One of the many things we love about CreativeMornings is the opportunity to explore different, interesting subjects through the lens of each month’s global theme. The concepts and conversations that our speakers come up with never fail to spark a new perspective.

For this month’s theme of Genius—presented by Wordpress.com—we’ve asked Thing Thing to share a few things to get us ready for Friday’s talk.

CreativeMornings/Detroit: Don’t give it all away just yet but can you tell us in three words what you’ll be talking about on the 25th?

Thing Thing: Thing Thing Things

CM/D: Why Detroit? What keeps you inspired here?

TT: Detroit is so unique, diverse, and beautiful. I am so grateful to be living here participating in real communities. There is a grit, drive, humility and expression that I haven’t found anywhere else. 

CM/D: What is your favorite project you’ve ever worked on? What would your dream project be?

TT: My favorite project to work on was when we were living in Venice for a month melting plastic all day working on “Making Friends.” Plastic all day - Pizza and Negroni’s all night. It was the life. My dream project would be to unite with our old comrade Eiji Jimbo to create a utopic landscape of objects in some pristine, natural oasis. Perhaps on the desert alla Arcosanti… Perhaps on a cliff-side in the Mediterranean…maybe even in some magical corner of the D…

CM/D: What do you do when you feel stuck, creatively?

TT: When I feel stuck creatively I don’t even really feel it…I just get caught in a rut thinking the same thought over again and again. I usually come out of it when i realize I’ve said the same thing to Rachel four times in the last hour without doing anything else. Working with supportive people gives you the perspective to stop yourself from being a broken record. 

CM/D: If you were not working on your current endeavors, what might you be doing instead?

TT: I’d either be in grad school or traveling through Italy. Escapist fantasies? Life investments? You tell me.

CM/D: What’s your favorite animated gif?

TT: This is really a tough one…we had to pull deep into our design values to summon this gem 

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You can hear Thing Thing share more of their story in person this week during their CreativeMornings talk at True North No 8. Doors open at 8:30 for coffee, snacks, and mingling, and the talk will begin at 9:00am. As always, the event is free - just be sure to grab a ticket!

Special thanks to our sponsors this month: Adobe, MailChimp, Shutterstock, Wordpress.com, Huge Detroit, Threespot, Kind Snacks, Bikes & Coffee, Some_Things, and True North No 8.