I was raised with a mindset to think big. Maybe it was my Texas upbringing where the statewide mindset of "everything's bigger" helped fuel this vision. But ultimately it's a state of mind that we can create regardless of our location, upbringing, or past experience.
Not looking at preset boxes of expectations and norms as spaces we must fit within.
Not accepting current conditions as "that's how it must be" but as a challenge to make things better.
Not being limited to the current state, the existing way of doing things.
Yes, some systems keep us boxed in. Sometimes without realizing it. But thinking big gives us the vantage point to see those walls clearly – and the courage to imagine what could exist beyond them.
This week, ask yourself:
What helps you stay curious and imaginative, even when things feel constrained?
Who in your life models "thinking big" and what do they do differently?
What would "thinking big" look like in your world – your role, your life, your community – this week?
Stay inspired,
Natalie Kent, Creative Director
LINK ROUNDUP
1. Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
Saunders looks at seven short stories from Russian masters of the form — Tolstoy, Turgenev, Gogol, and Chekhov — to demonstrate how stories behave, how we experience them, and how we might continually discover their meaning.
2. Physics Fun
We love finding inspiration in unexpected places, and this week it's an Instagram of physics-based interactions with a bio that reads "Physics describes the real magic of the universe." ✨
3. Grayscale with Temperature
Admittedly quite niche, but if you're a designer that doesn't love picking grays out of a gradient or manually creating a grayscale palette, there's a tool for that.
4. La-Z-Boy Rebrand
La-Z-Boy rebranded this summer for the first time in over 20 years. Aimed at attracting younger consumers, the effort revealed a deeper insight: while customers saw La-Z-Boy as functional, what everyone truly values is comfort.
CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Minis are having a moment. Everlane launched a campaign with Laufey exploring a miniature "Everland," and Kendall Jenner launched mini versions of her 818 tequila bottles. A new Tiny Art Gallery has gotten a permanent location in Provo, UT. And Jacquemus will gladly sell you a handbag that holds a single lipstick for $870. As Marketing Brew writes, "Minis, brand marketers told us, allow brands to introduce themselves to new customers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, at a time when budgets are tight and economic concerns are high. Beyond that, minis are generating attention online for simply being adorable."
