Saved by Maarten and
Culture Is the Client
If we never make an effort to reach out and form real relationships with the origin sources of where we’re gaining valuable cultural knowledge for ourselves, how do we know if we have consent? How do we know if that value chain ever connects back to them?
To be clear, there is unique value that we can provide in our ability to curate, synthesize and... See more
To be clear, there is unique value that we can provide in our ability to curate, synthesize and... See more
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
Our relationship with a culture shouldn't look like a scientist peering through a microscope.
If we just passively observe from the outside, and don’t we don’t form direct, active relationships with the leaders, artists, elders, people with lived experiences that make and change a culture, how can we truly be an expert or an advocate?
Further, if... See more
If we just passively observe from the outside, and don’t we don’t form direct, active relationships with the leaders, artists, elders, people with lived experiences that make and change a culture, how can we truly be an expert or an advocate?
Further, if... See more
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
2. Consequence
Too much of this tapping into culture is exploitative appropriation – withdrawing and redirecting the value of a culture away from the culture itself, for financial gain, without substantive reciprocation, permission and/or compensation, regardless of whether or not that was the original intent. This becomes particularly problematic... See more
Too much of this tapping into culture is exploitative appropriation – withdrawing and redirecting the value of a culture away from the culture itself, for financial gain, without substantive reciprocation, permission and/or compensation, regardless of whether or not that was the original intent. This becomes particularly problematic... See more
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
Tourism
Can cultural values sustain if not upheld consistently?
In 2019, over 10 million tourists entered Hawaii – which is more than 7 times the state’s entire population. While this generated nearly $18 billion, the majority of that money goes to large corporations that aren’t owned or run by local residents or native communities. This drives up... See more
Can cultural values sustain if not upheld consistently?
In 2019, over 10 million tourists entered Hawaii – which is more than 7 times the state’s entire population. While this generated nearly $18 billion, the majority of that money goes to large corporations that aren’t owned or run by local residents or native communities. This drives up... See more
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
For the show itself, they used a simple blue runway on the beach, instead of a set that would have obstructed the natural surroundings, or even damaged them. At one point in the evening, they gave a native Hawaiian blessing. But it was important to the community that the sacred moment wasn’t commodified, so no one was allowed to record it with... See more
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
Not just respect of another culture, but an adoration for it. To elevate and express it through your own work.
In order to get permission, we need to go beyond our interest in trends, passively educating ourselves, showing appreciation and even giving credit. We should do all of these things, but this alone is not enough.
It needs to push further and get into the details of every aspect, from start to finish.
Relationships from within a culture must be a... See more
It needs to push further and get into the details of every aspect, from start to finish.
Relationships from within a culture must be a... See more
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
Overall, was it perfect? No. Hawaii still faces the same challenges and impact from over-tourism. But the level of detail on how to best maximize the value back to the community is an important model. It treats the community as a true collaborator, rather than people to sell to or commodify.
[Author’s note: About one week after giving this lecture... See more
[Author’s note: About one week after giving this lecture... See more
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
How can we design better systems, a new social contract even, of mutual cultural exchange? Ones where we collect and apply cultural knowledge in a way that’s most mutually beneficial and sustainable for the people of a culture?
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
Culture is a shared set of elements that characterize a group of people – a religion, a race, a society, a movement, a scene.
Tapping into culture needs to be more than, how do I make my brand cool? Cultural strategy is the act of understanding, contextualizing and applying cultural knowledge to achieve an intended outcome or change, in a way that... See more
Tapping into culture needs to be more than, how do I make my brand cool? Cultural strategy is the act of understanding, contextualizing and applying cultural knowledge to achieve an intended outcome or change, in a way that... See more
Nick Susi • Culture Is the Client
A culture doesn’t have to be huge - it can just be a subset of a group, but no matter how small it is, it is still a movement, a collective of individuals striving for something beyond themselves.
The goal of cultural strategy is to influence these groups, your people, in a positive way that brings them forward, and not just yourself.