The power of responsible creativity:

As a creative professional, I believe that, ironically, creativity cannot flourish without logic.

How did I get such a “blasphemous” view?

Among all the subjects I studied across my education, nothing has been as life-changing as the discipline I majored in at university: philosophy. It changed my life, how I view it, and how I live it.

That may go some way to explaining how a fledgling copywriter at a small agency nearly thirty years ago now wears a Managing Director’s hat.

It’s a journey from creative to management (and back, as I am still hands-on in ideation and copywriting at both the agencies I head) that requires me to tap into both the left and right sides of my brain in unison.

This also explains why “The power of responsible creativity” is my lifelong mantra.

As professionals in the advertising and communications industry, our words, visuals and everything we put out have the power to influence the world. And we owe it to our clients and ourselves to ensure that we communicate in the most honest and effective way, without over-promising, fluff and hyperbole.

Because the essence of what we do—the true creativity that we are paid to produce day in, day out—is the unique ability to bridge rational business and social objectives with emotion and passion.

If we can all do that well, with “responsible creativity,” I believe making a difference in the world is possible.

Roles and titles current when this article was published in October 2023.