This monday, I’d like to introduce everyone to one of the most stand-up guys that I’ve ever met, Ahmed Nabil. We encountered each other for a brief stint at JWT in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and ever since then, I’ve been grateful to have him as such a talented friend. Ahmed is one of the people that I really consider hasn’t unlocked his full potential yet, his knack for Arabic calligraphy is quite unique and he possesses such a beautiful vision when it comes to making his art. Ahmed is currently Associate Creative Director / Head of Art Department at up and coming egyptian creative powerhouse Mi7.

I: What’s the earliest memory of a creative activity you did?

A: Once I turned five, I started to re-draw everything in sight; I started with crayons, felt tip pens, then moved onto pencils, water colors and in anything in sight. My speciality at the age of seven, was to draw cassette tape covers. Remember way back when we all compiled ‘best of’ playlists on TDK tape cassettes? Yeah, well, my speciality after putting together the playlist, was then to design the cover with special emphasis on calligraphy – always had a thing for calligraphy.

I: If you weren’t doing what you do right now, what would you be doing?

A: I know it sounds like a cliche, but, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I am one of the blessed few who is doing exactly what they always wanted to do. It never ever occurred to me to do anything else.

I: Inspiration, who? what? where?

A: Travel is probably the biggest inspiration – different people, places, customs and traditions are refreshing to the mind and the soul. Generally speaking though, watching people anywhere, is probably my greatest inspiration.

I: Share any of piece your work, recent or old and talk about it.

A: To be honest i got a brief for launching a new service for a poetry service, I couldn’t think of anything else until I went home. It was still at the back of my mind when I went to sleep. When I woke up in the morning, I found that during the night, I had sketched a new campaign for it. I’m not crazy but sometimes i think and come up with some creative and art direction ideas while I’m sleeping.

I: Name 5 websites that you check often.

A new week, a new inspiring individual. Meet Mohamed Fathy, Aka Shankspot. Mohamed is an extra-ordinary talent from Cairo. Initially I met him on facebook through some mutual friends, then I was fortunate enough to encounter him in person and share a couple laughs and good times in my last visit to Cairo last november. He describes himself as “a self-educated artist that didn’t take much time to upgrade himself , because he wanted something so bad to succeed at, and he hopes that everyone gets that it’s never too late & anyone can be anything he wants to be, only if he works hard for it.”

I: What’s the earliest memory of a creative activity you did?

M: My earliest memory is when I went to Beirut-Lebanon this year 2011 to attend a workshop for puppet stop motion movie, with a group of talented people who were chosen from 10 countries of the Middle-East, and I was the chosen one to represent Egypt. There I learned how to make puppets and to setup a stop-motion set, then how to animate. And I also learned how to find a solution for everything to make it possible. What I got from this experience was meeting tight deadlines because the movie was supposed to be finished in 4 days, to be screened in Metropolis cinema during “Beirut animated” festival. I gained great talented friends from the Arab world.

I: If you weren’t doing what you do right now, what would you be doing?

M: This is a really hard question, I never thought about it. I think I would have been working as a short movie director.

I: Inspiration, who? what? where?

M: What inspires me is: music and good artists. And I usually get inspired at my studio.

I: Share any of piece your work, recent or old and talk about it.

M: This artwork was about my girlfriend & me, every single detail and item is like a code between us for some events or memories that we passed through.
It took me 10 days to finish it. This artwork is from the most beloved artworks of mine, however, I have done more upgraded pieces.

I: Name 5 websites that you check often.

I dont really have certain websites that I usually check, what happens is that I get attracted by random stuff in random websites.

First off, I must apologize for the two week delay in posting the obsession sessions. I recently moved from Toronto to Boston, pursuing some pretty interesting creative opportunities. Now that I’m settled over here, I’m finally able to get back to sharing all the inspiring people I’ve met and encountered once again. This week, I’d like to introduce you to Joel Gregorio. an amazing unique Graphic Designer based in Toronto. I was introduced to him one sunny Friday morning by our mutual friend and illustrator extra-ordinaire Ashley Barron. Joel runs an exceptional street level studio / living space called Soverign State on Dundas street on Toronto’s west end.

I: What’s the earliest memory of a creative activity you did?

J: My earliest memory was of my father teaching me to draw. I was fascinated with the illusion of depth, so I asked my dad to teach me to draw the fronts of approaching ships. It was the idea of looking at something and repeating on paper that seemed so impossible. It was also the first time I felt the frustration of envisioning something in my mind and seeing the corruption of the image as I tried to translate it to paper. I still have that challenge today.

I: If you weren’t doing what you do right now, what would you be doing?

J: If I could indulge in something completely off the creative radar, The fantasy would be in organized crime. I love the idea of assembling a group of talent to plan and expertly (sans casualties) clean out the most technical vaults in Europe. It’d have to be clever, well-timed, replete with Ferrari’s, designer sunglasses, bespoke suits, castles, and women with long legs.

I: Inspiration, who? what? where?

J: Who. I draw inspiration from anyone who’s comfortably themselves. Their stories are the most interesting no matter what they do for a living. 
I’m also drawn to those who’ve risked everything for a passion, failed, and in the process of carrying on. Faith over Fear.

Where. I’m addicted to new cities. Whenever I’m in one, my mind overflows.

What. Intelligence in simplicity. Whenever it’s perfect, it’s perfect. My work tends to lean on the layered side, so I always appreciate impactful simplicity.

I: Share any of piece your work, recent or old and talk about it.

J: As a parallel project to my design projects, this piece represents a series of prints (doubledoublevision.com) based on my interactions with city living, travelling, and the cultural inclinations of urban life. It’s a brain retreat for me as it only requires creativity that comes to me as part of my daily musings. Kpop Kat is an amalgamation of Korean pop fascinations >  fashion, hip hop, a steady gaze under oversized glasses, and good luck cats.

I: Name 5 websites that you check often.

http://highsnobiety.com

http://piccsy.com

http://www.oki-ni.com/scat/mixes

http://made-blog.com

http://trendland.net 

I recently watched this wonderful and enlighting documentary by the BBC, in which modern day philospher Roger Scruton explores the meaning of beauty and why it is essential for human enlightment. I highly recommend watching it, this has easily changed my life.