Shoreditch corners

Not too longo ago, I found myself wandering through Shoreditch – a chaotic, artsy maze buzzing with creativity. There’s art everywhere: graffiti-covered walls, shops, and even the road signs aren’t “safe”. One of them had wine artistically “spilling” into the word STOP, courtesy of the clever mind of Clet Abraham.

Amid all this creative chaos, I stumbled upon a building that looked like a cool art gallery. I walked in and asked if I could check it out. The front desk person smiled and said, “This isn’t a gallery; it’s an office – Wieden + Kennedy.” Oops. Turns out, W+K isn’t just any office; it’s a legendary creative agency, famous for campaigns like Nike’s Just Do It. Their London office is a reflection of the city’s vibrant, eclectic spirit.

Inside, I learned about their “New Faces” project, where 18 talented illustrators created over 200 portraits of the team. Each piece is unique, capturing the diversity and creativity that define W+K London.

This whole inspirational chaos led me to never forget W+K. Amid Shoreditch’s vibrant chaos, their office stood out like a beacon of creativity.

“Chaos does this amazing thing that order can’t: it engages you. It gets right in your face and with freakish breath issues a challenge. Chaos wants you to grow. It’s the only friend that really helps you be creative.”

Dan Wieden – founder of W+K

Nietzsche – the famous philosopher touched on a similar idea – centuries earlier.

“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.”

The quote is often interpreted as an encouragement to embrace the messy, unpredictable aspects of life because they are the source of true brilliance and transformation.

The more I reflected, the more I realized how true this was.

This week, I was playing Dixit with friends, and the connection hit me again. In Dixit, the beauty isn’t just in the cards but in the chaos of interpretation—the layers of thought behind why each card was played. It’s like peeking into someone’s mind, unraveling the stories and reasoning that aren’t immediately visible.

And that’s what makes chaos extraordinary—whether it’s Shoreditch’s graffiti, W+K’s projects, or a simple card game. Chaos doesn’t just make sense; it creates meaning. It inspires, challenges, and ultimately, transforms.

PS: Funny enough, while I love chaos for its creativity, I’m actually someone who thrives on being organized. Maybe that’s why I value chaos—it adds something my structured life can’t. It’s all about balance: enjoying chaos while keeping my world in order (when I can).

Beijos,

Babi

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