Creativity - Ali McM

Ali McM is a Kiwi fashion and interiors stylist who has worked all over the world with high-end clients and brands and now lives in the Middle East. Ali shares her brain's wonderful creativity.

I’m Ali, and I’m Dyslexic. 💙💜💛💚.

My favourite thing about my dyslexic mind is how it enhances my ability to visualise!! I work in a role that requires all kinds of different creativity every day.

In creative projects - interior design, outfits, tablescapes, events, painting - I see it all play out in a little movie before I bring it to fruition.

For example, when I’m choosing what to wear for the day, or I’m styling an outfit for someone else, I’ll find myself inspired first by colour, then coordinate an outfit based on colour combinations I like, and that I can see in my mind complement each other well; it’s more intuitive than following any trend. But the movie in my head will play me wearing that outfit, how I feel when I’m wearing it. it makes designing and styling feel very natural and immersive.

Same when I’m in a furniture store, I’ll see a sofa then I see the vision of a living room come to life in my mind instantly.

It helps the flow of decision making but it also feels like a little dopamine rush, when I see all the colours, fabrics, and furniture pieces all come together cohesively.