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The Iowa Idea: Alan Moore
“We can reclaim our dignity.”
In this episode Iowa Idea Podcast, I’m joined by Alan Moore. Alan is a designer and business innovator on a mission to help businesses discover their own unique beauty. Alan’s most recent books, 2016’s Do Design: Why beauty is key to everything and this year’s Do Build: How to make and lead a business the world needs, are among my favorite reads of the past year.
Alan shares his journey, which includes a somewhat unexpected path into design, and the advice he received from his mentor, Derek Birdsall, which to this day still helps guide Alan’s work. We dig into some of Alan’s design tools and principles including the power of the poetic brief, the potential of regenerative businesses and economies, and why beauty is the key to everything. We explore the capacity of narrative, the insights in biomimicry, and the holy trinity of craft – heart, hand, and mind. This was a special conversation.
I appreciated Alan’s perspective and passion for design and why design is a way “that we reclaim our dignity” Through the lens of Shaker craft we can see “what they’re reaching for is not beauty, but truth.” As Alan applies the lessons and insights from design to business innovation he provokes and inspires with a powerful framing question “what is the best possible outcome?” and why some of the biggest innovation risks companies are facing is taking no risk at all.
It was an honor and absolute pleasure having Alan join me on the show. Perhaps Alan and I can have our next conversation while walking in nature.I hope you enjoy the episode.
About Alan
Alan Moore is a designer and business innovator on a mission to help businesses discover their own unique beauty.
Working directly with companies and organizations, Alan mentors teams and individuals, delivers inspirational leadership programs, and advises clients on how to design and build a regenerative business. Alan has shared his knowledge in the form of board and advisory positions, and has taught in institutions including MIT, the Sloan School of Management and INSEAD.
Alan is the author of four books on creativity and business transformation, including Do Design: Why beauty is key to everything (Do Books, 2016), Do Build: How to make and lead a business the world needs (Do Books 2021). He has spoken at The Do Lectures, SXSW and the Hay Literary Festival and has featured in the media.
Alan still works as an artist. Every day, he tries to lead his life as beautifully as he possibly can.
You can find out more on his website: beautiful.business
Links
https://beautiful.business/about/
https://beautiful.business/newsletter/
https://thedobook.co/products/do-build-how-to-make-and-lead-a-business-the-world-needs
https://thedobook.co/products/do-design-why-beauty-is-key-to-everything
Credits
Episode produced by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/).
The Iowa Idea Podcast theme music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).