Writer Archives | Page 5 of 6 | The Great Discontent (TGD)

Oliver Jeffers

Artist, Illustrator, Writer / By The Great Discontent

Prepare to enter the fantastical world of Oliver Jeffers, where, if you can imagine it, you can make it happen! Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Oliver knew from a young age that he wanted to be an artist, but what he didn’t know was how an accidental discovery of picture books would change the course of his life forever. Read on for the full story of Oliver’s journey from Ireland to New York City, where he now lives and works, the unforgettable characters he’s met, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. —Tina

Bobby Solomon

Designer, Writer / By The Great Discontent

We’ve followed Bobby’s blog for a long time and have downloaded our fair share of wallpapers from The Fox Is Black’s Desktop Wallpaper Project, which is why we were excited to finally have a chance to talk with the man behind it all. It wasn’t a surprise to learn that Bobby works really hard—he runs TFIB and has a full-time job at Disney!—but we loved that even though he’s super busy, he has a really positive attitude about life, challenges included. It was fun learning about his early years, hearing what he’s up to now, and getting a glimpse into his future plans. Best of luck, Bobby, and thanks for sharing your story with all of us! —Tina

Debbie Millman

Artist, Broadcaster, Designer, Educator, Writer / By The Great Discontent

Debbie has interviewed over 200 people for her podcast, Design Matters, and the opportunity to ask her the questions was exciting, albeit slightly intimidating. With 30 years of professional experience and a multitude of personal projects under her belt, Debbie is a force in the world of design, but there’s more to her story than her current successes. In fact, Debbie was generous in sharing about the years of rejection and despair that she experienced before finding her niche. Her stories and insights will challenge you, encourage you, and confirm that you’re not alone in your struggles. But in Debbie’s words, sometimes “the worst moments of our life can turn out to the best.” So go on, be brave, bold, and above all, keep trying. —Tina

Matt Porterfield

Director, Filmmaker, Writer / By The Great Discontent

We saw Putty Hill over a year ago and immediately admired Matt’s ability to capture and honestly, but gracefully, portray the humanity in each of the characters. His work reveals the beauty and flaws of being human and challenges us, the viewers, to accept both. His latest film, I Used To Be Darker, is set to premiere at Sundance in a month and we couldn’t be more excited for him—we got a sneak peek and it’s so good. Recently, while Matt was in NY, we met up with him at the always delicious Parm to learn more about his path into filmmaking, his current pursuits, and what the future might hold. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or not, Matt’s interview is sure to inspire you to continuing pursuing what you love. —Tina

Maria Popova

Editor, Writer / By The Great Discontent

Dear readers, you are in for a wonderful time. Find a quiet place to sit, grab a cup of coffee or tea—or something stronger, if preferred—and get ready to peek into the mind of Maria Popova, architect of Brain Pickings. Thoughtfully and with candor, Maria told her story of growing up in Bulgaria, how Brain Pickings got its start, the places she’s traversed along the way, and why New York is where she truly feels at home. But that’s not all; she also gave plenty to ruminate on when it comes to work, relationships, purpose, and our pursuit of creating things that are meaningful, intelligent, and beautiful. Of course, we hope you’ll do more than just think on what she says—we hope you’ll consider and then pursue something that fulfills you. —Tina

Jeffrey Zeldman

Designer, Developer, Entrepreneur, Writer / By The Great Discontent

In celebration of TGD turning one tomorrow, we’re going back to our roots. Jeffrey Zeldman—the “godfather of web standards”—has already left an indelible mark on the web industry and those of us who work in it, but what of his life before that? We met Jeffrey at A Space Apart, where he recounted a journey that started long before his work on the web. It’s a fascinating tale of multiple passions and paths that converged into one. Read on for a glimpse into the life and times of Zeldman as told by the man himself. —Tina

Seth Godin

Entrepreneur, Writer / By The Great Discontent

As kids, our Saturday mornings were spent in pajamas, eating breakfast and watching cartoons. As adults, we’ve ditched the cartoons and pajamas, but we still know how to have a good ol’ time and what could be more fun than spending a Saturday morning talking with Seth Godin? We’ve read his books, followed his blog, and been inspired by his work, so we were elated when he agreed to have a conversation with us—big thanks to Tina for the intro! We’re nothing short of honored to share Seth’s story on TGD and as you read on, we hope that you will be thoroughly challenged—not just today, but for many years to come. —Tina

Cheryl Strayed

Writer / By The Great Discontent

Those of you who are familiar with Cheryl’s work have probably devoured half of this interview by now; those of you who are not familiar with her or her work—you are in for a very, very wonderful treat. Carve out some time over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, settle in for the ride, and read about Cheryl’s path to becoming a writer, her advice to those starting out, what it’s like to be married to a fellow creative, her thoughts on money and success, and what she considers the most meaningful work. —Tina

Dan Cederholm

Designer, Writer / By The Great Discontent

It’s not every day that you get an opportunity to talk with someone you’ve looked up to over the years. It was an honor to learn more about Dan and his aspirations before design. Dan recalled his path and shared about the Windows 3.1 computer that changed his life trajectory, the people who influenced and encouraged him along the way, where he’s headed, and how having a family has changed the legacy he hopes to leave behind as well the books he reads. Thanks, Dan! It was a real pleasure. —Tina

Tad Carpenter

Designer, Illustrator, Writer / By The Great Discontent

Welcome to the wonderful world of Tad Carpenter! This guy’s work is off the charts awesome and so is he. We became a captive audience listening to Tad share his story with such energy and excitement. Born into a world where creating was the norm, Tad grew up with a unique perspective on work and life as he followed in his dad’s footsteps to become an illustrator. Tad told us about growing up in the halls of Hallmark, why he chose the non-art school route, what it’s like being married to another creative, and how his city—and the Midwest—has shaped him. This designer, illustrator, and most recently, teacher, has a lot to say and it’s all worth hearing—well, reading. So get to it. You won’t be disappointed. —Tina

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