#016 Using AI to Adapt, Learn, Innovate & Create with Rick McCawley

What do you think about emerging technologies with Artificial Intelligence? It’s a topic that some people find distressing, others are cautious or curious, and some, like my guest Rick McCawley, see enormous potential for creativity and productivity. Rick believes that AI can help us do away with boring grunt work while amplifying our creativity, productivity, and our ability to express ourselves. Since the release of a number of AI-based tools to the public in 2022, Rick has racked up thousands of hours applying AI to his expertise as photographer, designer, professor, and author.  

In this episode Rick and I discuss how he is integrating AI into his work, the distinction between AI as a tool and what it really takes to make work that connects with and moves people, his thoughts on how we can benefit from AI, and lessons he is passing on to his students and sharing with the broader community. I believe that showing is greater than telling, and Rick’s growing body of work with AI truly does show us the door to broader horizons. I was inspired by this conversation and I hope it sparks your curiosity to explore how these tools can help you make your work more meaningful and enchanting for yourself and the people you serve.   

 

ABOUT OUR GUEST 

Rick McCawley is a Photographer, Design Thinker, and Senior Professor of Graphic Design & Photography at Broward College in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for the past 23 years. 

During his 13-year tenure as a staff photographer for the Miami Herald (1980-1993), Rick’s assignments included covering the first space shuttle launch, photographing four Presidents, and the Pope. He was part of the Miami Herald’s Pulitzer Prize-winning team for public service in 1993. His photographs have been featured in prominent publications worldwide, including Time magazine, Bunte, The New York Times, and numerous others. 

Rick is an accomplished publisher with more than 28 books on Graphic Design, Photography, and Fine Art to his name. His latest works include the "Top 100" book series, covering categories such as Underwater, Travel, Photojournalism, and Fine Art. 

As the head of his consulting firm, Digital Renaissance, Rick specializes in providing training and developing digital arts curriculum for universities in the Southeast U.S. Furthermore, Rick is a founding member of The Miami Street Photography Festival and frequently serves as a lecturer at the events. 

He holds an MA in Photography from Barry University and an MFA in Graphic Design from Florida Atlantic University.

You can learn more about Rick’s work at: https://bit.ly/m/RickMcCawley  

 

ABOUT MAKING BUSINESS ART 

Making Business Art is a podcast for curious people where we explore how to make our work more meaningful and enchanting for ourselves and the people we serve. We draw lessons and inspiration from entrepreneurs, designers, scientists, creative leaders and artists about creating remarkable experiences that light up our customers and our teams.

This podcast is the creation of and hosted by me, Ezequiel Williams. I am an entrepreneur, innovation strategist, facilitator, and bus