In the event that you haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting Stefan Mumaw, let me ruin the surprise – at 6’8” Stefan stands head and shoulders above most everyone, and literally stands out in a crowd … Now that we’ve got his physical description out of the way, we can move on to exploring who he is, and what he does.
Stefan currently functions as the Director of Creative Strategy at Hint (a creative content and experience design studio located in Kansas City, MO), and brings over two decades of diverse creative experience to the table. He adroitly fills the roles of designer, editor, director, and coder; in addition to author, speaker and champion of the creative spirit. He is the author of six books, and contributes articles to industry publications like HOW and PRINT magazines. As a speaker, Stefan has presented at How Design Live, TEDx Lawrence, Creative Mornings KC and can be independently retained to encourage creatives in small or corporate settings. Stefan believes that creativity is a habit; a habit, if paired with discipline and constancy, can result in the generation of ideas in greater quantity and quality.
Stefan loves what he does for a living, and shares that his favorite thing about his career, is that every day is new. He gets to work in a different medium, with diverse people, and encounter new creative challenges on a regular basis. He shares, however, that creatives have a tendency to concentrate on the process and product rather than allowing the ultimate consumer of the message to direct the process; a faux pas which often results in ineffective blanket communication. Stefan reminds us that target audiences are made up of individuals, and for the message to be effectively received, it needs to be couched in a story that speaks to what motivates people, thus awakening a response.
When asked what he considered his greatest accomplishment to date, Stefan didn’t talk about the books he’s authored, a particular design project or his training business; without hesitation, Stefan answered that his daughter is by far his greatest achievement. He shared that he is humbled to have raised such a confident, beautiful and determined daughter, who is considerably more courageous than he was in his late teens. He also finds it gratifying that she has chosen (without prompting from him) to follow him into the design business.
To relax, Stefan watches movies, and sees no less than 120 movies a year in theater. He intimates that the movie theatre experience – the popcorn, the soda, disconnecting from the ‘outside world’ as he engages in ‘corporate story watching’ is unmatched, and is his favorite pastime.
Ultimately, Stefan Mumaw is a storyteller’s storyteller. If your creative gene needs revitalizing, or is begging to see the light of day, here’s your prescription – grab a Stefan Mumaw book, or sign yourself up for one of his sessions or workshops.
This Fall, Stefan returns to Charleston to present “How To Cheat: Creative Domination Through Villainy“, at the 3rd annual Revolve Conference.
Stefan’s Session Information
How To Cheat: Creative Domination Through Villainy
About the Event
Revolve Conference embraces, promotes and fosters the interdependence between Experience Design, Strategy, and Marketing disciplines. The event will feature innovative designers, creative thinkers, savvy marketing technologists and top-notch business strategists who will inspire you to do great work, move your ideas from concept to execution, and perhaps change your perspective on how you position your brand.
Moreover, Revolve delivers timely, relevant content, and provides opportunities for you to make connections that you’d deem valuable, both personally and professionally.
