Go Create with Nicole McLaughlin
office caught up with the creator to chat about her project, inspiration, her source of creativity, and more.
Check out the interview below!
First and foremost, I have to ask, what is the overarching theme of your work and where did your design journey begin?
The theme of my work is upcycling. The visuals and materials may differ, but the message is always the same. My foray into upcycling started while I was at my previous job. However, sustainability and being mindful of the environment have been with me since I was a kid exploring the outdoors.
In general, I love the concepts of each design. How do you come up with these ideas and how long does one design usually take?
Thank you. My inspiration comes from everything, but mainly from the materials themselves. Ideation can be pretty quick when something clicks into place, but it's a lot of trial and error most of the time. Things might start one way, but you never know how it will go during the making process. It's best to be patient, flexible, and open-minded about what you end up with as your final product.
Your designs have a mixture of playfulness and innovation to them 一 it's a peculiar type of chic glittered over with a forward-thinking mindset. What makes this such an irresistible combination for you and the consumer?
I try to incorporate fun and functionality into everything I make. Doesn't everyone want that?
You've recently launched your newest venture with Polaroid, talk to me about that.
I've been a long-time Polaroid fan; the i-zone was my first and, honestly, the perfect camera for a kid getting into photography. So it's great to work with them on this project to highlight the new Polaroid Go. We're so used to using our phones, so it was nice to step away from that and incorporate an extra element of tangibility in my design process.
In essence, what does the phrase: "Go Create" mean to you?
I'm all about just going for it, so "Go create" is about trying something new, not being afraid, enjoying the process, and being in the moment.
What was your creative process like for this project? How did you conceptualize your vision?
It's hard not to tread into familiar territory when working with something iconic like Polaroid and its film. For instance, making something out of the film makes me think about the dress costume designer Lizzy Gardiner made out of American Express Gold cards for the Oscars and its many reiterations. I played around with several ideas and landed on my camera case harness. Traditionally, people would assume it's a bra, but I try to be mindful of that and make my pieces unisex. It's also fun, functional, and adds a nice pop of color. It has storage, easy access, and you can capture things quickly, so you don't miss out on important moments.
How did Polaroid Go help you amplify your story? What did it feel like to be a part of a project where you were granted so much creative control?
Polaroid really encouraged me to capture my process as much as possible. Using the Polaroid Go was fun, and I got to see my journey unfold at a different pace than what I'm used to, which was cool. And I love instant film because you never know what you're going to get. The lighting, the lo-fi feel, unexpected saturation, and those very forgiving slight blurs that make for some fantastic portraits is what I love about using instant cameras. Taking selfies was also a lot of fun.
What's the biggest takeaway that you want people to get out of this project?
I don't usually show my process, so it was nice to share that. And capturing those moments of making gave me a different sense of enjoyment.
Where do you hope to take your designs? What can you tell us about any future projects or designs that you have coming out in the near future?
My goal is to inspire others to learn more about sustainability and incorporate it into their own lives. I'm currently working on upcycling-focused workshops with Arc'teryx and Puma and getting ready to launch a charity auction with LG Electronics utilizing second-hand clothing from their used clothing drives. LG couldn't donate the pieces I used, so it was challenging but fun to try and give them a second life. I'm also working towards future goals that include education and charitable opportunities.
