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.
After embarking on a 31-year odyssey to find himself, unlock the meaning of life and crack the code to baking the perfect pizza, Paul Corrigan now leads a talented team of misfits and problem-solvers at BarkleyOKRP as executive design director. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family, making things out of wood, and wrestling with a graphic novel idea that has haunted him since 1976.
What’s the thing you like doing most in the world?
I love getting lost in an idea. There’s a thing that happens when everything about a new idea feels right. It flows. And sometimes the best thing you can do is get out of its way.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
Every villain has an origin story. When I was about four years old, my family lived in a house that shared a wide driveway with our neighbor. One day, I spent the whole afternoon doodling with chalk across the entire concrete slab. I don’t know what got into me, but I remember feeling completely unbound and glorious.
Sometime in the midst of it all, the next-door mom came out and invited me in for ice cream, which only reinforced my conviction that everything was awesome. But in hindsight, it was probably just a veiled attempt to get me to stop. The next day, my parents made me wash the whole thing off.
What is your biggest regret?
I wish I had been nicer to everyone along the way.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
Over time, I’ve learned to remind myself that things will be okay. There will always be struggle and loss. But the more I experience both, the more I realize the people around me now – in this moment – matter more than anything that came or went before.
What makes you cry?
A singular, unexpected expression of love. It can sometimes be the smallest thing.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
A minute. A day. A week. If there are others who share in the moment, it can last forever.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
Deep down, yes. And I expect it to be nothing like anything I expect it to be.
What do you hate most about yourself?
I hate that I hate so many things about myself. Is this normal?
What do you love most about yourself?
I love that I have somehow become a wisened old samurai. I tell stories and share my experiences with people who want to hear. I try to stand up for what’s right. Sometimes I go to battle for someone else’s idea.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
Eggs and toast and coffee.
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