The Source: Alisa Wolfson

Alisa Wolfson, SVP/group design director at Leo Burnett Chicago, keeps her eye on eye magazine, her tastebuds tuned to Scandinavian cuisine, opens her ears to inspiring, calming instrumental sounds and constantly touches the shiny case of her beloved iPhone 

What is the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen in the last few months?

The work for German supermarket, Lidl was smart. The people in Stockholm were not shopping at the discount chain, so a pop-up restaurant called Dill (an anagram of Lidl) was set up, where a two-Michelin-starred chef created a nine-course tasting menu using only ingredients from the supermarket. Patrons discovered that Dill was actually an advertising campaign well after the success of the experience. The interior was built with design elements from the supermarket. The message, “good food doesn’t have to cost more”, was conveyed simply and with style.

What’s your favourite website?

helpineedhelp.com. This provides a range of remedies for various conditions and has made the most interesting, fun and whimsical brand out of the most conventional, everyday products. It's so cool, I can't get enough of it.

What website do you use most regularly?

Amazon.com. I have a five-year-old daughter, so we order pretty much everything through Amazon. We also stream a lot of entertainment from it as it's hard to get out to see a movie.

What product could you not live without?

My iPhone. It wakes me up and puts me to sleep. Then during the day, it’s glued to my hand. That is probably bad news for me, but seriously, I do love it. And, I have finally started buying cute cases. The one I have now is a sweet, black, shiny Sonix case with a Rifle Paper Co. gold, floral motif.

What product hasn’t been invented yet that would make your life/job better?

A contact lens camera.

What track/artist do you listen to for inspiration?

I went through a long period where I could only listen to Funeral by Arcade Fire. These days, it’s Come to Daddy by Aphex Twin. I find instrumental music both relaxing and inspiring. My husband runs an experimental sound performance series called LAMPO. Every concert is a place where I can totally disengage from life and get lost in sound.

What fictitious character do you most relate to?

I had trouble answering this. So, I did an online quiz to find out. Apparently, I am most like Star Wars' Hans Solo.

What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently?

The Graham Foundation in Chicago is located in a beautiful residential area near the lake called the Gold Coast. Last fall, they opened an exhibition called Environments and Counter Environments. Italy: The New Domestic Landscape that displayed radical Italian design and architecture from the 1970s.

What’s your favourite magazine?

The New York Times Magazine. My close second is a graphic design journal called eye. These are the publications that I keep.

Mac or PC?

That is a silly question.

If you could live in one city, where would it be?

It’s a tie between Paris and Stockholm. Stockholm would probably win since I wouldn’t have to relearn French. Plus, I love Scandinavian design and cuisine.

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

Gravity was stunning. My daughter has been learning about the solar system and space so seeing that film at this time in our lives was really fun. 

Who’s your favourite photographer?

I could never, ever pick just one. Hiroshi Sugimoto, Ezra Stoller, Ryan McGinley, William Eggleston, Taryn Simon, to name just a few.

Who’s your favourite designer?

For clothing it’s a mix of Rachel Comey, Steven Alan and Band of Outsiders. And I’m in love with Droog designer, Hella Jongerius. My favourite graphic designer is Irma Boom.

If you could have been in any band, what band would you choose?

Talking Heads, in their early art school days and then onto the Brian Eno years.