On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, designer Nicole McLaughlin takes us on a journey from her time as a graphic design intern, to becoming a viral sensation on Instagram by crafting creative upcycled shoes, to starting her own design courses, and collaborating with brands like Reebok and Vans.

Act I
00:00 Intro
1:26 Discovering graphic design
2:39 Influences
3:23 Navigating creative blocks
3:42 Takeaways from college
5:12 Reebok internship
6:29 “I like the idea of luck”
6:59 Becoming a full time employee at Reebok
8:01 Working on personal projects
8:49 “Where my ideas come from”
9:07 Finding a source of motivation
10:17 Putting work out in the world

Act II
12:14 Rotation at The Farm
13:47 Biggest advantage as a creator
14:01 Starting to have viral moments
14:38 Pursuing freelance
15:15 Making 1 of 1
16:49 Monetizing her work
18:25 Ultimate creative goal
18:43 Putting together the workshops
21:38 Boundaries and burnout

Act III
22:13 Letting go of freelance
23:25 Defining brand Identity
24:27 Qualities worth holding on to
25:01 Collaborating with larger brands and maintaining integrity
27:16 Outside opinion + social media
28:24 Good idea vs. bad idea = you need both
28:40 Creating and not connecting
30:19 Delegating work + trusting others with vision
31:54 “The most important idea I've had”
32:16 Relationship to sneakers
32:33 Collaboration with Reebok
34:53 Vision for the future

Credits:
Noah Callahan-Bever
Creator & Host, Idea Generation

Starring: Nicole McLaughlin

Musical Director: A-Trak
Animations by: Sang Bleu / IDEA GENERATION

Executive Producers: Helena Ox, Tricia Clarke-Stone and John Walaszek
Producer: Jack Erwin
Creative Director + Editor: Kyle Gaughan

Produced by: 5 Towns Media House
Director: Katie Paul
DP: Alex Stikich
Producer: Jagger Corcione
Production Manager: Zena Khafagy
Cam Ops: Sabrina Marki, Brian Dauphin
Sound: Anthony Charles
PAs: Ross Ginsberg, Sabrina Alvarez
MUA: Tatiana Mendez

Special thanks to:
Joy Yoon
Reebok
Brendan Dunne