Debbie Millman’s ongoing project “What Matters,” an effort to understand the interior life of artists, designers, and creative thinkers, is now in its third year. Each respondent is invited to answer ten identical questions and submit a nonprofessional photograph.
Andres Nicholls is the chief creative officer at Prophet, always on the lookout for big ideas, great stories, and the good in everyone.
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
It’s 6 am, the garage just opened, crisp air, my 40-year-old car, and the start of a drive through a city that’s still sleeping. The smell of gasoline, the sound of the engine, and hitting that perfect shift from 2nd to 3rd gear—ufff, nothing beats it. After a long drive, I return home around 10 am, smiling ear to ear as my family is just starting to wake up. I absolutely love, love, love doing this.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
I remember playing with Meccano sets—like early Legos, but with really bad names. You used screws and tools to build cranes, trucks, or anything you could dream up. Making something piece by piece, sometimes following instructions, sometimes inventing my own—that’s my first real memory of loving to create things.
What is your biggest regret?
I’m not big on regrets, but if there’s one thing I wish I could do more, it’s spend much more time with all the people I love.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
Wait—what? Is that even possible?
What makes you cry?
These days, pretty much everything! My family always gives me that look—you know, the “Uh-oh, Dad’s about to cry” look. Thankfully, my “allergies—I swear I’m not crying!” moments usually happen during sweet, happy times that melt my heart…and apparently my eyes too.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
Not enough. It’s something I’d love to get better at. Weirdly enough, those feelings usually make me a bit embarrassed or uncomfortable, so I tend to quickly suppress them. But when it’s about other people—the ones I work with, the ones I love—that pride and joy seem to last forever.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
Ufff… I really, really don’t know. It usually depends on which Christopher Nolan movie I’ve watched recently. But one thing I do know is that consciousness and thought are beautiful—and it feels kind of strange that they’d just be attached to our physical bodies…
What do you hate most about yourself?
That I can’t play the piano!—and that every time I try, I get excited but end up giving up.
What do you love most about yourself?
Although I might be naive or overly romantic about it, I always focus on the good in everyone, so I sometimes end up a bit heartbroken.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
While Mexican and Italian cuisines are my favorites, nothing beats a good glass of red wine paired with a fresh baguette, an assortment of cheeses, and some delicious prosciutto. Now I definitely need to have that tonight!
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