Design Talks With Pharrell Williams

Photography by Regina Arriola; Photos: Seth Browarnik on December 9th, 2012 in Art Basel 2012, Celebrity

Terry Richardson, Pharrell Williams, & Kanye West

Miami, FL – December 7, 2012 – For the Friday installment of Design Talks at DesignMiami/, DACRA CEO and President Craig Robins sat down with mogul Pharrell [Williams] for an intimate conversation about Pharrell’s creative crossover from music to fashion, furniture and soon film. There was a mutual respect between the men, an understood air of relatability and an uncanny sense of comradery. And while their creative interests continue to feed off of one another, those of us stationed in Miami are happy to reap the benefits of the relationship, and having Robins at the helm of Miami’s Design District.

Here are the top 10 topics and highlights from Robins’ conversation with Pharrell:

1. On his collaborations

“I collaborate because I want to learn.”

2. On music producers

“There are two kinds of music producers, the kind that equalizes the audio space and has a knack for instructing, and the kind that writes most of the material and provides the background. I provide the background.”

3. On life

“It’s the simple things that make us happy.”

4. On society

“The monster is society eating things up for the wrong reasons.”

5. On speaking in front of such a large crowd

“I feel like a rotisserie chicken.”

6. On working with Zaha Hadid

“Sometimes you have to go above and beyond. And Zaha Hadid is above and beyond.”

7. On Craig Robins

“You dream big.”

8. On the people who inspire him

“Anna Wintour, Jay-Z and Hans Zimmer.”