· By Andre Woolery
Pharrell Williams, All Passions Feed Creativity
Pharrell's Passion Informs Everything
Pharrell Williams began as one half of The Neptunes with Chad Hugo in 1992. By 2003, he produced 43% of songs on American radio. Music seemed like his singular focus.
Then other interests emerged. In 2003, he co-founded Billionaire Boys Club streetwear with Japanese designer Nigo. He launched ICECREAM sneakers. He created Bionic Yarn textile company converting ocean plastic into fabric. He designed jewelry for Louis Vuitton. He collaborated with Chanel on menswear capsules. He developed Humanrace skincare line. He produced films including Dope.
In 2012, he created I Am Other, described as "a multimedia creative collective" serving as umbrella for music, fashion, film, television, art, design, and philanthropy. Rather than treating these separately, each discipline informed the others. His minimalist music production aesthetic shaped his fashion design philosophy. His streetwear sensibility influenced luxury brand collaborations.
None of these interests stayed in their lane. They collided, merged, and amplified each other into one creative ecosystem.
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Steal This Ritual
Turning passion into fuel:
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Recognize that every interest offers lessons
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Let non-creative passions restore your energy
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Use techniques from one interest to solve problems in another
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Look for where your interests intersect
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To explore the full approach behind this story, pull card #14 in the Creative Mastermind Deck
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