Ideas are KING
It’s not about skill or talent and it’s certainly not about the tools. It’s about the quality of your thoughts.
But where do ideas come from and how can you access them at your command?
And what is a GOOD idea or just another boring cliche?
How do we create real and intimate communication and then how can we change the world with our ideas?
There is a path to great ideas.
The first step is to stop looking around for an idea. Stop asking and begging, “What do they want?!”
We have to replace that with the more powerful version, “What do I think?”
The answer is inside you it always has been.
Design thinking is about illuminating difficult ideas about assigning meaning and creating communication where there was none.
Design unthinking is about unlearning the bad habits and old ideas that hold us back.
How do we get past the rote knee-jerk clichés and create real and meaningful communication?
Being Creative isn’t easy
When I started out as a designer, I was busy and making money. But I wasn’t happy. I wanted to be great—or even good. But I was unsure and felt trapped doing work that I thought my clients wanted. My heart hurt because I knew I had more to offer. I had to make a radical change.
I decided to travel the world and meet the designers and artists that I had read about and admired, to learn from them.
I learned how the Masters did it. How WW2 and a few radical Polish designers changed modern design. What happens when Swiss Modernists meet Abstract Expressionism. How Japanese design makes you “Feel”, what the father of American Punk design taught me about perfection and my years of rubbing shoulders with the NYC design Masters.
I learned how world class designers think, live and approach their work:
How they deal with self doubt and fear
How to came up with and follow through on brilliant ideas
On finding your voice and authentic style
The balance of a creative life and family
And how to make work that matters
I’ve never shared this knowledge with anyone and now I’m gonna share it directly with you!
Design UNthinking is the work of my life
—to help you in yours.
What You’ll Gain
Creative Confidence
Confidence comes from ACTION!
This course is full of lessons, homework and practices to build your creative courage as well as live, constructive feedback. Learn directly from the best coach and cheerleader in the industry.
A Lifetime of Learning
Personal, first hand guidance from James Victore: designer exhibited in the MoMA, author and creative guru. James will share his process, wins and losses as well as lessons from World Class artists and designers, all with real world business applications and insights on dealing with clients and presenting your ideas.
Inspiration
If you struggle with trusting your ideas and staying inspired, this course is packed with new perspectives and creative exercises to help you harness the #1 tool for creative inspiration–
Hint: You already have it.
Create a Reputation
and Beat AI
In a time where AI can produce logos, imagery and even draft skillful calligraphy, it’s the creator who can start a fire who survives. Solidify your name and career by UNlearning bad habits and acquiring new, playful and powerful skills to make you stand out, more marketable and competitive.
Welcome to James Victore’s Classroom!
Syllabus
8 weeks of 2 hour classes
16+ hours of learning!
Includes 1 private review session
Plus an active Community on Discord
January through February, 2025
All classes are 9-10:30 AM, US Central Time
Classes will be recorded for your review.
Each live class will include:
A question proposed on Business and Creativity and Q + A
Critiques and Overview of the assignment
A list of resources and takeaways
A new assignment given
WEEK 1, Jan 7, 9 AM
“You Fail!”
Open Discussion/ Q + A
Assignment: SHOW ME LOVE
WEEK 2, Jan 14, 9 AM
“My Dinners with Sagmeister”
Crit/ Open Discussion/ Q + A
Assignment: ALWAYS THE OTHER
WEEK 3, Jan 21, 9 AM
“Beautiful. Ugly. I don’t know the difference”
Crit/ Open Discussion/ Q + A
Assignment: BIG NOTHING, LITTLE NOTHING
WEEK 4, Jan 28, 9 AM
“Milton Glaser hated me”
Crit/ Open Discussion/ Q + A
Assignment: YESTERDAY/TODAY/TOMORROW
WEEK 5, Feb 4, 9 AM
“The Sphincter of Truth”
Crit/ Open Discussion/ Q + A
Assignment: WHO ARE YOU, REALLY?
WEEK 6, Feb 11, 9 AM
“Who is Henryk Tomaszewski?”
Crit/ Open Discussion/ Q + A
Assignment: “THE MORE I GIVE, THE MORE I HAVE…”
WEEK 7, Feb 18, 9 AM
“What’s AI got to do with it?”
Crit/ Open Discussion/ Q + A
Assignment: “THE FINAL COUNTDOWN…”
WEEK 8, Feb 25, 9 AM
“Branding is for Sheep”
Crit/ Open Discussion/ Q + A
Assignment: “The Next George Lois”
Make it stand out
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
How do you come up with ideas to change the world?
The majority of assignments in this course were handed down to me from my mentor—and the Father of the Modern Poster—Henryk Tomasewski. In his seminal teaching at the Academy in Warsaw he taught legions of design legends from all across Europe and the UK.
The assignments “Abstracts.” They have no real meaning, they give no concrete information. The idea is to force you to think, to allow yourself to ask, “What do I think?”
I’m going to show you what you’re capable of, how to make meaning out of nothing and become a stronger, smarter designer in the process.
You will learn how YOU think and why your history and everything you love and fear is important and has value for others.
Who is this for?
Of course we would like to think that EVERY artist and designer could benefit from this course! BUT the truth is, Design UNthinking isn’t for everyone.
It’s for the mad ones, the hungry, curious and wildly creative.
For those open to sharing who want to add World Class knowledge to their tool kit.
Creatives who are not satisfied with the status quo and know there is more in their tank.
Those who can commit to their purpose and are ready to put in the work.
Those willing to lose their perfection paralysis, fear of failure and judgment and impostor syndrome.
You
will
learn
Personal Reflection
Experience profound self discovery and a renewed sense of your creative purpose.
Taking Risks
Investigate all the dangerous and wrong ideas, they may just be the right idea.
Without computers
It’s just you and your brain and a pen.
Practical Tools
Access actionable strategies and tools to implement immediately.
Real-World Examples
Facilitated and brought to life by James Victore’s own personal work and design history examples.
Join Our Community of Visionaries
When you enroll in Design UNthinking, you become part of a vibrant community of like-minded, hungry creatives who are committed to challenging themselves to improve, and fostering deep, meaningful connections—with themselves!
Share your experiences, gain support, and build the creative courage that will propel you forward and last your entire career.
What they say 👇🏻
Instructor Bio
How does
a graphic designer
get into art museum collections?
James Victore is the author of what many consider the creative bible “Feck Perfuction.” He is a designer with work in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC MoMA, and an in-demand speaker on creativity known for his honest voice and keeping it real.
Bonuses and Extras
Limited seating
Downloadable resources
A private community on Discord
All classes will be recorded, so you will not miss any lessons
Hands on work, No computer driven work
Intimate and live critiques of your work
Homework, YAY!
Many creative play based takeaways to share with your crew and family
Certificates of graduation mailed to you after completion
What the
FAQ
-
Every live class will be recorded each week and sent to you. If you can make the first half or the first ten minutes, GREAT! There is a Discord channel where we can communicate, share our work and projects and form our community!
-
This work levels the playing field. We all bring our own gift to the table and share in the feast together. Students, entrepreneurs, Creative Directors all have an opinion to share and learn.
-
Those who are not open to play
Who believe their answer lies in a computer
Who are satisfied in the service industry
Who don't want to do the work or are too afraid to look inside and see what they are capable of
-
All these lessons are pulled DIRECTLY from real world examples from James Victore’s own experiences and from other great artists and designers.
-
Yes, of course, in the way only James Victore can.
-
Send them to me HERE: james@jamesvictore.com