Destiny Laurice Washington’s Post

Creating multiple perspectives is paramount https://lnkd.in/eeCRACXz

Is the Mad Men era really over? I wanted to wait until after Cannes to share my thoughts about this article, and quite honestly, I couldn't think of a better day to share my perspective then on July 4th. How is that the most creative people on the planet who undoubtedly continue to shape global pop culture, left out of the most creative industry in the world. Think about it, Black and Brown consumers created rock and roll, hip hop, jazz, rhythm and blues, Hip Hop, DJ'ing, Streetwear, every meaningful move you watch everyday in sports that makes you say, "Wow, Did you see that!" We delight the world with our flavors, cuisines, and our uncanny way of taking what was considered scraps and turn them into the some of the most flavorful dishes on the planet, and that's just the pop cultural contributions. I can talk about all the creative contributions we've made in science, the arts, and academia, but I want you all to get back to your BBQ's. Let's just assume that most people will agree that the world would be drastically different and not as interesting if it was not for our contributions. So the question I have to ask, is how are the most creative people on the planet not winning more awards at Cannes, or not ECD's, or CCO's for big ad agencies or running 100 million dollar creative consultancies that are driving growth for multi billion dollar brands. The answer is simple answer, one that we continue to run away from because it forces us to determine if we are culpable and guilty of being bias and the perpetuaters of prejudice. And by the way, this goes for both Black people as much as it does for White who are in the key positions to create the necessary paradigm shifts. Ultimately, the responsibility will have to happen at the brand level if we want this to change. Brands must open up the aperture on how we are seen and utilized. We are not just talent or an accessory to your typical understanding of what creative talent is or what you need it to be, sound like, look like to make you feel comfortable. Someone recently asked me what makes a good client, and I told them "Courage"! If this industry is going to change we need more of that! Happy Independence Day!! #equality #courage #diversity #inclusivity #creativity #advertising

🌟 🌟 I've been spending a lot of time recently talking with colleagues about healthy collaborations between artists & activists, the power of imagination, and how much of our activism should be less focused on the head 🧠 and more focused on the heart 💖 - so finding this VERY PRACTICAL resource by Forward Together to help guide collaborations between activists & visual artists is just golden. "We use art to keep each other alive, organize, live with joy and imagine freedom. How can organizers and artists best work together to harness the power of culture and create a more just world?" Such great advice on: ☑ Indentifying you project goals and strategies ☑ Finding Collaborators through Ethical Artist Selection ☑ Using Fair Fee Structures that Value Art Labor (YES!) ☑ Facilitating a Process that Taps Into the Magic of All Involved ❣ ❣ (My favorite) ☑ Art Direction & Feedback ☑ Strategic & Ethical Distribution ☑ How to KEEP BUILDING Thanks so much to all the collaborators for the work and care that went into this product Kemi Alabi, micah bazant, Kate Deciccio, Amir Khadar, Diana Lugo-Martinez, Monica Trinidad and Kah Yangni (!!) Link 🔗 in comments

Ever considered a career in the arts? Check out myfuture's art career bullseye to learn more about the various pathways and careers within the arts industry! For more information: bit.ly/3y700rG #arts #career #skills #jobs #success #jobtips #careers #art #pathways #careertips #careersadvice

News/Announcements: Shoutouts to Patreon Patrons, Creatives Rebuild New York and Asian Art Initiative Philly 2023 was one of more embittering, infuriating and maddening years in recent memory for me. And it doesn’t help that with this line of work, it’s all too easy to battle and endure feelings of loneliness, despair and failure; to feel and believe that you’re an imposter. I’ve personally found it to be a brutal, unforgiving and wildly interesting life and career path that can’t — and will never — compare to most other jobs I’ve ever previously had. And I’ve had quite a few of them in my life!  The Joy of Violent Movement turns 14 in June. 14 years of doing anything is a very long time. It’s close to a quarter of my life. And for the blogosphere, that’s roughly somewhere between 10-139 lifetimes. Now, it hasn’t always been easy. There have been moments, where it felt impossible to manage this thing and to keep it going. To be frank, as the kids say “the math ain’t matching.” But for the most part, I can say this: I’ve felt and believed with every fiber of my being that I needed to be brave and bold, and go out on my own, because I didn’t believe that I’d really get a fair shot to do this work for anyone else.  I’ve said this for many years: I’ve long felt strong desire — and need — to create something similar to the wildly eclectic, dynamic and global sort of environment I grew up immersed in as a young Black boy in Corona, Queens. Unsurprisingly, whenever I remember I read my favorite music magazines and sites, I never saw the world I grew up in being covered or represented in any significant or meaningful way.  From my own experiences working in book publishing and as a music journalist, I’ve learn that as much as you can demand fairness, diversity and inclusion, it’s still ultimately up to the powers in control to see it, hear it, understand it, take it to heart and actually do something about it. So what do you do when those in power don’t get it — or don’t want to get it? Well, then it might be time to grit your teeth and try to do it your own damn self.  When I started this site back in 2020, I din’t — and just couldn’t have — imagine the majority of the things I’ve experienced, seen and covered throughout its history to have ever happened.  I’ve covered roughly 1,500 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia.  I’ve covered a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal twice — in 2019 and 2022.  I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival, New Colossus Festival, and for a Music Managers Forum Canada Webinar speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger and journalist.  I made a c... https://lnkd.in/eHqGn9xx

It’s interesting to look at Sal’s work and love for his students but he was instrumental in the business. Not many industries allow a couple of people to start a business with no resources and create a phenomena. That is what the ad business allows. While you have to hate it to do well (post for another day) you also have to love it… but you have to differentiate to create a stir and give clients something special that works—all of that is not always easy. Being asked about it I feel it’s worth revealing a few of the secrets to how we built it. We provided high quality work in areas and in media that no one wanted to touch. —RETAIL was considered the worst category for creativity. With Daffy’s we showed everyone that doesn’t have to be true and built a strong retail brand. This was how we looked at categories like car dealerships and many others. —HOSPITAL WORK was considered a boring category, institutional and highly political with few exceptions. With Mount Sinai and our desire to look at the category differently—more like a public service—we did the best work in the category by far and helped turn around an ailing system. —SIDE OF BUSES in New York was a non-starter for creativity at first. No one bought the units and creatives couldn’t seem to crack it. That was an opening for us—we showed the industry how to use them with the Solgar campaign and we bought a lot of them since they were relatively inexpensive. And the business couldn’t have done better. —USING A NEW MEDIUM…when one sprouted up, we pounced. Back of buses was new in Philadelphia and we created a campaign purposely designed for that unit that helped open a large store in the market. We figured that a new medium would get new attention and we were right. —RADIO. If you were a junior creative or you were one step away from being kicked out of an agency creative department you would get the radio assignments. No one wanted that call of duty. Therein lied a huge opportunity. We went to work on NTRA — likely one of the most successful radio campaigns. And we followed that with radio for Mount Sinai that might have been the best work for them—great radio for a hospital? Never seen before! —ITS NOT ABOUT PRODUCTION —eg A. Every creative person throughout the country wanted to do :60 or long form video. It was a piece of Hollywood and it drove everyone to be only satisfied with doing a :30–and wouldn’t touch anything shorter with any degree of interest. Well, as people who worked for us know, we cherished :15’s. And I would say our shorter length reel might be one of the best. Less money and highly effective for clients. —ITS NOT ABOUT PRODUCTION—eg B. Creatives often want to produce, shoot film, hire a great director, go to an interesting location. We pushed instead for a concept with existing footage that was strong, smart and a lot less money. We stood out and it worked. You can’t really take apart different areas of a well run agency. It all works.

Why Did I Get Noticed Among All the Parents at the School Exhibition? Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a Disney-themed art exhibition at my child's school. The event was filled with vibrant artwork and enthusiastic kids presenting their creative projects, while proud parents cheered them on. Unlike most parents who were there to simply support and admire their children's work, I took a different approach. I engaged with the kids by asking thought-provoking questions designed to spark their imagination and encourage them to think outside the box. Questions like: ✅"What is one important message Disney conveys through its stories?" ✅"How does Disney inspire you in your everyday life?" ✅"If you could create a new Disney character, what would their story be?" These interactions not only made the kids think deeply but also brought smiles to their faces. I also shared how Disney has inspired me to always spread joy and dream big. This caught the attention of the school principal, who invited me to her office. She was impressed by my approach and was delighted to learn that I am a content creator with a passion for effective communication. She even invited me to join the Parent-Teacher Association, recognizing that together, we can significantly contribute to our children's future. If you want your child to develop out-of-the-box thinking and unique creative skills, encourage them to explore, question, and dream beyond the ordinary. Let's inspire the next generation to dream big and think creatively! How do you encourage your kids to think outside the box? Share your thoughts in the comments! #Parenting #CreativeThinking #Inspiration #DisneyMagic

At My Tribe Media, we believe that creativity is not just a personal act—it is a revolutionary one. As the legendary Toni Morrison reminds us, this is "precisely the time when artists go to work." In moments of uncertainty, art heals, inspires, and unites. Whether through storytelling, writing, music, or visual expression, artists remind us of our shared humanity and give voice to the change we long to see. We want to encourage you to keep creating and to lean into your artistry. The world needs your vision, your voice, and your truth now more than ever. If you're seeking a community that celebrates and amplifies diverse creatives, you're not alone—we see you, and we are with you. As we prepare for the official launch of My Tribe Media in early 2025, we are building spaces where changemakers, storytellers, and advocates can connect, collaborate, and amplify their impact. Together, we will ensure that every voice, especially those historically underrepresented, has a platform. Keep an eye out for more details about our launch, upcoming events, and resources. In the meantime, let’s honor Toni Morrison’s call to action: Speak, write, and create. Civilizations heal through art and through community. #MyTribeMedia #ArtAsActivism #CreativityForChange #CommunityBuilders #ToniMorrisonWisdom #StorytellingMatters

As the dominoes start to fall in the creative industry I'm going to try to offer some perspective that might bring some solitude and hopefully prevent the bleak outlook from bringing too many down. What we see happening is temporary in the grand scheme of things.. Now im not saying whats happening isnt worrysome, but in the long term we as creatives will bounce back. The driving factor of all this turmoil is the greed derived from that insatiable desire for "record breaking profits", not only is it not sustainable or conducive to quality work product, but it only drives innovation in the form of efficiency.. The most famous scenario of this is Apple computer in the 90s. Greed outweighed creativity and ingenuity, and Apples Board fired Steve Jobs thinking they could continue to profit without that ingenuity. They went bankrupt shortly after, forgetting about what made them special to begin with. Only later needing to hire him back and turn the company into what we know today.. As a creative, i dare say we are the Steve Jobs, being fired by Apple computer... But fret not; No amount of AI or Board of Director can replace the magic you create in the world and the time will come when theyll beg you to come back as their audience dwindles and profits tank. In the meantime keep your chins up and those Pencils and Pixels Sharp. 🤙

🌟 Lean Into YOU 🌟 Dear artists, arts administrators, and cultural workers, I love us, and I am thinking about all of us as a community as we head into the new year. I’ve been ruminating on this for a few days and felt compelled to share. When I first started my journey as an artist, I thought I knew exactly what the path should look like. I imagined it unfolding like a neat map, following the steps I saw others take and the steps I was told I had to take to make things happen. But life had other plans. It wasn’t until I dared to embrace my full self—unapologetically—that things began to truly align. By believing in what I knew I had to offer, even when it felt risky or unconventional, I found a way forward that made sense for me. It wasn’t about copying someone else’s journey—it was about carving my own, grounded in my passions, strengths, and unique vision. And honestly? It’s all going better than I could have imagined because I leaned into who I truly am. It’s easy to look at someone else’s path and think, “Maybe I should just do that.” But here’s the thing: Their path worked for them because it was theirs. It doesn’t mean it’ll work for you. Instead, I want to challenge you to focus that incredible creativity you have into imagining a new way forward. A way that aligns with your strengths, your passions, and your vision. Your art is your truth—and so is your journey. If you have a goal, I encourage you to take an honest look at your art practice. Ask yourself: What do I need to do to get there? And be real with yourself about the changes or risks you might need to take. It’s tempting to follow the same path as someone you admire, but remember—they succeeded because they found what worked for them. Your power lies in doing the same. Lean into what makes you YOU. Be bold. Be honest. And create your way forward. Do not let comparison steal your joy in your journey. Let’s support each other in this and cheer each other on! #ArtistLife #YourPathYourWay #CreativeJourney #ZulyInirio #DrZulyInirio #NewYear2025