How to Brainstorm

David Bates, who some call a high-functioning eccentric, thinks in stories, speaks in aphorisms, and wields a passion for storytelling that’s unorthodox, approaching idiosyncratic. Hired at Google as only 22-years old, David held an objectively unjustifiable amount of power. He built a content team at Google Maps and established a global production strategy that covered the Canadian Arctic, Taj Mahal, and Pyramids at Giza. Then he left to turn his side project, a wedding video company named Bokeh, into a creative agency. He now develops campaign strategies and content for brands like Google, Instagram, Airbnb, WeWork, DoorDash, Visa and more.

In this episode, we cover:

How to Brainstorm

• 2:46 – Working within creative constraints
• 3:37 – Creative self-isolation
• 4:22 – Using your downtime to brainstorm
• 5:45 – Online brainstorming
• 8:47 – What is the story?
• 12:45 – Co-creating campaigns with clients
• 13:24 – VISA video campaign
• 16:11 – How to deal with rejection
• 17:14 – The politics of creativity
• 18:27 – Hunger and humility
• 21:46 – Empathising with your client
• 22:51 – Hiring ‘right’ people vs hiring ‘right now’ people
• 24:54 – Taking ownership of your personal brand
• 25:30 – Presenting your work using a portfolio
• 27:41 – Diversity of creative thought
• 28:23 – Hiring an art director

Resources mentioned in this episode:

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