Chief Creative Officer of Bruce Mau Design, Laura Stein grew up on Nun’s Island outside of Montreal, a near utopia where kids never had to cross the street. Her psychiatrist father and museum-involved mother cultivated curiosity about emotions, critical thinking, and the arts. A move to Texas in her teens resulted in quite a culture shock. Laura found an innate knack for peer reviews and analysis, which became a strength throughout the rest of her academic and professional career. Originally graduating with a degree in English, she returned to school to study art, where she found not only her community, but her band mates. From there, it was a wild ride - record signing (Sub Pop,) touring, and navigating all the ups and downs of being in a girl band in the ‘90s – the ultimate creative boot camp. Now in leadership at Bruce Mau Design, she’s deploying the wisdom garnered from all these experiences to build a culture focused on keeping possibility alive.
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What’s the best advice that you’ve ever gotten?
I have 2 pieces of advice that I try to live up to in my work.
Bruce Mau said to me once, as he was reviewing a book I was working on: “You’re thinking like a designer, think like an artist.” That blew my mind. I had different sections in my brain for art and design and suddenly they could be merged. It helped me develop my own voice and perspective. I am forever grateful for that.
When I was first learning how to play bass, Tim Stewart, an excellent bass player, was showing me how to EQ my amp. He said “Beware the mid-range.” He looked me in the eye and gave it a real gravitas, like “This is also a life lesson”. I try to bring it into my design work — don’t be wishy-washy. Give the work a point of view.
What’s your current favorite tool or material to work with?
Believe it or not, my most used tool is Keynote. I use it for structuring ideas, like the old-fashioned cue-cards method – one idea per card. I also find it easy to sketch design ideas there because the tools are so basic and its more about the idea than the aesthetic. It can be an easy thing for feedback as well. I copy and paste bits and pieces to give teams some visual direction as well as verbal.
What book is on your nightstand?
Miriam Toews – Fight Night – She wrote Women Talking. She has a dark humour that I appreciate.
Favorite restaurant in your city?
Union on Ossington which is happily its down the street from me. It’s cozy, French via Ontario countryside vibe and it has a beautiful, delicate mural of a pastoral scene by artist Barbara Klunder. The food is seasonal and local, delicious and unfussy.
Who do you look up to and why?
This may be a classic answer (I hope it is!). I look up to my mom. She’s done so many interesting things in her life, seemingly fearlessly. She helped create the kids gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum. She opened a shop and gallery for metal artists and jewelery-makers. She went ziplining in Costa Rica by herself in her 60s. And she is continually interested in what’s happening in the world.
What are the last five songs you listened to?
Hidden Place by Bjork – A gorgeous, heartbreaking song, so intimate and epic at the same time. Quiet time listen.
The Black and the Blue by Joe Pernice, who is — full disclosure — my husband. This is the first single on his upcoming album. I got to sing backup on one of the songs – which is truly an awesome way to spend an evening together.
I Don’t Think Hank Done It That Way by Waylon Jennings. Joe has this on repeat. So it is never not in my last 5 songs I listened to.
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Carol King – we were talking about desert island albums and Tapestry came up from someone unexpected. So I wanted to remind myself about how great this is.
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