193: ‘Making Ideas Impactful’, with Darren Brooker
A conversation with Darren Brooker about exploring the power of storytelling and visual communication in architecture, enhancing audience engagement, and transforming ideas into action through empathy and emotional connection.
Darren Brooker joins the podcast to talk about how storytelling and visual communication, when used together, can transform the way ideas are received and acted upon. We discuss how architectural concepts are often misunderstood not because they’re bad ideas, but because they’re not communicated in a way that sticks. Darren explains why the key to influence lies in empathy, emotional engagement, and a deep understanding of how humans process information. Whether it’s helping decision-makers “see” the future, winning buy-in for a concept, or navigating the messy early stages of design, he shares lessons drawn from architecture, advertising, Pixar, and more.
Episode links:
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Connect with the Guest
- Darren Brooker on LinkedIn
- Great Big Stories Website – Darren’s storytelling consultancy and workshop platform
Books and Philosophies
- Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
- Goodreads Link
- Amazon Link
- A creative memoir on the link between long-distance running and writing, referenced by Darren in the episode.
- Nancy Duarte’s Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences
- Amazon Link
- A foundational text on the structure of impactful presentations and storytelling for business.
- Chip and Dan Heath’s Made to Stick
- Amazon Link
- Explores why some ideas thrive while others die, emphasizing the power of story, simplicity, and unexpectedness.
- Malcolm Gladwell
- Malcolm Gladwell’s Books
- His use of narrative and suspense was discussed as a model for creating “gaps” that sustain audience engagement.
AI Tools and Emerging Technologies
- Apple Intelligence (AI) Overview
- Apple’s AI Announcement
- Darren cited Apple’s framing of “small, practical, delightful” AI as a storytelling pivot for Autodesk.
- Autodesk AI Features
- Autodesk AI Overview
- Learn how AI is being practically applied across Autodesk’s platforms.
Visualization & Design Tools
- Autodesk Maya
- Maya Product Page
- A core tool from Darren’s visual effects background.
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- 3ds Max Product Page
- A staple in Darren’s early career and VFX storytelling.
- Autodesk Flame
- Autodesk Flame
- Referenced in the episode as one of the powerful compositing tools.
Events and Networks
- Autodesk University
- Autodesk University
- Annual conference where Darren developed storytelling keynotes and strategy content for executives.
- Google I/O
- Google I/O
- Darren highlighted this event’s use of large, diverse speaker casts as a storytelling evolution in keynotes.
Psychology and Personal Development
- Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being
- Amazon Link
- Referenced for the idea of “tuning in” and paying attention as a creative practice.
- Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow
- Wikipedia Overview
- Amazon Link
- Provides insight into how audiences process information—relevant to constructing persuasive story arcs.
- Brené Brown on Vulnerability and Story
- Brené Brown’s TED Talk: The Power of Vulnerability
- A masterclass in connecting with audiences through authentic storytelling.
About Darren Brooker:
Darren Brooker has a career that spans the full spectrum of the creative industries. He started out at architecture school, and went on to work from script to screen, from illustration to animation, winning a BAFTA for his visual effects work. When he ended up burnt out from the unrelenting world of VFX, he found himself at a career crossroads. Looking back, he realized that one constant through all his work had been Autodesk, and that’s where he sought out his next chapter. His creative experience - and his experience at architecture school - formed the foundation for an incredible body of storytelling and strategy work. As Narrative Director, he evolved the company’s narrative, wrote scripts for countless keynotes, and worked with dozens of executives defining Autodesk’s strategy and, more than anything, ensuring this strategy was a story well told. Today he’s just entered another chapter of his career, taking the bold move to set up his own creative agency - Great Big Stories - that helps put story to work for companies big and small.
