Give Yourself Permission to be Weird with Jason Jacobson | April 28, 2025

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Lee Smalt welcomes creative director Jason Jacobson to discuss the art of pitching unconventional ideas and finding the courage to present concepts that push boundaries.This episode includes: Jason's 20-year journey from copywriter to creative director, and how his experience with improv comedy has shaped his approach to pitching creative concepts The value of the "chicken wing construct" - presenting ideas in escalating levels of boldness to gradually build client comfort with more adventurous conceptsWhy presenting multiple ideas is essential, with Jason noting "2/3 of my ideas are going to be cut, and that's okay" - creating resilience against rejectionInsights on psychology in pitching, including using premium options to make middle-tier options more appealing to clientsThe power of creating interactive experiences that invite audience participation, like installations that turn passive viewers into active participantsThought-provoking examples of successful bizarre pitches, including a concept featuring a pet camel that resonated surprisingly well with a technical college audienceThe reminder that "no one remembers controversy after two years" - encouragement to take creative risks in a world of short attention spansNext week kicks off the new theme of "Identity" with Kendall Hotchkiss hosting a discussion on how identity relates to illustration and branding in motion design.Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other resources from the motion design community, and sign up for the newsletter to stay connected with upcoming events and discussions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​SHOW NOTES:⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠Jason’s book: “Buried in Beige”The Unfinished Swan Game