Object Subject Form

“Value shifts from things that are in abundance to things that have more scarcity.”  In this live Object Subject Form session, Simon Clowes is joined by PJ Richardson for a follow-up conversation to Simon’s Safe Space LA talk, “Motion Designers Are Cooked.” The original talk opened up a discussion around the emotional reality of working in motion design and creative industries being reshaped in real time by AI, accelerated workflows, and shifting expectations. This conversation continues that thread. AI is often discussed as a tool for speed, efficiency, and output. But underneath the surface, the deeper question is much more personal: identity. What do motion designers, creative directors, animators, and designers hold onto when a job title no longer explains their value? Together, Simon and PJ explore where value migrates when more of the creative process becomes easier to produce, and why creative point of view is becoming more strategically important. As Simon puts it, this is a shift from building a body of work to building a body of thought. This is a conversation about AI and design, creative identity, studio culture, and how creative people can navigate uncertainty, protect their sense of self, build reputation, and stay adaptable without losing the deeper human qualities that make the work meaningful. –– Chapters 00:00:00 Cold Open: Are Creatives Losing Their Purpose? 00:00:49 Welcome Back to Safe Space 00:03:08 Career Uncertainty and Creative Identity 00:04:23 Titles, Identity, and Creative Advantage 00:09:57 Why Point of View Is Becoming More Strategic 00:14:23 Advice for Young Designers Entering the Industry 00:23:44 AI, Experimentation, and the Identity Crisis 00:31:59 Why AI Still Needs Strong Artists 00:35:18 From Body of Work to Body of Thought 00:41:19 Why Hard Creative Problems Still Matter 00:49:21 Remote Work, Community, and Creative Exchange 00:55:57 Relationships, Reputation, and Trust 01:17:32 Creative Culture, Critique, and Leadership 01:37:42 PJ on Identity, Purpose, and Leadership 01:46:14 Closing Thoughts –– Connect with PJ Richardson  PJ Richardson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pj-richardson-845599/  Laundry: https://www.laundry.studio/ Safe Space: https://www.safe-space-la.com/ –– Contact Simon / Object Subject Form Website: https://objectsubjectform.com/ Object Subject Form on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectsubjectform/ Object Subject Form on Instagram: https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform Simon’s LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/simonclowes Simon’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/simon_clowes Simon’s X: https://x.com/simon_clowes –– About Object Subject Form Object Subject Form is a podcast and creative platform hosted by Simon Clowes, exploring the human side of creativity, identity, and emerging technologies through conversations with artists, designers, technologists, and cultural thinkers.

“Art is human and therefore art is imperfect.” — Ilan Derech As creatives, our world keeps pushing toward perfection. Ilan Derech makes a case for the opposite. In this episode of Object Subject Form, the Mexico-born, Tokyo-based visual artist discusses how images, imperfection, and new technology influenced both his work and his life. With roots in motion design, 3D, and generative coding, Derech's practice has evolved into something best described as contemplative: cinematic images that distill fleeting human moments into stillness, atmosphere, and feeling.   Derech and Simon discuss his journey of artistic discovery through self-acceptance, attention, authorship, and the ways art can become a means of survival as much as expression. He reflects on the darkest moment of his life, the role images played in helping him see differently, and how a camera became a way of reconnecting with beauty, meaning, and possibility.  Derech speaks candidly about ADHD, autism, and why art resonates through human irregularity. Consistently in search for the honest image, his work invites us to slow down, asks more of our attention, and creates space for reflection. Deeply influenced by wabi-sabi, impermanence, silence, and ma — the space between — he talks about treating time like material, finding visual poetry in passing scenes, and making work that feels composed and accidental at once.   At the center of the episode is a simple idea: imperfection is not a flaw we should try to erase, but part of what makes art human. If you’ve ever wrestled with perfectionism, questioned what makes an image feel alive, or wondered what new technology is really changing in creative life, this episode is for you. – Connect with Derech on X:  https://x.com/IDerech – Connect with Derech on Instagram: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilanderech/ – Derech’s website: Website: https://www.derech.art/ – Connect with Simon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/ – Connect with Object Subject Form LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectsubjectform/ – Object Subject Form website: https://objectsubjectform.com/ – Object Subject Form on Instagram:  https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“I spent years trained to look for what can go wrong. Crypto helped me imagine what could go right.”— Sergio Silva When the internet becomes a place you can own things, it changes how you see money, culture, and your own agency. In this episode of Object Subject Form, Sergio Silva joins Simon to explore the move from legacy finance to digital ownership, and what changes mentally when money becomes native to the internet. Sergio started his career at Goldman Sachs in 2009, then spent seven years leading the Latam Equity Sales team at Barclays before moving into digital assets.  Today he’s the founder of The Meebit Company, a venture-backed team stewarding and developing the Meebits IP. He previously led Web3 business development at Fireblocks and is a founding member of NeonDAO, an investment fund focused on building the open metaverse. Sergio breaks down digital assets in plain language, and explains how ownership changes the dynamics of online community compared to the platforms we’ve lived on for the past decade. Together, they explore market psychology, the behavioral side of investing, and practical principles like “pay yourself first,” alongside why Bitcoin’s scarcity matters and what makes it a store of value. Meebits becomes the case study for what ownership looks like in culture, and Sergio shares how he’s thinking about identity, community, and long-term IP. If you’ve been curious but skeptical, this episode is a clean entry point. – Connect with Sergio on X:  https://x.com/sergitosergito – Discover Meebits https://meebits.com/ – Follow Meebits on X: https://x.com/MeebitsNFTs – Connect with Simon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/ – Connect with Object Subject Form LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectsubjectform/ – Object Subject Form website: https://objectsubjectform.com/ – Object Subject Form on Instagram:  https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“My music is my freedom. It’s my currency. It’s who I am.” — Violetta Zironi   In the streaming era, the economics of music can feel impossible to reconcile with the dream artists are sold.  Early success can open doors, but it can also subtly close off parts of you. In 2013, singer-songwriter Violetta Zironi reached the final of X Factor Italy and stepped into the traditional music machine: visibility, expectations, and the pressure to become a version of yourself that is forced to perform inside someone else’s system. In this episode of Object Subject Form, singer-songwriter Violetta Zironi joins Simon Clowes to openly discuss the hidden cost of early “success” in the traditional music industry, and what it took to rebuild a sustainable career outside of the gatekeeper model. The conversation covers the economics of streaming, the emotional toll of chasing visibility, and the mindset shift that led her to explore music ownership on the blockchain.  They discuss what “community as infrastructure” looks like in practice, why ownership changes the emotional contract between artist and audience, and how blockchain technology can support a more direct, human model for music. For any creative navigating platforms, pressure, and the feeling that “success” is starting to misalign you, this conversation is a reminder: the goal is not to grow at any cost. It’s to build something you can grow without losing yourself. – Connect with Violetta on X:  https://x.com/violettazironi – Violetta’s Website:  https://www.violettazironi.com/ – Connect with Simon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/ – Object Subject Form on Instagram:  https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“Stepping out of your old identity will feel scary. But choosing who you want to be is the bravest risk you can take.” — Marko Pfann  Playing it safe can feel logical in an unpredictable market, but in this current creative landscape, safe work is quietly making creatives replaceable. It keeps your work familiar, your opportunities limited, and your identity tied to who you were instead of who you have the potential to become. In this episode of Object Subject Form, creative coach and Paradiso co-founder Marko Pfann joins Simon for a conversation about risk, identity, and the real work behind being seen as an artist. They explore why creatives fall into the safety trap, how imitation dilutes your voice, and why standing out now requires choosing who you want to be long before the world validates you. Marko has spent years helping creatives and studios break out of the patterns that keep them stuck. He once had everything creatives are told to want: seven-figure revenue, huge teams, worldwide branding work, and a stack of awards. On paper he had “made it,” but inside, he felt empty. So he sold his studio and walked away from the safety everyone else expected him to hold onto. Together with Héctor Ayuso, Marko co-founded Paradiso, a creative retreat and community where he helps creatives reconnect to the part we lose under pressure: identity. His work blends psychology, language, and creative strategy to help people reconnect to their inner compass. To the emotional core that gets buried under deadlines, comparison, and fear. Together, Marko and Simon discuss how the industry is shifting. Output is becoming more efficient while trends are collapsing faster. In a world like this, your value comes from what only you can bring: your taste, your language, your lived experience, and the identity you’re willing to stand behind. The conversation traces everything from creative bravery to reputation, from personality-led positioning to the mindset shift required to stay relevant. They explore why the biggest studios invest in R&D, why long-form expression builds trust, and why your “voice” is now as important as your portfolio. Whether you’re independent, running a studio, or rethinking your next step, this episode offers a grounded path forward. A reminder that creativity is about choosing who you want to be, and having the courage to act on it. – Connect with Marko on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/markopfann/    Discover Paradiso:  https://paradisofest.com/ – Connect with Simon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/ – Object Subject Form on Instagram:  https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform