BookSmarts: The Midnight Library
It’s been a while since we spent some time reading for inspirationThe spark that starts it all—ideas fuel campaigns, shape strategy, and turn bold thinking into unforgettable creative.. Over the years since we wrote the very first BookSmarts journal, we’ve worked our way through a ton of books to take a moment away from the digital world and escape to find inspiration in a different format.
This year we’re making sure we take some extra time to pick up more books and step outside the visual world for a few moments to get inspired. The first book we finished this year is just outside our comfort zone of reading non-fiction, as Matt Haug‘s ‘The Midnight Library” sits under philosophical fiction.
“If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. Aim to be you.” ― Matt Haig, The Midnight Library
When we’re deep in the creative world working on our projects we tend to get lost in thought and move in many different creative dimensions. It’s something we have to do to continue to push our creative agency outside the boundaries that usually limit creative works during the exchange from agency to brand. It’s these alternative worlds we look for, dream about, and explore like in our Aerospoke creations.
Taken from our Aerospike videoYour brand in motion—video captures attention, tells stories, and delivers emotion in a way that text and static visuals can’t. series. Here we explore an alternative world split by the horizon.
In “The Midnight Library,” Matt Haig takes you on a journey into a world where the lead character has the ability to choose a book from a library and then live multiple lives that are written in the book. This concept has been playing around in our heads ever since reading The Midnight Library and gives us so many ideas of how we could take another approachThe playbook for success—strategy defines where you're headed, how you'll get there, and what will set you apart. to our creative ideas and even our daily routines.
As soon as we got deep into this book we were asking ourselves many different questions. How can we create our next visual story that can take someone to the alternative life they’re dreaming of in a few seconds of watching? What moments can we add to each creation that makes the person dream bigger than they thought they could and inspire them to take action?
Taken from our Aerospike video series. Here we explore a polarized world’s colliding with each other.
Our work highlights brandsMore than a logo—brand is the essence of a company, shaping identity, reputation, and customer perception. that have decades of influence on the world’s culture, most of which have gone outside the creative norms and created something unique. These brands are the backbone of many influential advertisingStories with purpose—marketing connects brands to people through strategy, creativity, and campaigns that drive impact. campaignsStrategy meets storytelling—campaigns bring big ideas to life, driving awareness, engagement, and conversions through powerful, multi-channel messaging. and pioneer cultural movements and we’re humbled to now be part of their story.
We create unique work and offer a whole new take on creativityThe spark that starts it all—creativity is the fearless pursuit of new ideas, powerful stories, and unforgettable brand moments. here at RIOT, not to be different, but to question and challenge the way things are done and tell the most honest stories possible. We’re inspired by “The Midnight Library” as it has helped us to keep thinking differently while creating – keeping the alternative in mind yet always staying true to who we are as a Creative AgencyWhere strategy meets storytelling—creative agencies craft bold ideas, striking visuals, and powerful campaigns that elevate brands beyond the ordinary. and who the brand is we’re collaborating with.
