Exclusive interviews about intuition, imagination, inspiration, creativity, failure & success

Insights into the minds of top creatives - worldwide

The terminologies

Intuition

"Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life." ~ Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist

Imagination

„Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.“ ~ George Bernard Shaw, Irish writer

Inspiration

“I believe in intuitions and inspirations...I sometimes FEEL that I am right. I do not KNOW that I am.” ~ Albert Einstein, German theoretical physicist

Creativity

„Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things.“ ~ Steve Jobs, American industrial designer/co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc.

Failure

„Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.“ ~ Morihei Ueshiba, Japanese martial artist and founder of the martical art of Aikido

Success

„Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.“ ~ Swami Vivekananda, Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author

The motivation

To preserve the knowledge of important, contemporary creatives who make or have made an impact on the world in one way or another. Lots of first class creatives that influenced the global culture have already died in the 21st century. To name a few out of a vast number: Apple-founder Steve Jobs, Prince, fashion-icon Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Jackson, actress Elizabeth Taylor, David Bowie, author J.D. Salinger (The Catcher in the Rhye), Zaha Hadid (architect, 1st female winner of the Pritzker price), score-composers John Barry (James Bond) and Enrico Morricone (Once Upon a Time in the West), packaging-artists Christo & Jeanne-Claude, James „The Godfather of Soul“ Brown and Avicii, one of the world’s best DJs. With their passing the origin of their driving-force and its important components like what has inspired them, how they realized the strive for know-how transfer from theory into practice and a lot more, disappeared. All these important essential elements are lost forever. This page addresses exactly that grievance and tries to remedy it. How? By offering a broad spectrum of creatives worldwide the opportunity to explain how they try to catch the rainbow and make visionary ideas come to life - from whatever genre.

The selection criterions

Despite the fact that this „compendium’s“ aim is to be as comprehensive as possible and cover every ground from architecture via art, design, fashion, food, literature, movie/show/theatre, music to science and others like UtopiaTech, not every creative can be accomodated. The guidlines for the selection of candidates are very strict. Who’ll be considered has to show the following references:

a) either have a long, complex history of constant outstanding contributions by being influential and preferably international successful, whose work is/was groundbreaking, perhaps even innovative or representing something special for other reasons. The output should be of high quality or originality throughout (proven by experts, critics and awards that are taken seriously) and has made a real impression. If the person’s success has faded after years on the forefront – no problem. History stands still for itself, whereas kind of „flash in the pan“-people, influencers/"creators"/bloggers (despite their large audience) or self-important boasters are of NO interest to be featured in this context.

OR

b) an unique, brillant realized idea/concept of a newcomer/youngster whose talents indicates longevity respectively a real outstanding, special aspect. Not forgetting exceptional insider tips or personal discoveries referring the promising „stars“ of the future.

Therefore a colourful conglomerate of popular and lesser-known creative "movers and shakers, game changers and risk takers" (CNN) who fit the above criterias - from the past, present and future - are assembled here. Note that one thing is true to all chosen ones: Commercial success as well as mass-appeal are NEVER a decisive selection criterion! The same concerns to those that are famous for nothing or their lifestyle for the sake of it, who cash in on the merits of others or base their popularity on copying simply. In short: The manufacturers of a world-famous clothing-chain are NOT an option, but fashion-designer Gianni Versace would have been. So the phrase "fake it, 'til you make it" is irrelevant here. The very individual, distinctive handwriting and personal skills are the ones that are decisive in this case.

The purpose

Use this site's content (that's no scientific study) to inform yourself about the varied facets of creativity. By consuming the original quotes of imaginative, influential creatives you get a look behind the scenes of their works – beyond the well-known informations or usual quotes from promotional appearances. Here they present themselves off the beaten track. Get a glimpse that you won’t gain anywhere else. Experience a (very personal, not to say intimate) world that’s hidden from the public eye, but whose diverse outcome fascinates people worldwide again and again. At best: by mentioning very few keywords you, the site’s user, should either know the person presented or be able to relate to elements of his/her work. And, if neither of these applies, at least the interest in dealing with it should be aroused.

The goal

To present as large a serious bag of wonders of the multitude of the global creative abilities of mankind and keep the makers in the mind.

This source is supposed to inform in the first place, offer interesting discoveries and maybe even widens one's horizon. After all the following insights did not arise for no reason: you can make it, if you try; and if one person can do it, you can do too! Or as Hermann Hesse, the German-Swiss poet, novelist (Steppenwolf, Siddhartha) said: "You have to try the impossible to achieve the possible!"

The maker

The founder and sole prospector of this genuine goldmine is Thomas Hammerl, a renowned journalist from Southern Germany. He specializes in interviews and has published in top-mags like „SPIEGELspecial“ (from „Der Spiegel“) among many others over decades. This site‘s first stock originated of the talks with 31 creatives for his (German) anthology www.my-inspiration-book.com in their (mostly) original English form. That foundation of contributions is extended on a constant level for an ever growing collection of background-knowledge from international imaginatives. To keep everything in the flow constant curiosity is key to fuel the obsession.