The Tapestry of Influence: The Inspirations That Shape Us
Discover how your unique combination of influences—from art and philosophy to pop culture and personal experiences—shapes your creative perspective. Explore how connecting seemingly unrelated passions and memories creates unexpected insights and original expression.
I've been reflecting on the layers of disparate elements that have molded my perspective–and I encourage you to do the same.
At my core, there's a fascination with people who distill complexity into its essence. Whether it's in architecture, philosophy, comedy, or design, I'm drawn to minds that cut through the noise to reveal fundamental truths.
Take architecture and design: Mies van der Rohe and Jony Ive are both examples of simplicity in form. Their approach to architecture, typography, and product design embodies a Western intellectual tradition that resonates deeply with me. After comedy led me to Chicago, I also found a city that breathes modernist architecture (and where, in fact, it was born thanks to exiled Bauhaus masters).
My taste for certain design started in childhood casually surrounded by everyday Brionvega appliances designed by Sottsass and Sapper, evolved through iPods and iBooks in high school, and ultimately drove me to pursue Architecture and Industrial Design in college (spoiler alert: I quit close to graduation to work full time as satirist and resumed years later in the US but in liberal arts.)
