Coaching, Stories & Tools to Unleash Your creativity

Black and white photo of Ben Tallon, a creative coach, author, and illustrator, smiling while writing in a notebook at a table, with a pint of beer beside him. Helps creatives elevate their performance and find clear direction

WELCOME. HERE’S WHy creativity, and here’s why now. Come on in!

Straight in. Deep end. You’re creative.

Society and education have a way of convincing us otherwise, framing creativity as a gift found only in those with artistic talent when it’s so much more. We wouldn’t be on this planet without this defining human trait. So let’s go with Sir Ken Robinson’s definitions: 'The process of having ideas that have value’ or ‘applied imagination’, and begin dismantling that damaging, common misconception together.

I decided to dedicate my life to elevating creativity’s role in society because if we’re to regain control of our personal and collective futures, we’ll need it more than ever before. The age of automation is here. The sea of same is rising as people turn to the same narrow, algorithmic pools of resources for solutions to problems that can only be solved with creativity. Those who cannot imagine, innovate, and adapt may drown.

The good news: the power of creativity is right there inside you. The Creative Condition exists to help you understand and embrace it.

So, welcome. Enjoy the site. Here you can learn about creativity in your own time through my weekly podcast, or by reading my books and diary. If you need something more tailored for you or your organisation, let’s discuss working together through my creativity coaching, talks, and workshops. Use the menu above to learn more about that. Or get in touch via the contact page. I’d be delighted to hear from you and talk more.

Ben x

Working hard and being nice.

Iconic artist and designer Anthony Burrill’s story on episode 277 of The Creative Condition podcast.

Anthony Burrill’s typographic artworks adorn the walls of countless homes and workspaces. It wasn’t always this way. From working-class roots in Littleborough to the Rye printer where his shift from commercial commissions to the work he’s known for today, he joins me to share his inspiring story on The Creative Condition podcast.

Black and white photo of graphic designer and artist Anthony Burrill with a beard and cap, sitting with arms crossed on a table, with typographic posters in the background containing bold text about action and creative success.

GETTING PERSONAL.

Jessica Hische and Timothy Goodman live in conversation at Paradiso Festival, Mexico.

Personal. Work. Personal work. What does any of it mean, and is there a rule about how personal work needs to be, or whether work and personal are best separate? 

Of course not! In creativity, there are no rules.

I had the delight of chairing a conversation about all this between lettering artist and author Jessica Hische, and artist Timothy Goodman live at the inaugural Paradiso festival in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico, and you can hear it now.

Black and white photo of illustrator Jessica Hische, artist Timothy Goodman, and Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon smiling and holding microphones on stage, with bold text overlay reading 'PERSONAL + WORK' and smaller text 'LIVE AT PARADISO'.

ART. THE HUMAN PILLAR.

Coach, founder of ‘Inspired Collective’, and We Need Your Art author Amie McNee exclusive interview on podcast 257.

Amie McNee is a powerhouse champion of making the art we were born to make. Every person, not just those we see as ‘gifted’. She shares her story and a boatload of wisdom on The Creative Condition podcast episode 258 ahead of the release of We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something. Out 5/3.

Black-and-white photo of Amie McNee, artist and author of We Need Your Art book, a woman with long hair, resting her chin on her crossed arms, looking into the camera.
Black and white photo of The Creative Condition founder, creativity coach, illustrator, and author Ben Tallon with a beard looking upward, with pink scribble illustrations drawn over his head.

CREATIVITY coaching, workshops & CONSULTing

Inside this skull is a brain that never stops pondering, studying, and observing creativity. I’ve greedily slurped down pints of intoxicating human behaviour since an early age, loving even the bitter brews. Noticing patterns in the world around me and joining distant dots invariably provokes the question, ‘Where the f**k did that come from?!’

For 20 years I’ve worked in the creative industry, educated at the RCA, UAL, and Central Saint Martins, written in the press about imagination, education, and innovation, authored books on creativity, and produced 300+ long-form interviews with thought leaders from science, education, sport, and the arts. Now I’ve developed a unique ‘anatomy of creativity’ framework that can help you and your organisation fully understand, embrace, and harness the full power of creativity.

If that could help you then let’s chat to see if we’re a good fit!

TELL ME MORE!

Former Disney Head of Innovation & Creativity!

Duncan Wardle interview out now!

A mindblowing insight into what true creativity and innovation looks like in a workplace environment with The Imagination Emporium author Duncan Wardle.

A collage featuring a black-and-white photo of Duncan Wardle, ex head of innovation and creativity at Disney, with a beard and glasses, crossing his arms, torn paper edges, and cartoon characters of a robot and a lightbulb with faces, arms, and legs.

379 pages & 10 years of creativity exploration

The Creative Condition book is out now!

Book titled "The Creative Condition" by creativity coach and illustrator Ben Tallon. The cover has a black background with splashes of spray paint, featuring a stylized human skull. Help and advice for creative industry careers and wellbeing
A colorful, abstract background with paint splatters and bold text that says 'FIGHTING FOR CREATIVITY'. TBWA CEO Erin Riley with wavy hair smiling is on the right side of the image.

TBWA’s new GLOBAL CEO ERIN RILEY EXCLUSIVE

The full interview and rallying cry for bold creativity NOW ON ‘THE CREATIVE CONDITION’ PODCAST

GET THE NEW ‘ANATOMY OF CREATIVITY’ MAP!

Amie McNee full video interview!

We Need Your Art author and founder of Inspired Collective Amie McNee on ‘The Creative Condition podcast episode 258

Black and white collage of ex Oasis manager Alan McGee, wearing sunglasses and a dark shirt, holding a torn piece of paper with misspelled words that read "bonkers brave fck-you creativity."

BONKERS BRAVE F*CK YOU CREATIVITY!

EX OASIS’ MANAGER & CREATION RECORDS FOUNDER ALAN MCGEE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

READ THE CREATIVE CONDITION DIARY

EVERY DAY I PONDER AND RUMINATE, KEEP MYSELF AWAKE AT NIGHT, THINKING ABOUT CREATIVITY. Sharing THESE THOUGHTS feels essential. so, here they are, written DOWN IN THEIR NATURAL, UNREFINED FORM.

READ THE CREATIVE CONDITION DIARY

THE ORIGIN STORY

DANNY DYER, A LACK OF CASH, AND THE CREATIVE CONDITION

READ NOW

Black and white photo of filmmaker, DJ, and musician Don Letts wearing a large, embellished hat, holding his temples with his hands, dressed in a patterned top with jewelry. Photographed by Andrew Cotterill

“21ST CENTURY SPACE IS A BIG F*CKING PROBLEM. GOOD IDEAS ARE BEING LOST AMONG EGO AND B*SLLSHIT!”

FILMMAKER, DJ, AND MUSICIAN DON LETTS SHOOTS STRAIGHT ON SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON CREATIVITY, IDEAS, AND CULTURE: HEAR THE WHOLE CHAT!

Stack of six books on a textured cloth, including titles like 'Sevens Heaven', 'David and Goliath', and 'The 15-Minute City', arranged on a dark surface. Creativity and creative industry advice and support

READ WIDE, READ WELL.

THE CREATIVE CONDITION READING LIST IS CURATED TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND AND DEVELOP CREATIVITY.

GET BROWSING

Photo of country music duo Ward Thomas. The woman on the left has long, wavy dark hair and is wearing a floral-patterned sleeveless dress. The woman on the right has shoulder-length wavy blonde hair, is wearing a light-colored t-shirt.

“TOO MUCH SELF LOVE IS SELF OBSESSION!”

CHART-TOPPING COUNTRY STARS WARD THOMAS CONSIDER BOTH SIDES OF SOCIAL MEDIA on the creative condition podcast