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.
Gabby Lord is creative director and co-founder of the brand strategy and design studio, Super Keen, and founder of the popular design directory OMGLORD. Prior to founding Super Keen with Lauren Wong, she worked with leading design studios across Sydney, Berlin, and NYC on brands like Apple Music Awards, Ableton, Netflix, and RBMA.
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
Riffing the bit and laughing with my friends. There is no better feeling!
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
Refusing to wear the clothes my mother would lay out for me as a child. No one could tell me how to express myself, even back then. I’d go to preschool in the same wacky fit for days in a row, only to get covered in paint and sand and test my mum’s sanity. I’m still extremely picky about clothing to this day and find the process of getting dressed very creative.
What is your biggest regret?
I’ve had a lot of disappointments, but I don’t think I have any huge regrets. My regrets tend to be smaller, like saying something stupid at a party or thinking of the perfect joke after the moment has passed.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
Moving to the other side of the world usually does the trick.
What makes you cry?
Memories. Movies. Songs. Thinking about my family and how much I love them. When I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for my friends. Injustice. The world. Taking a hot shower when I’m sad. Small acts of kindness. Babies. Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Mathew Macfadyen.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
When I was younger, milliseconds. I was insatiable, and I have respect for that past version of myself. Nowadays, I’m tired, move more slowly, and tend to savor things for longer.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
I believe when we die, it’s lights out, over. But I do believe an afterlife exists for those still living. I’m not religious, but I care deeply about rituals to celebrate people I’ve loved who are no longer with me. I feel their presence and know it exists because I keep them alive with my memories and my stories. I hope I live on long after I die in the small moments when people think of me and how I made them feel.
What do you hate most about yourself?
There are MANY aspects of my personality, identity, and body that I will always struggle with—but I don’t hate myself. Hating myself usually just means an old, white man in a boardroom somewhere can profit off my insecurity. I remind myself of that often.
What do you love most about yourself?
I show up.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
Spaghetti al limone. I think I’ve eaten this at least once a week for the last five years. It’s a zesty, cheesy, hyperfixation that I never seem to get sick of. If the recipe has cream in it, though, you’re doing it wrong!
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