Today we’d like to introduce you to James McCrae.
Hi James, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been a writer and artist my whole life. Growing up in rural Minnesota, this originally took the form of painting and poetry. After graduating from art school, I snuck into the business world through the backdoor – as a graphic designer in the Minneapolis advertising industry. Working as a professional designer taught me that creativity is not only about personal expression. It can be used to solve problems (for example, a signage system to help people navigate an airport) and make the world a more functional, beautiful place.
My career took an unexpected turn when my focus shifted from design to strategy. Instead of making things look good, I wanted to ideate and solve problems on a higher level, so I moved from Minneapolis to New York City and began working as a brand strategist on Madison Avenue. I came up with company names and taglines, conducted customer research, facilitated workshops with clients, devised marketing campaigns, and helped brands define their mission and vision.
After a decade working in the advertising industry, I was very successful, but my inner artist felt suffocated. So I left the corporate world to refocus on writing and art. I published two books, Sh#t Your Ego Says and How to Laugh In Ironic Amusement During Your Existential Crisis. I grew a following online via memes and poetry. And I moved to Austin and founded Re–Creation Studio, a multidisciplinary creativity school and branding agency. Now I teach classes on conscious creativity and offer coaching around branding and creative development.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being an artist can be a lonely road because society isn’t always set up to nurture imagination and creativity. I faced many internal challenges on my journey, including leaning to silence my inner critic, trust my intuition, and share my work in public. Working in a creative space, you need to get comfortable with failure. I was rejected by dozens of agents and publishers before signing my first book deal. I’m able to teach creativity now because of all the challenges I have overcome in my own journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Although I was already a published author and podcast host, my popularity rose to another level when I started making memes. I believe that memes are one of the defining art forms of our times. People share memes to express how they feel, to make each other laugh, and to comment on politics, spirituality, and culture. Overnight, a single meme can go viral around the world, inspiring countless shares and adaptations. It’s delicate art that requires a sensitivity to both language and design. In 2022 I launched the first ever Meme School, a course that teaches others how to make memes.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The entire world is going through massive changes. Old systems are breaking down as people offer innovative solutions. For example, people are starting to question to validity of traditional education institutions. The world of coaching and online courses is disrupting traditional education by offering direct knowledge transfer from experts with real experience. As move toward a more decentralized world, I think people will start carving their own life and career paths in nontraditional ways. And I’m excited to be able to teach creativity outside the confined of the university.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jamesmccrae.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/wordsarevibrations
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/wrd_vbs
- Other: www.re-creation-studio.mn.co
