Not Your Everyday Average Creative Director

The RebelRebel Podcast

"What are you doing when you're not doing the thing you're doing? That's what I want to see."

Host: Michael Dargie, THEREBELREBELPODCAST.COM Guest: Lou Maxon, LOUMAXON.COM

Lou Maxon, a distinguished figure in the realms of branding and design, shares his fascinating journey with host, Michael Dargie on the RebelRebel Podcast. From the early influence of his father's post-production work to founding a brand and design firm in Washington state, Lou has consistently demonstrated his commitment to creativity and storytelling. He recalls his childhood fascination with the design process, his formative experiences in the magazine industry, and his eventual transition into branding, highlighting the interplay between his past and current endeavours.

Lou's unique office space, a studio set on rails in the Pacific Northwest, epitomizes his innovative spirit. This unconventional workspace, surrounded by the rich history of railroads and his family's legacy in advertising, provides a dynamic environment for creativity and reflection. Moreover, Lou's work extends beyond traditional design boundaries, as illustrated by his project involving stop-motion animation for a digital brand campaign, showcasing his ability to humanize digital spaces through meticulous craft and storytelling.

Throughout the episode, Lou underscores the importance of maintaining passion for one's work despite technological changes and industry challenges. He advocates for finding joy in creation, focusing on meaningful collaborations, and the significance of storytelling in branding. His story is a testament to the power of creative resilience and the endless possibilities that arise from staying true to one's artistic convictions.

Cool Stuff Lou Says

"I've tried as hard as I could to run the other way, but here we are." "A great new business strategy is to do a good job, leave, and then have them hire you back." "It's not architecture that's like 'here I am.' It's designed to seamlessly vanish." "Never lose caring about the work. It's easy to be cynical...but there's always this lament from creatives about losing the craft." "Projects can be in the rearview mirror, but it's really the people that travel with you to the future projects."

Episode Highlights

Lou's early exposure to design and his path to founding a brand and design firm. The story behind Lou's unique office space on rails, blending creativity with the natural environment. The challenge and fulfillment of working on a stop-motion animation project for a digital brand campaign. Insights into maintaining creativity and passion in a changing industry. The importance of storytelling in design and branding.

Links from Episode

Lou Maxon website (https://loumaxon.com) Maxon House website (https://maxonhouse.com) Lou Maxon LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lou-m-206938a7/) Maxon Railway Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/maxon_railway/) Maxon House on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/maxon_house/) Olson Kundig, Architectural Firm (https://olsonkundig.com) Not To Scale, Animation Production Company (https://nottoscale.tv) McDonald's Fanual Report (https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/fan-personas-2022-fannual-report.html)

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