Podcast Summary: Daring Creativity. Daring Forever.

Episode: Dare to Question Excellence - Robert Hodgin

Host: Radim Malinic | Guest: Robert Hodgin

Date: January 12, 2026

Overview

This episode features a deep-dive conversation between host Radim Malinic and artist/data visualizer Robert Hodgin, head of R&D at Rare Volume. Woven around the central theme of “daring creativity,” the discussion explores how true creativity lies not in perfection but in embracing process, imperfection, and the challenge of making ideas real. Hodgin shares personal stories of balancing art and science, navigating client demands, harnessing technology, and reconciling with self-doubt and imposter syndrome.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Artist Meets Data: The Science-Art Synthesis

• Robert’s Journey: Hodgin recounts his early tension between science and art, attending a math/science boarding school but feeling drawn to artistic expression. His career — from comic book-inspired sketching, art school, early web design, to immersive data visualizations — embodies the merging of analytical thought with aesthetic pursuit.
• Quote (05:23):
  • "It's not uncommon for data visualizers to be sort of in the science bucket, where they're not really too concerned about the aesthetics...I think there's more opportunity there to present the data in a way that feels more art forward." — Robert Hodgin ([04:15])

2. Embracing Process over Perfection

• On Value and Effort: Hodgin reflects on a moment of existential doubt prompted by AI-generative art tools like Midjourney and a wise insight from a younger colleague.
• Quote (30:09):
  • “If I threw away those Mid Journey images, nobody would care because they took no effort, and things that take no effort are hard to value.” — Luca, relayed by Robert Hodgin ([30:09])
• The Journey Matters: Robert’s takeaway: it’s the act of ‘making’ — the journey, struggle, and attention — that gives meaning and satisfaction, not just the output.

3. Childhood, Upbringing, and Early Influences

• Homogenized Upbringing: Despite his Japanese heritage, Hodgin describes a typical American childhood, acknowledging some regrets at abandoning the language but recognizing the subtle influence of cultural aesthetics.
• Parental Expectations: His parents, hoping for a stable professional path, eventually became supporters of his creative pursuits as Hodgin found success.
• Earliest Breadcrumbs: Early influences included comic book art, fascination with technical drawing, and a recurring gravitation toward the “science of perspective” over pure imaginative creation. ([13:10])

4. Path to Professional Creative Work

• From RISD to Digital Art: Robert’s circuitous route through painting, illustration, industrial design, and sculpture at RISD reveals a restless curiosity and adaptability.
• Breakthroughs: Creating a celebrated Flash website for Volkswagen’s Beetle re-release (winning at Cannes) and projects such as the iTunes Visualizer (“Magnetosphere”) and the “Planetary” iPad app — the latter now digitally enshrined in the Smithsonian — were career-defining, born of technical experimentation and creative coding.

5. The Role—and Challenge—of Technology

• Evolution of Tools: Hodgin describes progression from ActionScript in Flash to Processing, then to Cinder (C++), and more recently, the node-based powerhouse Houdini.
• Learning Curves: Transitioning to Houdini was humbling:
  • “If you're not familiar with Houdini, it has one of the hardest learning curves for 3D software...” ([25:08])
• Balancing Artistic and Technical Demands: Desire for “rendered, more lush and believable” outcomes sometimes clashed with technical limitations.

6. On AI, Originality, and Maintaining Joy

• Midjourney Crisis: When AI generated, with a few prompts, what took Hodgin months to build procedurally in Houdini, he was crestfallen — until Luca’s encouragement to “appreciate the journey” reignited his commitment to creative effort.
• Own the Process: The difference between “skipping to the last page” (AI’s output) and “living the story” (human process) is foundational to artistic fulfillment and value.

7. Dedication, Determination, and “Obsession”

• Immersion in the Problem: Deep dives into phenomena like bird flocking (“murmurations”) become intellectual puzzles and creative obsessions, driving Robert to experiment and iterate for months.
• Quote (37:07):
  • "I don't want to say it's all I think about, but it's really a large portion of my day is contemplating things that I want to understand better." — Robert Hodgin ([37:07])

8. Imposter Syndrome & Public Vulnerability

• Achieving Yet Doubting: Despite remarkable success, Hodgin confesses to “imposter syndrome,” particularly when invited to share the stage with icons like David Byrne and Peter Gabriel.
• Avoidance and Return: This anxiety led to a decade-long withdrawal from public speaking, now ending as he finds new comfort in vulnerability and sharing.
• Quote (40:39):
  • "...I couldn't understand what I would possibly have to say on stage next to Peter Gabriel and David Byrne..." — Robert Hodgin ([40:39])

9. On Client Work, Excellence, and Creative Compromise

• Navigating Client Agendas: Despite a stellar portfolio, Hodgin still faces clients who “love your work” but then steer him towards predetermined visions, often stifling his creativity.
• Red Flags & Successes: The rare instances when clients “stay out of the way” (as in projects for Samsung’s Meatpacking District flagship store and Torre Gloriés in Barcelona) yield his most satisfying, impactful installations.
• Quote (49:14):
  • “It's gotten to the point where if I hear the phrase ‘art-forward,’ I'm going to assume that it’s not going to be.” — Robert Hodgin ([49:14])

10. Concluding Reflections on Value, Vulnerability, and Growth

• Effort and Growth: All agree: “things that take no effort are hard to value.” Daring creativity isn’t bravado — it’s persistent, often uncomfortable exploration and self-exposure.
• Quote (46:38):
  • “When people go see bands that they like perform, they don’t get disappointed when that band performs songs that they’ve heard already. They get excited because they're familiar with the content and it means something to them.” ([46:38])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On combining science and art:
  • “I seem to always be bouncing back and forth between the two.… That’s why I like visualizing data in an artistic way.” — Robert Hodgin ([04:15])
• On value and effort:
  • “Things that take no effort are hard to value.” — Luca, via Robert Hodgin ([30:09])
• On technology’s double-edged sword:
  • “I stopped being an artist and became more of a researcher for myself.” — Robert Hodgin ([25:08])
• On making mistakes/Imposter Syndrome:
  • “I lost sleep. I had panic attacks… I just couldn’t do it.” — Robert Hodgin ([40:39])
• On creative compromise:
  • “I've seen many of my ideas get butchered by clients… if I hear the phrase ‘art-forward,’ I’m going to assume that it’s not going to be.” — Robert Hodgin ([49:14])

Key Timestamps

• [03:17] — Hodgin discusses favorite problems to solve: intersection of art and data.
• [10:55] — Early creative influences: comics, technical drawing.
• [13:20] — Transition from painting to digital art and professional breakthroughs.
• [21:26] — Reflections on achievements: Itunes Visualizer and “Planetary” iPad app.
• [25:08] — Technology journey: from Flash to Processing, C++, Cinder, Houdini.
• [30:09] — The “things that take no effort are hard to value” lesson.
• [33:59] — Dedication as a form of obsession and code-based rigor.
• [40:39] — Vivid account of imposter syndrome and its consequences.
• [49:14] — Experiences with client work and maintaining creative integrity.

Tone & Language

Throughout, the tone is candid, personal, and intellectually generous. Robert is reflective, sometimes self-deprecating, but always keen to explain the why and how of his creative decisions. Radim’s questions are empathetic, encouraging self-exploration rather than mere self-promotion.

Conclusion

This episode offers rare insight into the creative process of a leading “art-forward” technologist. Hodgin’s journey illustrates how the real value of creative work lies not only in what is made, but in the labor, learning, and personal growth along the way. Listeners are invited to see “excellence” not as flawlessness, but as the willingness to show up, fail, and dare to create — over and over again.