When I first got into designing I was focusing on streetwear. I’d stay up late working on design projects, I would often play interviews and documentaries in the background about icons in my industry. As I’ve grown and expanded my creative portfolio I’ve also expanded my sources of inspiration. Now I love listening to artists of different mediums discussing their creative process and the way they overcome certain obstacles. This can be anything from the director’s commentary on a movie to the inspiration behind a sculpture or soundtrack. I find that these stimulate the right side of the brain in a way that boosts creativity, while being different enough to leave room for genuine original ideas. A few weeks ago, Netflix added a new show called Abstract. It’s a series of mini-documentaries on some of the most talented artists of today. Some of these artists are seen as controversial, some are mainstream, they vary from architects and stage designers to footwear designers and illustrators. My favorite common thread is that they discuss some of the obstacles they had to overcome, but without dwelling on them. Situations that at the time must have felt like gargantuan problems are discussed as nothing more than the setting for these talented minds to grow; and in many cases those same difficulties are what defined these artists.

Platon traveled back home to Greece to reconnect after he was sure he would lose his job, his work there defined his aesthetic and ultimately is what caught the attention of his next project and strengthened his career. Es Devlin worked in a tiny theatre with nearly no budget as a stage designer, her creativity and tenacity forced her to think outside of the box with her work. It’s her ability to think outside of the box that has now given her budgets of millions and the freedom to call the shots as she works with celebrities around the world. I was motivated by architect Bjarke Ingels, he recognized that Danish culture had a hard time accepting differences within their own land, which pushed him to work on projects abroad and ultimately become an inspiration and source of pride to his people. I don’t know what point of despair a photographer needs to reach in order to feel moved to travel and find himself. I can’t imagine the countless nights Es worked on productions that seemed impossible without the size and budget of other theaters. I also try to imagine the fear an architect faces when taking on their first project abroad, without the safety net of a large number of works in his own country. But none of these craftsmen complained or dwelled on these situations. They didn’t sulk. They didn’t complain. These hardships were just a circumstance, one of many in their careers.

I’ve been blessed enough to work on large projects with adequate funding and resources. I’ve also bootstrapped passion projects that had virtually no support. In either case, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to realize a project that fulfills creative potential. As great as this show is there are only a handful of episodes out right now. Check out the show, watch documentaries online, and most importantly get in touch with your friends and learn about their crafts and businesses. Some of the best conversations I’ve had have come from grabbing a bite with musician friends suffering from writer’s block and just opening up about what we’re working on (or trying to work on). Learn from those that have come before you, and get inspired by your contemporaries. Like I always say, collaboration over competition.