Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Each Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode packed with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to fuel your creative journey as the week winds down. Whether you need a quick shot of motivation or insights to carry you through, we've got you covered.
What We Discussed
We reflected on this week's interview with Luigi Carnovale, in which we focused on the art of reinvention. Luigi shared his insights on navigating new tech, client demands, and personal evolution as a creative. His message? Business is about people, and we are in control of our own paths. If you've been feeling stuck, his words will inspire you to embrace change, just as he has.
Creative News
D&AD's 2024 Annual Showcase highlights the best creative campaigns and trends, such as fandoms and textural evolution, to inspire the next generation. Headspace introduced Ebb, a generative AI chatbot to support mental health with personalised real-time conversations.
Finally, teenage gamer Michael Artiaga made history by resetting Tetris after reaching the highest level. Gosh, it's an amazing feat. I can hear the music in my head now. How it didn't drive him mad, I'll never know. But, understandably, he confessed he'll never play it again.
The Spotlight
We looked at the independent type foundries set to shine in 2025. From Jessica Walsh's emotionally driven Type of Feeling to Grilli Type's standout creations, these foundries offer fresh, experimental fonts that push boundaries. And the best part? We had nothing to do with the final cut; it was all down to you, the creative community as you shared your favourites.
Book of the Week
Our Book of the Week is Never Play It Safe by Chase Jarvis, a manifesto for creatives looking to embrace intuition and risk-taking. Drawing from his experiences as an award-winning photographer and entrepreneur, Jarvis offers practical strategies for breaking out of our comfort zone, pursuing bold ideas, and building a fulfilling life rooted in personal passion. Doesn't it feel appropriate, given this week's conversation with Luigi? We thought so.
Tip of the Week
For our tips this time around, we look at how to differentiate yourself. And one way to stand out in a crowded creative industry is by embracing vulnerability. Share your authentic experiences—audiences connect more deeply with honesty than perfection. There's lots more advice on this theme in the article on Creative Boom, so be sure to check it out.
Letters to the Editor
This week, we heard from Oliver Shone-Dorfer from Pimp My Type in Austria, who wrote: "I really enjoyed the conversation with Seema Sharma, it made things feel a bit lighter. Right now, I kind of feel overwhelmed by the speed of development and a bit threatened by it. As a UI designer and typography content creator, what am I if I don't design? Is my work still relevant if the machine does it faster, maybe better?
"At the moment, image generation tools are bad at typography, but they will catch up. This makes me think. But what resonated most with me was that there is still a human mind, eye and hand needed to give it that certain finesse, a certain authenticity. To make it feel real. And type and typography can play a big role in that. So now, after this interview, I see it a bit lighter and want to think of it as an additional tool in my belt. It's a process."
Another letter from James, based in Devon, reflected on Luigi's experiences in the design industry. James related to Luigi's decision to leave the city, sharing how his move from London to his hometown led to unexpected creative opportunities while maintaining connections in the capital.
What about you? What do you think? We'd love to hear from you! If you have any thoughts on this episode or anything else from the show, drop us a line at [email protected], and we might feature your email in next week's episode of The Spark.
Our Next Guest
On Monday, Lisa Smith, global executive creative director at JKR, will join us. In our honest conversation, she shares her journey through the creative industry, discussing her experience leading major rebranding efforts for global giants like Burger King, Mozilla and Chobani. She also delves into the complexities of navigating cultural differences in design across the Atlantic.
Lisa opens up about the challenges women face in leadership, emphasising the crucial role of building a supportive community in a competitive industry, and how authenticity and hard work have fuelled her success. Don't miss it!
