Mirror, mirror on the wall, how adaptable are we all? Change is everywhere, change is constant. Change is an unquestionable reality of life, yet fear and anxiety often shadow its presence; it can feel uncomfortable and overwhelming, but it is unavoidable. It is the unexpected flashing light reflected on the mirror that takes us by surprise, blinds and frightens us for a second, until we then get used to it.
Change is creation and evolution. Renowned cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead famously said “a small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has” and, at IW, we always see our industry as a major platform for change and innovation. For us change is synonymous with vision, improvement and thinking forward, generating solutions and self-discovery. Therefore, the better our adaptive skills are, the most fruitful the results of change can be.
As creatives, it is paramount that we learn about and use the new tools offered, be aware of the latest trends and use the data available to inform us about consumer behaviours. From the latest AI chatbots developments and neural networks to Web3, we continuously endeavour to keep in sync with the latest trends, evaluate them and adapt our practices accordingly.
Here at IW we embrace change as the great driving force that enables us to develop unique ideas, surpass obstacles and transform the way we work. But, in order to respond to change effectively and fortify ourselves with more adaptive skills, we have established a set of practices that helps us navigate the challenges. So on a regular basis:
We organise ‘Create the Future’ sessions: Create the Future sessions have become an indispensable part of the IW culture. They allow us to foster our togetherness as a community, celebrate our multidisciplinary talent and show our commitment to our team. These are collaborative and inspirational sessions with industry experts or our senior talented people challenging our processes and notions. They are just one of our numerous approaches to support our talent with constant learning, and incessant personal and professional growth.
We attend international conferences: Participating in big events that bring together the global creative community is one of our main sources of inspiration and attendance allows us both to learn from others and challenge ourselves to change. And over the years, OFFF has been a continuously trustworthy partner in creating a stimulating platform for creative change.
We have trainings and workshops: Our work ethos is hugely centred around the power of doing and we always strive to make things happen, even when this seems impossible. Training is part of this mentality and it is also one of our fundamental tools to bridge creativity with technology, innovation and industry insights. Training sessions give us the opportunity to experiment with new tools, ideas and methodologies. Additionally, they contribute in challenging our capabilities, while improving our skills and productivity; and collaboration becomes stronger and more efficient, leaving us with a greater sense of empowerment.
New possibilities and tools are already changing the current environment in unprecedented ways. We are often called to navigate unchartered territory, resulting frequently in more pressure and challenge. By re-evaluating and redesigning our business models, learning more about new technologies and adapting our processes, we grow both as individuals and as businesses.
Afterall, “the secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new” – Socrates.
