We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Orin Torati a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Orin, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
As a creative director, I constantly seek inspiration by exploring diverse forms of art, media, and culture, by having no particular focus , I’m able to stay attuned to contemporary culture and innovative ideas, strategies and technologies. Besides that, collaboration with my team members is a crucial part of my creative process, as it brings together a mix of perspectives and talents, sparking innovative ideas and solutions.
Above all, I prioritize creating a work environment that encourages open-mindedness and experimentation, where my team and I feel free to take creative risks and explore new possibilities.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
For the last three years I’ve been operating as a creative director and 3D artist who operates in the spaces between design and fiction. Whilst striving to create radical new aesthetics and narratives for the future through the creative misuse of technologies and techniques.
I’ve been performing these roles in multiple capacities, both as a singular artist as well as part of a collective called RAW. We are a collective force of artists that use speculative worldbuilding to design, develop, and produce worlds where stories take place.
Before my career as a creative director working on brands, music visuals and art exhibits I worked as an architect, which is when I acquired a profound understanding of design principles and methodologies crucial for both spatial and visual design. But, recognizing the constraints inherent to the architectural professional world and desiring a greater amount of creative freedom, I strategically navigated toward the dynamic landscape of the entertainment industry. Where I offer a spectrum of creative services to a diverse clientele, spanning the conceptualization and design of entire worlds for film, television series, brands, fashion editorials, and live entertainment events such as concert tours and music videos. My expertise lies in the art of worldbuilding, a discipline in which I have received specialized training and extensive practical experience.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
In many interviews, or talks, you’ll hear people give you this spiel on what they think the most important qualities and skills to have are. And in a lot of cases you hear the same “inspiring” answers, as if they’re a bunch of inspiring quotes straight out of a movie (which they could be, to be fair).
In my own opinion, as someone that has, and still faces uphill struggles in an industry which is almost always in a somewhat volatile state, I think making (the right) connections is one of the most important objectives for any artist to get their voice out there as well as getting a fair wage for the hard and beautiful work that they deliver into the world.
To reach that objective, I think some of the most important qualities to possess are to be open-minded and approachable to others, as well as being able and confident to approach people and strike a conversation with them. Making connections can lead to you getting the opportunities you’re hoping for. You never know who you might meet.
Obviously, when that one great connection is made and they give you the chance you’ve been hoping for, you’ll have to make sure that you can deliver on what you promised. So having the necessary technical skills to execute what you creatively proposed your client / connection is critical. Make sure you don’t oversell yourself to the point where you can’t handle it anymore, or be able to figure new things out, in that sense, being able to learn by yourself and not needing hand holding is a great quality to have.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Throughout my professional journey, I’ve gotten the chance and experience to traverse diverse creative fields, resulting in an identity that spans over a spectrum of creative disciplines. The trajectory I have gone through has presented me with both opportunities and challenges, as I initially started my career as an architect that later on, transitioned into working as a 3D artist and Creative Director. Navigating how to integrate skills from one creative practice onto another, while making sure to deliver optimal results and products with the meticulous precision took time, perseverance and experience, but has ultimately granted me the creative freedom and limitations that shape my work today.
The creative path, as rewarding as it is, comes with its fair share of challenges. Facing creative blockages and apparent impasses is and has always been an inherent part of the process. In such moments, I’ve discovered the greatest rewards are in seeking input from my peers. Collaborating with colleagues and like minded creatives not only injects fresh perspectives and diverse opinions into my work but also serves as a catalyst for overcoming creative hurdles and charting new directions for projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.orintorati.com
- Instagram: @orintorati
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orin-torati-ba4649192/en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OTORAT
- Other: https://www.rawxworld.com
Image Credits
Shiver – John Summit (Dir. Blaze Gonzalez)
The Little Things AI – VR Ad (Dir. RAW)
Joji – 2023 Tour
Girl in Red – Era’s Tour
Contrair – Collective Practice
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
