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.
Erik Anderson is the co-founder and design principal at Cour Design, an award-winning creative studio that specializes in live concert touring and experiential installations. Based in Nashville, Cour Design provides creative direction, show direction, stage design, lighting programming, and video content, having worked with internationally acclaimed artists and brands such as Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Noah Kahan, Lizzo, Kacey Musgraves, Paramore, Balenciaga, Nike, Ian Schrager, Edition Hotels and many more.
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
Solving problems. It is something I enjoy so much because it ignites a deep part of my curiosity and creative soul. This ranges from the New York Times crossword to how you turn a 15-truck design concept into a five-truck design without compromising the creative spirit.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
This is probably an unusual spin on it, but I remember the moment I understood the art of persuasion and storytelling as a creative tool. I was maybe six or seven and my family was having a yard sale to offload toys and things I had grown out of. I recall walking around to the strangers browsing and giving new life to the things I was choosing to part with, through stories that I told about why they needed the things in their own lives. I wasn’t a particularly outgoing child, but for some reason, this scenario opened up a confidence in me to engage with people. My parents told me I was going to become a salesman, but now I know that both salespeople and artists have to be good storytellers.
If you can curate a story, an intent, or a reason for WHY something is important then it becomes a guiding light for design choices and inherently adds value to the audience or client. A good design needs to have a story.
What is your biggest regret?
Thinking I was too cool to listen to a lot of great pop music when I was younger. I really missed out on “Call Me Maybe” and “Party in the USA” when they were having their cultural moments, haha… Luckily I have young children now and get to rediscover the brilliance of an infectious pop hook.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
Music. Mistakes. Travel and time. My heartbreak came when I was still young and confident in the wrong yet excusable ways that young people are confident. So it blindsided and embarrassed me. I thought I had more control over the world and the actions of other people. I’m still learning, but that is something I have a better understanding of now.
What makes you cry?
Stories of human triumph and brilliance. Especially told in an audio format. Give me a podcast like The Memory Palace or old school Radiolab and the happy tears will flow.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
I actually struggle with allowing myself any pats on the back after a job well done, and it is something I am working on. Especially in the concert industry when you are often dealing with very short timelines and many limitations. As a result, the thing you end up with likely underwent a number of compromises, so it can be hard not to have the attitude of “this looks great” when you can also imagine how much better it could have been with more time and resources. That being said, I do find myself truly appreciating accomplishments once I have more time and distance from them.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
Not really, but if I did I’d want it to look like a Radiohead song.
What do you hate most about yourself?
Seems harsh. I don’t think there is anything I would say I “hate” about myself, but there are definitely things I would change if I could. I wish I were more self-disciplined for sure. My God, the things I could have accomplished by now if I only did!
What do you love most about yourself?
I trust myself – I trust my instincts and I trust my intentions. I’m really glad I feel that way.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
My wife is an incredible cook. She can just improvise flavors with whatever is around in a way that I have rarely experienced from even the nicest restaurants. I’m going to say it’s a tie between her shawarma nights and fish taco nights.