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MOI Scoop
Experiences
Podcasts
Turning Heads
News
Trends
ISSUE #21
Aug 25
MOI Global creatives are often asked where we get our inspiration. The answer is always the same: anywhere and everywhere.
Take a stroll through this set of head-turning art, copy, ads, literature, culture, and trends that inspire us. And some of our original work that proves we take notice of what we see, when we look around. Features images and articles from multiple online sources, shared for inspiration purposes only, not commercial use. © various owners (see URLs throughout for more information).
Specializing in all things creativity, innovation and AI, James Taylor is an award-winning keynote speaker, author and entrepeneur on a mission to help people unlock their creative potential. And we had the opportunity pick his brain...
MOI: Tell us about your work and what excites you.
James: Each year, I deliver around 80 keynotes across more than 25 countries, primarily for Global Fortune 500 companies, industry associations, and governments. My clients range from tech giants like Dell, Apple, and Cisco to organizations in healthcare, engineering, and professional services, including Novartis, Caterpillar, EY, and Accenture. What excites me most is helping people unlock their creative potential—especially by learning to collaborate more deeply with both other humans and intelligent machines.
MOI: What do you think it takes to create work that consistently turns heads?
James: It starts with a strong point of view—a distinctive way of seeing the world—and the ability to communicate that perspective clearly and compellingly. There’s also a difference between doing creative work that gets attention and doing work that changes your field, industry, or domain. If your goal is consistency, you need to recognize that your work—and your unique voice—will go in and out of fashion over time.
This is the paradox of creative work: some creators arrive like lightning, transforming their field overnight. Others are more like fire, building slowly, with brilliance emerging after years of effort and iteration. Both paths lead to impact, and the one we take is often shaped by our personality, our thought processes, and how we approach creation.
Specializing in all things creativity, innovation and AI, James Taylor is an award-winning keynote speaker, author and entrepeneur on a mission to help people unlock their creative potential. And we had the opportunity pick his brain...
MOI: Tell us about your work and what excites you.
James: Each year, I deliver around 80 keynotes across more than 25 countries, primarily for Global Fortune 500 companies, industry associations, and governments. My clients range from tech giants like Dell, Apple, and Cisco to organizations in healthcare, engineering, and professional services, including Novartis, Caterpillar, EY, and Accenture. What excites me most is helping people unlock their creative potential—especially by learning to collaborate more deeply with both other humans and intelligent machines.
MOI: What do you think it takes to create work that consistently turns heads?
James: It starts with a strong point of view—a distinctive way of seeing the world—and the ability to communicate that perspective clearly and compellingly. There’s also a difference between doing creative work that gets attention and doing work that changes your field, industry, or domain. If your goal is consistency, you need to recognize that your work—and your unique voice—will go in and out of fashion over time.
This is the paradox of creative work: some creators arrive like lightning, transforming their field overnight. Others are more like fire, building slowly, with brilliance emerging after years of effort and iteration. Both paths lead to impact, and the one we take is often shaped by our personality, our thought processes, and how we approach creation.
MOI: Who or what has turned your head creatively recently?
James: I often find inspiration in the work of musicians, film directors, and so-called outsiders—those who master one field and then cross boundaries to experiment in another. Artists like Janelle Monáe and Little Simz stand out to me because they seem fully in control of their creative expression and what they release into the world.
While the creative industries tend to obsess over the new, I see immense value in revisiting the past—what people were thinking and creating 50, 100, even 500 years ago. One of my favourite places is The London Library, home to over a million books, many dating back to the 1700s. What makes it magical is how the books are arranged—alphabetically by subject, not by the Dewey Decimal system, leading to surprising juxtapositions. Books on cats sit beside those on carpentry and canoeing. That kind of tangential browsing encourages the creative leaps we so often rely on.
MOI: What inspires you outside of the creative industry that feeds back into your work?
James: As host of The SuperCreativity Podcast, The Ethical Futurists Podcast, and several online summits, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing over 750 of the world’s leading creative minds, from Silicon Valley tech CEOs and AI pioneers to New York Times bestselling authors. Their passion, intellect, and enthusiasm constantly ignite my own curiosity and creativity. There’s something uniquely powerful about the spoken word. It gives you the space to pause, reflect, and connect ideas in unexpected ways.
MOI: What emerging trends do you think will redefine creative strategies in the coming years?
James: One major trend is what I call SuperCreativity: the way humans collaborate with AI, machine learning, robotics, and other forms of technological augmentation to enhance their creative output.
Another is the resurgence of real-world, in-person experiences. As deepfakes and AI-generated content proliferate, we’ll face a growing crisis of trust: how do we know the person we’re speaking with is real? In response, retreats, salons, experiential events, and intimate gatherings will become even more vital. These are spaces that can’t be faked and where human connection and creativity thrive.
MOI: How do you personally define creative impact — and does ‘turning heads’ always mean success?
James: To me, creative impact means inspiring the work of others. We’ve all seen creative teams or companies win awards, yet their output can feel like intellectual Red Bull—momentarily energizing but ultimately lacking depth or long-term influence.
Yes, turning heads can bring short-term commercial success. But there are many artists, inventors, and creatives whose work was only truly appreciated long after they were gone. That doesn’t mean everything we create must aim to be timeless or evergreen—there’s value in work that feels deeply of the moment.
However, when I think of great speakers, for example, they often deliver talks that feel powerfully relevant at the time, and even more relevant a century later.
MOI: Who or what has turned your head creatively recently?
James: I often find inspiration in the work of musicians, film directors, and so-called outsiders—those who master one field and then cross boundaries to experiment in another. Artists like Janelle Monáe and Little Simz stand out to me because they seem fully in control of their creative expression and what they release into the world.
While the creative industries tend to obsess over the new, I see immense value in revisiting the past—what people were thinking and creating 50, 100, even 500 years ago. One of my favourite places is The London Library, home to over a million books, many dating back to the 1700s. What makes it magical is how the books are arranged—alphabetically by subject, not by the Dewey Decimal system, leading to surprising juxtapositions. Books on cats sit beside those on carpentry and canoeing. That kind of tangential browsing encourages the creative leaps we so often rely on.
MOI: What inspires you outside of the creative industry that feeds back into your work?
James: As host of The SuperCreativity Podcast, The Ethical Futurists Podcast, and several online summits, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing over 750 of the world’s leading creative minds, from Silicon Valley tech CEOs and AI pioneers to New York Times bestselling authors. Their passion, intellect, and enthusiasm constantly ignite my own curiosity and creativity. There’s something uniquely powerful about the spoken word. It gives you the space to pause, reflect, and connect ideas in unexpected ways.
MOI: What emerging trends do you think will redefine creative strategies in the coming years?
James: One major trend is what I call SuperCreativity: the way humans collaborate with AI, machine learning, robotics, and other forms of technological augmentation to enhance their creative output.
Another is the resurgence of real-world, in-person experiences. As deepfakes and AI-generated content proliferate, we’ll face a growing crisis of trust: how do we know the person we’re speaking with is real? In response, retreats, salons, experiential events, and intimate gatherings will become even more vital. These are spaces that can’t be faked and where human connection and creativity thrive.
MOI: How do you personally define creative impact — and does ‘turning heads’ always mean success?
James: To me, creative impact means inspiring the work of others. We’ve all seen creative teams or companies win awards, yet their output can feel like intellectual Red Bull—momentarily energizing but ultimately lacking depth or long-term influence.
Yes, turning heads can bring short-term commercial success. But there are many artists, inventors, and creatives whose work was only truly appreciated long after they were gone. That doesn’t mean everything we create must aim to be timeless or evergreen—there’s value in work that feels deeply of the moment.
However, when I think of great speakers, for example, they often deliver talks that feel powerfully relevant at the time, and even more relevant a century later.
Google wanted a unique and engaging way to celebrate its new Pixel 9 smartphone. So why not throw the perfect afterparty? With a VIP list of celebrities and influencers, Google invited viewers to join the afterparty and watch as celebs played with Google's products across a series of fun, silly and exciting activities and games.
Image and arti cle courtesy © mssngpeces
Watch hereWhat better way to spend a Tuesday evening than hearing from some of the greatest creative minds out there? It's Nice That hosts regular creative talks in London and New York, bringing together speakers across the creative sphere to share insights, showcase ideas and talk all things creativity.
Article and article courtesy © It's Nice That
Read here
Google wanted a unique and engaging way to celebrate its new Pixel 9 smartphone. So why not throw the perfect afterparty? With a VIP list of celebrities and influencers, Google invited viewers to join the afterparty and watch as celebs played with Google's products across a series of fun, silly and exciting activities and games.
Image and arti cle courtesy © mssngpeces
What better way to spend a Tuesday evening than hearing from some of the greatest creative minds out there? It's Nice That hosts regular creative talks in London and New York, bringing together speakers across the creative sphere to share insights, showcase ideas and talk all things creativity.
Article and article courtesy © It's Nice That
Creative Boom doesn't only offer graphic design insights on its blog. It also has its own podcast hosted by Katy Cowan. Katy dives deep into candid conversations that reveal the heart and soul of the creative journey.
Image and article courtesy © Creative Boom
Read hereThe 2Bobs Podcast with David C Baker and Blair Enns unpacks the art of creative entrepreneurship. With a new episode every second Wednesday, there's plenty of insights to sink your teeth into.
Image courtesy © 2Bobs | YouTube
Article courtesy © The PodUp
Founded by strategist Mark Pollard, Sweathead is the one-stop-shop for marketing training. With a podcast, regular online events, memberships, company training and strategy books, it's there to help marketers make the most of their minds.
Article and article courtesy © Mark Pollard
Explore Sweathead Connect with Mark Pollard
Creative Boom doesn't only offer graphic design insights on its blog. It also has its own podcast hosted by Katy Cowan. Katy dives deep into candid conversations that reveal the heart and soul of the creative journey.
Image and article courtesy © Creative Boom
The 2Bobs Podcast with David C Baker and Blair Enns unpacks the art of creative entrepreneurship. With a new episode every second Wednesday, there's plenty of insights to sink your teeth into.
Image courtesy © 2Bobs | YouTube
Article courtesy © The PodUp
Founded by strategist Mark Pollard, Sweathead is the one-stop-shop for marketing training. With a podcast, regular online events, memberships, company training and strategy books, it's there to help marketers make the most of their minds.
Article and article courtesy © Mark Pollard
Turning Heads™
The way to get
to a better ‘what’.
(What? In this case…
is brand!)
At MOI, we have our own proprietary ‘way’ that we approach creative and divergent thinking and problem solving which we call Turning Heads.We use Turning Heads to help B2B brands rethink the role of brand—not as some fluffy, surface-level exercise, but as a critical component of growth.
Our philosophy? Brand is your biggest differentiator, especially in a space where everyone’s shouting about features and functions. With the right strategy, brand can elevate your value proposition, create emotional connections, and, yes, turn heads. It’s time to think differently about what your brand can do—because being the smartest person in the room isn’t enough if no one’s listening, but neither is being the most outrageously dressed if no-one’s taking you seriously!
(What? In this case… is brand!)
When I thought about "Influential Voices" as this month's theme, I initially stalled: in 2025, doesn't every voice want to influence? Every LinkedIn guru and TikTok thought leader is desperately ‘performing influence’. We're drowning in people who've appointed themselves as voices that matter.
So, let’s resist rolling out the predictable parade of usual suspects… whose voices have genuinely cut through the noise this past year?
Let’s focus on actual voices. Not personalities or visual content creators, but people whose voice alone can capture your attention. A genuinely influential voice should work as audio-only. That's why I turned to podcasts.
Two shows that have genuinely influenced me are:
Miss Me? with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver—raw, honest, and oftentimes uncomfortably real. In a world of over-produced content, Lily and Miquita just talk. Close your eyes and listen; their dialogue and PoVs alone have the power to hold you.
The other standouts are BBC’s ‘Uncharted’ and Google’s ‘Deepmind’ podcasts, both of which feature the awesome Dr. Hannah Fry, who takes complex ideas about AI and data and makes them accessible without dumbing them down. Listen to her explain quantum computing with just her voice, and you'll understand genuine influence.
Both pass the ultimate test: strip away the visual, the personal brand, the social media presence and they still capture your attention completely. They don't ‘perform influence’, they embody it.
Real influence requires a distinctive point of view, the courage to matter over metrics, and the ability to linger long after you've consumed their content. These voices remind us that in a landscape where everyone is performing influence, the most influential aren't always the loudest. They're the ones that linger.
Image and article courtesy © Miss Me?, BBC Uncharted, Google Deepmind
When I thought about "Influential Voices" as this month's theme, I initially stalled: in 2025, doesn't every voice want to influence? Every LinkedIn guru and TikTok thought leader is desperately ‘performing influence’. We're drowning in people who've appointed themselves as voices that matter.
So, let’s resist rolling out the predictable parade of usual suspects… whose voices have genuinely cut through the noise this past year?
Let’s focus on actual voices. Not personalities or visual content creators, but people whose voice alone can capture your attention. A genuinely influential voice should work as audio-only. That's why I turned to podcasts.
Two shows that have genuinely influenced me are:
Miss Me? with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver—raw, honest, and oftentimes uncomfortably real. In a world of over-produced content, Lily and Miquita just talk. Close your eyes and listen; their dialogue and PoVs alone have the power to hold you.
The other standouts are BBC’s ‘Uncharted’ and Google’s ‘Deepmind’ podcasts, both of which feature the awesome Dr. Hannah Fry, who takes complex ideas about AI and data and makes them accessible without dumbing them down. Listen to her explain quantum computing with just her voice, and you'll understand genuine influence.
Both pass the ultimate test: strip away the visual, the personal brand, the social media presence and they still capture your attention completely. They don't ‘perform influence’, they embody it.
Real influence requires a distinctive point of view, the courage to matter over metrics, and the ability to linger long after you've consumed their content. These voices remind us that in a landscape where everyone is performing influence, the most influential aren't always the loudest. They're the ones that linger.
Image and article courtesy © Miss Me?, BBC Uncharted, Google Deepmind
As marketing and business development director of Koto, Nicolas Breuil launched the Off Brand newsletter to explore early-stage branding and brand consistency, with examples and actionable takeaways.
Image and article courtesy © DesignWeek
Read here
Upcoming events, cultural updates, business news and creative inspo. Sir John Hegarty's newsletter 'The Business of Creativity' has everything you need to spark big ideas and build better businesses.
Image and article courtesy © Sir John Hegarty,
The Business of Creativity
Personal branding expert, Goldie Chan, shines light on the fascinating stories of creators, professionals and entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds in her newsletter series, First In the Door. With exclusive, short-form interviews, she explores how these people are charting their own career paths.
Image and article courtesy © Goldie Chan, Becoming a
Better Brand
As marketing and business development director of Koto, Nicolas Breuil launched the Off Brand newsletter to explore early-stage branding and brand consistency, with examples and actionable takeaways.
Image and article courtesy © DesignWeek
Upcoming events, cultural updates, business news and creative inspo. Sir John Hegarty's newsletter 'The Business of Creativity' has everything you need to spark big ideas and build better businesses.
Image and article courtesy © Sir John Hegarty, The Business of Creativity
Personal branding expert, Goldie Chan, shines light on the fascinating stories of creators, professionals and entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds in her newsletter series, First In the Door. With exclusive, short-form interviews, she explores how these people are charting their own career paths.
Image and article courtesy © Goldie Chan, Becoming a Better Brand
From tattoo history and design to typography, wacky fictional collabs and product ideas you didn't know you needed (or even wanted!). James Dignum's LinkedIn is packed with bonkers ideas that will ignite your creative spark and remind you that there's no such thing as "too weird".
Image and article courtesy © James Dignum
Read here
One Minute Briefs is the internet's biggest creative cult. The community promotes brands and social causes by challenging creatives on Twitter to respond with instinctive ideas to daily advertising briefs, rewarding the best entries. Whether you just want to follow and watch the creative chaos unfold, or become a loyal OMBLE yourself – it's a must-follow.
Image and article courtesy © One Minute Briefs
Read here
From tattoo history and design to typography, wacky fictional collabs and product ideas you didn't know you needed (or even wanted!). James Dignum's LinkedIn is packed with bonkers ideas that will ignite your creative spark and remind you that there's no such thing as "too weird".
Image and article courtesy © James Dignum
One Minute Briefs is the internet's biggest creative cult. The community promotes brands and social causes by challenging creatives on Twitter to respond with instinctive ideas to daily advertising briefs, rewarding the best entries. Whether you just want to follow and watch the creative chaos unfold, or become a loyal OMBLE yourself – it's a must-follow.
Image and article courtesy © One Minute Briefs
Gen Z creator, entrepreneur and founder of Pretty Little Marketer, Sophie Miller has been recognized as "a voice for the next generation of marketers". What started as candid marketing conversations rapidly grew into a community of 600,000+ marketers worldwide.
Image and article courtesy © Sophie Miller | Pretty Little Marketer
Read hereWord Tonic is the community for Gen Z copywriters. With over 2,000 members across 30+ countries, the community offers recruitment services, online support, and exclusive masterclasses with major names like LEGO Group and Monzo.
Image and article courtesy © Word Tonic | LinkedIn
Read hereGen Z are officially the generation of 'Corporate Influencers'. Taking over LinkedIn and TikTok, brands are increasingly turning to Gen Z employees to humanize their content. Whether it's a Day in the Life or a raw behind-the-scenes video – these digitally native youngsters are stepping up as the voices of their brands, with authentic, relatable content.
Image courtesy © Lauren444, catyyxu, mejuri | TikTok
Article courtesy © Meeta Sabnis | LinkedIn & Social Media Strategies Summit
Gen Z creator, entrepreneur and founder of Pretty Little Marketer, Sophie Miller has been recognized as "a voice for the next generation of marketers". What started as candid marketing conversations rapidly grew into a community of 600,000+ marketers worldwide.
Image and article courtesy © Sophie Miller | Pretty Little Marketer
Word Tonic is the community for Gen Z copywriters. With over 2,000 members across 30+ countries, the community offers recruitment services, online support, and exclusive masterclasses with major names like LEGO Group and Monzo.
Image and article courtesy © Word Tonic | LinkedIn
Gen Z are officially the generation of 'Corporate Influencers'. Taking over LinkedIn and TikTok, brands are increasingly turning to Gen Z employees to humanize their content. Whether it's a Day in the Life or a raw behind-the-scenes video – these digitally native youngsters are stepping up as the voices of their brands, with authentic, relatable content.
Image courtesy © Lauren444, catyyxu, mejuri | TikTok
Article courtesy © Meeta Sabnis | LinkedIn & Social Media Strategies Summit
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