendar.
It’s a schedule of events and exhibitions that takes us away from our desks to explore all that the world (or at least London, zones 1 and 2) has to offer. Once a month, we close our laptops, hop on the tube and spend the afternoon exploring galleries, museums or new creative skills.
In January, the inaugural outing was to one of my favourite places in London: The Photographers’ Gallery. In February, we visited the Design Museum to see Wes Anderson: The Archive, an exhibition so impressive it made fans of even the most agnostic of our team. And, last month, Accord Studio swapped computers for sketchbooks to take part in a portraiture class - and there’ll be more on that later.
Recharging the creative practice
Creativity isn’t an infinite resource. Whilst skill is vital, it’s only half the battle. Skill brings the idea to life, but the initial idea and spark of inspiration need to come from somewhere - and it’s probably not hiding inside Figma.
At last year’s D&AD, I listened to Teemu Suviala, Landor’s Global Chief Creative Officer, speak about the importance of experience when designing emotionally resonant and meaningful brands. Most striking to me was the emphasis he gave to our experiences outside of work and their power to influence our creativity. We may not realise it, but when we’re engaging with the world around us and letting curiosity get the better of us, we’re fuelling our creativity and storing up a world of references, ideas and inspiration. Suviala summed it up perfectly: “Inspiration isn’t a lightning strike; it’s the reward for a relentless search.”
What can feel like a luxury - time taken to read that new non-fiction book, the random museum visit, the afternoon stroll through an exhibition - is, in fact, vital to our creative process. It’s these external sources of inspiration, no matter how unrelated they may seem at the time, that keep our work fresh and allow us to fully join the dots on a half-formed idea or concept in the future. In Suviala’s words, “the future of design belongs to those who look at every day with curiosity.”
Creativity isn’t an infinite resource. Whilst skill is vital, it’s only half the battle. Skill brings the idea to life, but the initial idea and spark of inspiration need to come from somewhere - and it’s probably not hiding inside Figma.
At last year’s D&AD, I listened to Teemu Suviala, Landor’s Global Chief Creative Officer, speak about the importance of experience when designing emotionally resonant and meaningful brands. Most striking to me was the emphasis he gave to our experiences outside of work and their power to influence our creativity. We may not realise it, but when we’re engaging with the world around us and letting curiosity get the better of us, we’re fuelling our creativity and storing up a world of references, ideas and inspiration. Suviala summed it up perfectly: “Inspiration isn’t a lightning strike; it’s the reward for a relentless search.”
What can feel like a luxury - time taken to read that new non-fiction book, the random museum visit, the afternoon stroll through an exhibition - is, in fact, vital to our creative process. It’s these external sources of inspiration, no matter how unrelated they may seem at the time, that keep our work fresh and allow us to fully join the dots on a half-formed idea or concept in the future. In Suviala’s words, “the future of design belongs to those who look at every day with curiosity.”
Creativity isn’t an infinite resource. Whilst skill is vital, it’s only half the battle. Skill brings the idea to life, but the initial idea and spark of inspiration need to come from somewhere - and it’s probably not hiding inside Figma.
At last year’s D&AD, I listened to Teemu Suviala, Landor’s Global Chief Creative Officer, speak about the importance of experience when designing emotionally resonant and meaningful brands. Most striking to me was the emphasis he gave to our experiences outside of work and their power to influence our creativity. We may not realise it, but when we’re engaging with the world around us and letting curiosity get the better of us, we’re fuelling our creativity and storing up a world of references, ideas and inspiration. Suviala summed it up perfectly: “Inspiration isn’t a lightning strike; it’s the reward for a relentless search.”
What can feel like a luxury - time taken to read that new non-fiction book, the random museum visit, the afternoon stroll through an exhibition - is, in fact, vital to our creative process. It’s these external sources of inspiration, no matter how unrelated they may seem at the time, that keep our work fresh and allow us to fully join the dots on a half-formed idea or concept in the future. In Suviala’s words, “the future of design belongs to those who look at every day with curiosity.”
Looking at the world with curiosity
So, with those words very much in mind, Accord Studio now sets out on a monthly mission to learn something new, see something unexpected, and, most importantly, remain curious. After our visits to The Photographers’ Gallery and the Design Museum last month, we tried something different: an art class.
We powered down Adobe and put our computers away, instead working with charcoal, pastels and paint for the afternoon. Our teacher, Jonathan Small (he was on Portrait Artist of the Year! He painted Adjoa Andoh - it was really good!), took us through various creative exercises to get us used to the materials and look more closely at the things around us. The team quickly settled into their individual styles, and I was genuinely impressed at how their creativity at work translated onto the page.
The portraiture class was run by Artbox London, a registered charity and supported studio that works with learning disabled and autistic artists. It runs public workshops to help fund its community work, including weekly sessions that allow its artists to develop their creative practice over time, making creative opportunities accessible to all.
For Accord Studio, dedicating time to creating for the sake of creativity, rather than a specific outcome, is what the Cultural Calendar is all about. By carving out time to create and engage without pressure, we’re not only reminding ourselves why we’re creatives in the first place but also collecting the scraps of inspiration that might one day be the missing piece of a great idea.
Throughout this year, we’ll be visiting more exhibitions and events that cover all areas of creativity, making it a regular part of our practice. Next on the agenda is the new V&A East Museum, and I’m excited for the events - and creative inspiration - to come.
So, with those words very much in mind, Accord Studio now sets out on a monthly mission to learn something new, see something unexpected, and, most importantly, remain curious. After our visits to The Photographers’ Gallery and the Design Museum last month, we tried something different: an art class.
We powered down Adobe and put our computers away, instead working with charcoal, pastels and paint for the afternoon. Our teacher, Jonathan Small (he was on Portrait Artist of the Year! He painted Adjoa Andoh - it was really good!), took us through various creative exercises to get us used to the materials and look more closely at the things around us. The team quickly settled into their individual styles, and I was genuinely impressed at how their creativity at work translated onto the page.
The portraiture class was run by Artbox London, a registered charity and supported studio that works with learning disabled and autistic artists. It runs public workshops to help fund its community work, including weekly sessions that allow its artists to develop their creative practice over time, making creative opportunities accessible to all.
For Accord Studio, dedicating time to creating for the sake of creativity, rather than a specific outcome, is what the Cultural Calendar is all about. By carving out time to create and engage without pressure, we’re not only reminding ourselves why we’re creatives in the first place but also collecting the scraps of inspiration that might one day be the missing piece of a great idea.
Throughout this year, we’ll be visiting more exhibitions and events that cover all areas of creativity, making it a regular part of our practice. Next on the agenda is the new V&A East Museum, and I’m excited for the events - and creative inspiration - to come.
So, with those words very much in mind, Accord Studio now sets out on a monthly mission to learn something new, see something unexpected, and, most importantly, remain curious. After our visits to The Photographers’ Gallery and the Design Museum last month, we tried something different: an art class.
We powered down Adobe and put our computers away, instead working with charcoal, pastels and paint for the afternoon. Our teacher, Jonathan Small (he was on Portrait Artist of the Year! He painted Adjoa Andoh - it was really good!), took us through various creative exercises to get us used to the materials and look more closely at the things around us. The team quickly settled into their individual styles, and I was genuinely impressed at how their creativity at work translated onto the page.
The portraiture class was run by Artbox London, a registered charity and supported studio that works with learning disabled and autistic artists. It runs public workshops to help fund its community work, including weekly sessions that allow its artists to develop their creative practice over time, making creative opportunities accessible to all.
For Accord Studio, dedicating time to creating for the sake of creativity, rather than a specific outcome, is what the Cultural Calendar is all about. By carving out time to create and engage without pressure, we’re not only reminding ourselves why we’re creatives in the first place but also collecting the scraps of inspiration that might one day be the missing piece of a great idea.
Throughout this year, we’ll be visiting more exhibitions and events that cover all areas of creativity, making it a regular part of our practice. Next on the agenda is the new V&A East Museum, and I’m excited for the events - and creative inspiration - to come.
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Discuss your next project with us...
To learn more about what we can offer and how we can work together, we’d love to hear from you.
London
Accord Marketing,
1 Waterhouse Square, London EC1N 2ST.
South-West
The Node, 1 Enterprise Road,
Roundswell, Barnstaple,
Devon EX31 3YB.
All enquiries
02072 712 481
Assume nothing.
Discuss your next project with us...
To learn more about what we can offer and how we can work together, we’d love to hear from you.
London
Accord Marketing,
1 Waterhouse Square, London EC1N 2ST.
South-West
The Node, 1 Enterprise Road,
Roundswell, Barnstaple,
Devon EX31 3YB.
All enquiries
Discuss your next project with us...
To learn more about what we can offer and how we can work together, we’d love to hear from you.
London
Accord Marketing,
1 Waterhouse Square, London EC1N 2ST
South-West
The Node, 1 Enterprise Road,
Roundswell Barnstaple,
Devon EX31 3YB
All enquiries
020 72712481