Creative Identity Crisis: AI and the Future of Creative Value

Creative Identity Crisis: AI and the Future of Creative Value

From Object Subject Form by Simon Clowes

May 19, 2026 · 1h 48m · Season 3 · Episode 4

About this episode

The episode explores the impact of AI on creative identity and value in the motion design industry.

“Value shifts from things that are in abundance to things that have more scarcity.” In this live Object Subject Form session, Simon Clowes is joined by PJ Richardson for a follow-up conversation to Simon’s Safe Space LA talk, “Motion Designers Are Cooked.” The original talk opened up a discussion around the emotional reality of working in motion design and creative industries being reshaped in real time by AI, accelerated workflows, and shifting expectations. This conversation continues that thread. AI is often discussed as a tool for speed, efficiency, and output. But underneath the surface, the deeper question is much more personal: identity. What do motion designers, creative directors, animators, and designers hold onto when a job title no longer explains their value? Together, Simon and PJ explore where value migrates when more of the creative process becomes easier to produce, and why creative point of view is becoming more strategically important. As Simon puts it, this is a shift from building a body of work to building a body of thought. This is a conversation about AI and design, creative identity, studio culture, and how creative people can navigate uncertainty…

People in this episode

Host: Simon Clowes

Guest: PJ Richardson

Topics covered

  • AI in creative industries
  • creative identity
  • motion design
  • studio culture
  • value migration
  • adaptability

Keywords

  • AI
  • creative value
  • motion design
  • identity crisis
  • studio culture
  • adaptability
  • creative process

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Motion Designers Are Cooked

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