We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paulomi Mukherjee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Paulomi, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
To keep my creativity alive, I constantly explore new channels and mediums. Creative minds often crave variety, so I dabble in photography, sketching, gastronomy, animation, music, and more. The key is to avoid stagnation; once I find something intriguing, I invest time perfecting it. However, perfection is elusive, so while honing one craft, I seamlessly jump to another.
Constantly seeking inspiration is paramount – I immerse myself in the creative world by attending events, exploring museums, and visiting flea markets. Interacting with fellow creatives fuels my imagination. I like to attend a lot of events like workshops and conventions where you can find and interact with like-minded individuals. Even a simple walk becomes a canvas for observation, allowing me to extract inspiration from the world around me. This dynamic approach ensures a continuous flow of ideas, preventing creative burnout and fostering a perpetual cycle of innovation.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Jumping into advertising in 2019 without a clue, I turned the unknown into an adventure. Learning on the fly, I mixed on-the-job antics with grad school and self-taught tricks, transforming from a greenhorn to an Art Director. It’s been a wild ride, full of growth, adaptability, and the sheer joy of navigating the creative chaos in advertising.
As an Art Director in advertising, my professional journey revolves around bringing creative visions to life through visual storytelling. In the dynamic realm of advertising, I am responsible for shaping the visual elements of campaigns, ensuring they resonate with the target audience and effectively communicate the intended message.
What excites me most about my role is the fusion of creativity and strategy. Every project is a unique opportunity to blend artistic expression with the strategic objectives of a brand. I thrive on the ability to transform concepts into compelling visual narratives that not only capture attention but also leave a lasting impact.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being an Art Director is the collaborative nature of the field. Working closely with copywriters, animators, and clients fosters an environment where diverse perspectives converge to create something truly unique. The synergy of ideas and the collective pursuit of excellence are integral to the success of any advertising campaign.
Looking ahead, I am excited about the potential for growth and innovation within the advertising landscape. As technology continues to evolve through AI and data analysis and creative software, there are so many new possibilities for creative expression. I am keen on exploring how these advancements can be harnessed to elevate the impact of advertising campaigns.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Reflecting on my creative journey, three key qualities have been transformative:
Adaptability: The ability to embrace change and uncertainty fuels the creative process. Stay open to new ideas, new people, moving to a new city, explore different artistic mediums, and be willing to shift direction and then do it again. You don’t have to figure it all out in one go or be the first in the “race”. In fact, it’s better to take your time. A quote someone mentioned to me once said, “early ripe, early rotten”. You’re always going to feel like you’re behind but adaptability in the face of the unknown allows for unexpected outcomes that are more often than not exactly what you needed.
Stay curious: A constant thirst for inspiration and knowledge is the heartbeat of creativity. Stay curious about the world. Ask questions, ask why, seek out diverse influences, and let your inquisitiveness guide your artistic exploration. Curiosity keeps the creative mind engaged and ensures a continual flow of fresh ideas.
Embracing Failure: The creative process is inherently linked to risk-taking. Embrace the possibility of failure as an integral part of experimentation. There’s always going to be someone better than you, always. Do the thing anyway. It’s better to do something kind of OK or even to do it badly, than to not do it at all. Learn from setbacks, as they often lead to breakthroughs in the creative journey.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I’m still figuring out how to deal with myself and my mental and emotional health when overwhelmed. It’s a work in progress. Most times I just cry and let it out, but ideally, I would go about it like this –
Step 1: Take a Breather: When things get crazy, hit pause. Step back, breathe, and figure out what’s really stressing you out. No judgment—just identify the chaos source. It could be work, friends or family or just that you’ve bitten of more than you can chew.
- Sort and Share the Load: Break tasks into bite-sized chunks. You may be a multi-tasker, but you don’t have to sort it all at once. Prioritize what needs to be addressed immediately and what can wait. If you can delegate, do it. You’re not a superhero; you don’t have to do everything.
- Me-Time Mandatory: Inject some “me-time” into your day. Whether it’s a quick stroll, a moment of zen, or a fun hobby, do something that makes you happy. It’s like a mini vacation for your brain. I like to make coffee or cook something fun for a post-everything-shower treat.
- Draw the Line: Set boundaries, friend. Work stays at work (or your designated workspace) and your social life definitely shouldn’t be burning you out. Make room for yourself in the picture, you’re just as important. Boundaries keep burnout at bay.
- Rally the Troops: Don’t go solo. Share your struggles with pals, family, or work buddies. Sometimes, just talking it out brings fresh ideas or a much-needed pep talk. Remember, asking for help is cool, not a weakness. I call my mom, her advice may not be what I wanted to hear, but it’s nice to let it out to someone who only has your best interest at heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: paulomimukherjee.com
- Instagram: paulomi.mukherjee or paulo.roids
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulomixmukherjee/
Image Credits
Spotify: Work created at Boston University Piedmont Healthcare: Work created at Publicis Groupe Verizon: Work created at Publicis Groupe
