Women of The Cre8tors - Lynn Furge
Lynn Furge: Creative Director
What inspired you to pursue your career in the creative industry? I always knew what I wanted to do from about age six. I loved writing stories in a My Little Pony spiral notebook. My dad bought me my first professional camera at 15, and I never looked back.
What does being a woman in this industry mean to you? Ideally, the same as being a man in the industry. The industry needs to catch up to the actual population in terms of the percentage of women within it so that we are no longer categorized as a "subsection." We should simply be seen as professionals doing great work, regardless of gender. My teams are usually 85% women, so I’m slowly but surely shifting the mix one by one.
Can you share a glimpse into your creative process—any rituals, inspirations, or must-have tools? I majored in journalism, so my key to creative strategy is digging into any cultural fuel that signals a shift in society. I pay attention. I walk almost EVERYWHERE. There is a great luxury in watching people go about their day—what are they carrying? What are they doing? What are they wearing? People on the street tell you a lot about where society is headed.
Who are some women—past or present—who inspire your work? Joan Didion, early Annie Leibovitz, Sofia Coppola, Isabella Blow, Mary Wells Lawrence, Caroline Robinson, Emma Grede, Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner, Ashley Rosebrook.
How do you hope your work impacts or inspires other women? For the public that sees my work, I hope they feel seen. I am just a mouthpiece for their stories. For other women in the industry, I hope they feel empowered by how and when I use the word "no."
What’s a project or piece of work you’re most proud of, and why? Angela Bassett for a Ford F-150 truck commercial specifically dedicated to the African American audience. You wouldn’t have seen that even 20 years ago.