#59: Jordan Gray — Creative Friction, Storytelling in Design, Passion Projects & the Beginner Feeling

Jordan Gray on creative friction, the fine line between passion projects and work, storytelling in design, and overcoming the beginner feeling.

Jordan Gray works as a Visualization Specialist at Hanbury.

Architecture and design always have a narrative—an evocative, deeper meaning. From napkin sketches, to drawing sets, to post-construction marketing, each medium for client communication is key to architectural storytelling. I've always had a passion for the visualization toolset, recognizing how renderings, photography, and filmmaking go hand-in-hand with the design process. It's my proverb to practice openness to new methods when there's a better way. Always explore; always collaborate.

Links

• Gray Collab - Jordan’s renderings, photography, and film. Started while freelancing.
• Jordan on Vimeo
• Carolina Day School — Asheville, NC by Jordan Gray
• Kappa Achievement Park: A Place to Belong by Jordan Gray
• Hanbury
• xkcd: Is It Worth The Time?
• Unreal Engine
• Lumion & VRay
• Rhino & Grasshopper 3D
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Revit
• Google Books Ngram Viewer
• Austin Kleon: Pencil vs. Computer on Hurry Slowly

Books

• Less But Better by Dieter Rams
• Faculty Department Volume 1 by Justin Chung
• The Photography Storytelling Workshop by Finn Beales
• So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport
• You Can’t Make This Stuff Up by Lee Gutkind
• 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam

People mentioned

• Steve Martin
• Tim Ferris
• David Allen
• Cal Newport
• Jocelyn K. Glei
• Austin Kleon
• Dieter Rams

Chapters

• 00:00 · Intro
• 00:16 · Start
• 01:25 · How did you get into photography as an architecture student?
• 02:54 · How do you cope with not having time to pursue new things?
• 06:42 · Have you been doing much deliberate practice lately?
• 11:42 · How knowledge translates across tools and disciplines
• 18:21 · What's your personal way of maintaining growth and creativity?
• 32:13 · Does that friction become positive?
• 35:19 · Can everyone make their passion part of their work?
• 38:43 · Asking yourself "Does it feel gratifying? Is it fulfilling? Is it satisfying?"
• 44:27 · Have you been hearing about "storytelling" in your field?
• 48:17 · How can we focus on the human experience instead of other designers?
• 51:58 · How do you make sure a rebrand isn't just skin deep?
• 58:34 · What makes people feel something?
• 01:00:59 · What's most important to focus on if you want to change how you are percieved?
• 01:03:23 · How do you get to the point where people seek you out?
• 01:05:45 · The concept of the podium
• 01:09:14 · The chaos of taking pictures
• 01:13:20 · How much is just overthinking or overdoing?
• 01:14:34 · Will anyone notice the time you spend on the details?
• 01:17:23 · How do you go about capturing creative moments?
• 01:21:03 · Do you have any daily routines that make you happier or more productive?
• 01:22:45 · What would be some book recomendations?
• 01:24:59 · What would be your message to the world?
• 01:27:05 · Enjoying the process of grinding the beans
• 01:34:39 · Using your brain to design things vs just grinding mouse clicks and workflow steps
• 01:37:08 · How would you define simplicity?
• 01:42:15 · What have you learned about simplicity from making this podcast?
• 01:46:28 · Where can we find you?
• 01:50:53 · Outro

I'd love to hear from you.

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