Debbie Millman has an ongoing project at PRINT titled “What Matters.” This is an effort to understand the interior life of artists, designers, and creative thinkers. This facet of the project is a request of each invited respondent to answer ten identical questions and submit a nonprofessional photograph.
Isaac Watters is an artist, musician, and visual artist. He started his career working with the legendary architect Frank Gehry on low-income housing projects in Los Angeles. Architecture led to set design in 2015, with his first project, Chappaquiddick. He has gone on to design sets for existential shows such as Ahsoka, The Boston Strangler, OA, Westworld, and For All Mankind. Most recently he designed the sets for the film Don’t Worry Darling and is part of the LAMB design collective.
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
Recently, It’s been spending time with my wife and our new daughter and watching her grow, and learn new words. We have so much fun together. Today, we were walking around in Marseille and this storm came out of nowhere and almost blew her stroller out of my hands. We all got drenched in the rain. She loved it! Every day is a new adventure with her.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
I’m not sure, it might be trying to make drawings with sticks in the mud, or building tree forts a little later. When I was a kid my brother and our friends spent a lot of time building adobe forts in the desert. I remember making a series of drawings – one every night before bed – when I was around seven or eight.
What is your biggest regret?
Watching the first season of Lost.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
I try to write songs about it. For me, the greatest heartbreak is beyond a personal relationship – more on an environmental level. The things we’ve done to this beautiful world break my heart, not sure I will ever get over it, but writing and singing about it helps.
What makes you cry?
Watching almost any movie on an airplane. And watching so many innocent and powerless people around the world endure so much suffering at the hands of the powerful.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
It usually ends right away.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
Yes, I hope so, I like to think of it the way it’s depicted in one of my favorite books; a book called Lilith: A Romance by George McDonald.
What do you hate most about yourself?
I don’t hate anything about myself. There are things that I dislike though. I wish I could do more, focus better, be more consistent, and often I wish I could be really good at one thing, instead of pretty good at a lot of things.
What do you love most about yourself?
I love that I love making things, whether it be architecture, designing for film, or writing songs, at some point – when I’m creating and present in the moment – it never stops feeling exciting and new.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
Almost impossible to choose. I love tacos though. I’ve been in Europe for a few months now and am really looking forward to getting back to LA for some real tacos!