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A Primer on Keeping the Creative Flame Alive

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Ever felt trapped in an insipid rut devoid of creative inspiration? Every designer has faced his/her fair share of barren spates – phases which remain unproductive, lacklustre and rather stagnant. Creativity remains a valuable commodity in the design industry, a prized asset that, if used carefully, can reap substantial professional gains. This article aims to unravel the ways in which to preserve and nurture creativity amongst design practitioners. How can the all-discerning designer keep that creative flame alive even during periods of perceived dormancy? Read on to find out.


Creativity Isn’t Simply about Coming up With “New” Things

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Creativity in its contemporary (mainstream) usage refers to the ability to innovate and transcend traditional boundaries to formulate original and meaningful ideas. While the definition is theoretically correct, it falls short of describing what creativity means in the field of design. If a designer suffers from a lack of fresh ideas and perspective, then he seems to be suffering from dearth of inspiration rather than an inadequacy of creativity. The concept of creativity, as it pertains to the domain of design, involves much more than the capacity to innovate. 


Creativity is about having the intelligence to see an idea or design proposal through right from its incipient stage till the finishing touch is applied. Creativity demands consistency – how closely is a designer able to follow the prescribed design philosophy that was planned for a particular website? 


In certain cases, creativity can involve exercising a sense of restrain; a curtailing of self-expression to allow client requirements to be met. It thus follows (rather ironically) that creativity has less to do with ‘creation’ and more to do with ‘cohesion’ – the ingenuity of designers in connecting independent ideas into a single cohesive and meaningful entity.


In previous entries, I have stressed that every website has to be supported by a running “narrative” which explains to the reader/client what its primary objectives are and how does it plan to achieve them. The essence of creativity lies in the manner in which disparate design concepts/ideas are assembled and interweaved together to tell a poignant tale of its own.


Originality is dead. Accept it.

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Every now and again people from the design community have boldly proclaimed that creativity bears a synonymous relationship with being original. Apart from the statement being rather un-original and clichéd, it also fails to make any sense. We live in a derivative world where every work of art is to a certain extent a copy of another. Originality (in the strictest sense of the word) is dead, like it or not.


The ability to connect existing ideas in different ways is however something that we have active control over. So if you feel that your ideas aren’t ‘original’ then tell yourself that true originality is a fallacy. The key to being creative lies in how adventurous you are in linking different (existing) ideas into exciting new assemblages.


 

Think of Creativity as a Quilt

When knitting a quilt, it is common practice to weave together uniquely patterned and textured fabrics. Creativity is about choosing the right kind of fabrics to blend. If you are running into roadblocks thinking about possible ‘creative’ solutions to a design problem, then you should look at individual ideas in isolation first and seek various ways in which connections can be formed between them. When working on a design project, I often break it down into independent chunks before conceptualising how these bits will eventually connect to express a ‘story’ of its own.  Never be reluctant to mix and match on a trial and error basis because there is a good chance that one of the many ‘combinations’ that you have conceived might prove to be the winning formula. 


Creativity isn’t a “One-Man” Show

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As creative professionals, we often work for a diverse cliental ranging from corporate establishments to small-medium enterprises. More often than not, a design proposal will be drawn up during a coordinated brainstorming session between designer and client. It is crucial to note that, under normal circumstances, the ideas churned out during these meetings will usually deviate significantly from your own design principles. The level of control you have over the end product is ultimately influenced by the resources and requirements provided by the client.


While a certain degree of initiative is required by the designer to actively transform these ideas into concrete works of art, the creative licence rendered is very much limited. This point reiterates the argument I’ve brought up earlier; creativity also concerns restrain, knowing when to limit your sense of self-expression and absorb client-based ideas and concepts. An experienced/seasoned designer knows exactly how to negotiate between self-expression and external collaboration.


Look Beyond the Superficial

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Throughout this post, I’ve stressed on the importance of seeking unique connections between disparate elements/ideas. This process however can only be sharpened by conscious practice. When faced with a work of art (your own or someone else’s), inculcate the habit of looking at it beyond its aesthetic value. Identity various concepts and ideas that inform specific design choices (E.g. Understand the rationale behind the utilisation of specific colour schemes and identify the type of typographic skills applied to specific components on the page.) and make a mental note of how the designer in question, has formed a seamless (or not so seamless) integration of these various internal “ideological” components. If you are able pinpoint a single connected thread of ideas in any particular artistic project, than it is beyond doubt that you have witnessed a truly creative masterpiece.   


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COMMENTS

{14 people tripped so far}
1

Picture of Design Informer Design Informer tripped on Sun Dec 06,  2009  at  09:31 AM

Well said, Josh.

I myself have struggled with creativity in the past. Part of that was because of my misconception and perception of originality and creativity. I love how you said,

Originality is dead. Accept it.

I think this is the reason why a lot of our creativity is stifled. We try to come up with something that has never ever been done before and that nobody has ever seen, when in reality, all we have to do to be creative is to use what we have and blend them together to produce something creative. It’s great how you used the quilt as an analogy.

Great read, and I will definitely do my part in sharing and promoting this. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to reading more of your articles.

2

Picture of Josh Josh tripped on Sun Dec 06,  2009  at  12:34 PM

Thanks Jad for the very comprehensive response. I agree with your point. If we are always chasing originality, then it might be a lost cause in reality. I was often quite mesmerised by the ‘quilt’ and how various types of fabric form a seamless integration.

Thanks again for the response.

Cheers
Josh

3

Picture of Kim Kim tripped on Sun Dec 06,  2009  at  01:32 PM

I just discovered your blog and i was very surprised after reading your very interesting article that you were only 25 years old. (i am 50+) you have a
a very mature way of thinking.  Realistic and not pretentious.
I share with you the same ideas, i don’t pretend to be an artist neither to be original. I usually adapt to the client’s request and to the target but my portfolio website i did it my way and the way i like it and it doesn’t matter if it does not match the “standards”.
You say originality is dead. that’s because we are too many on the planet and everyone can see instantly what is created at the other end of the globe. Impossible to protect anything from copy so we must accept it and do like everybody else, taking bits and pieces from everywhere.
Creativity is a personal way of seeing the world + a mix of cultural influences +environment + imagination+ technical skills.
Looking forward for your next post. thanks!

4

Picture of Josh Josh tripped on Sun Dec 06,  2009  at  05:47 PM

@Kim
Thanks for the kind words Kim!

Yes creativity is indeed a personalised window into seeing the world. The point you brought up on cultural influence and imagination is very true. I believe the beauty of design lies in its unpredictability - it has various cultural overtones.

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of attending a seminar on Asian art and the aesthetic styles that were presented proved to be an eye-opener for me. Culture does play a crucial role in creativity. In a way culture influences our creative ventures with specific codes and principles.

Thanks for the response!

5

Picture of Defifee Defifee tripped on Sun Dec 06,  2009  at  11:18 PM

Dear Josh,

i have been thinking a lot about creativity, design and art.
I think design is more a functional craft. The designer should recognize his customer’s needs and ideas and then assemble something useful.

Personal, original ideas and creative expression belong to the arts. But I’m not sure the whole design/art useful/useless things keeps me thinking…

I noticed that recently there are many posts and articles with tips about how to stay or become creative and there is a lot art and designwork scattered over the web, without sources and background..that’s really sad. I’m glad your blog is not like this. It’s even one of the best sites I’ve read and seen in days. Please keep on writing. Oh and the illustrations are great , first I was a little confused but now I really like them.

Greetings from Germany!

6

Picture of Josh Josh tripped on Mon Dec 07,  2009  at  03:16 AM

@Defifee

Thanks for the kind comments! I am really glad that you find Tripping Words an enjoyable read!

I like your point. I personally find that inspiration and creativity are primarily different aspects of the design process. I think a lot of websites in the design community specialise in inspiring fellow artists with good art work. There is no definite guideline to becoming ‘creative’. It is a process that depends on a multitude of factors (client needs, site functionality requirements etc).

Yes it can be said that ‘art’ is a more personalised expression, but ‘design’ is perhaps a more structured aesthetic practice.

Excellent comment!

7

Picture of Craig Baldwin Craig Baldwin tripped on Mon Dec 07,  2009  at  11:44 AM

I feel your point about creativity being dead is very important and something that has occurred to me in the past. I find that if something is original then it probably hasn’t been thought of for a good reason and won’t be suitable for what you’re designing.

Thanks for an great article, you have a very engaging style of writing, excellent job.

8

Picture of Josh Josh tripped on Mon Dec 07,  2009  at  12:02 PM

@Craig

Thanks for the kind words.

As designers we are expected to be creative within certain contextual perimeters- client demands/objectives etc all play a role in moulding the shape of our creative ventures.

Like you said, originality is indeed a fallacy, although I know of many designers who would disagree. From a business perspective, I guess you wouldn’t want to be making that point! smile

Thanks again for the very insightful response.

9

Picture of Henry Stradford Henry Stradford tripped on Mon Dec 07,  2009  at  03:25 PM

Creativity is being cushed by the businessman (CEO, CFO, CTO, etc.).  You have to be firm in your convictions to be creative no matter what the cost (financial, etc.).  That’s my opinion.  But I’m lucky, my creative side is different from my professional side.  I don’t have to make a living at it.  I do it for the love of it. =amateur…

10

Picture of Josh Josh tripped on Mon Dec 07,  2009  at  03:57 PM

Henry
Great point!
True inhibited creativity has to a certain extend become stifled. Or on the flipside, ones definition of creativity now has to accommodate the commercial aspect of it as well; the understanding that all creative endeavours have to be commercially viable. That seems to be the sad truth.

11

Picture of Glenn Taylor Glenn Taylor tripped on Mon Dec 07,  2009  at  05:06 PM

Josh,
Your post brings into clear focus many of the thoughts I try and instill in my creative staff everyday. Even after 30+ years of developing creative solutions, I still constantly stretch my boundaries and knowledge by absorbing creative sparks from literally everywhere. I feel the originality in any design comes into play when a designer’s unique vision is matched with these nuggets they catalog away for later use. Great clients are always a plus as well. Excellent post, keep them coming!

12

Picture of Josh Josh tripped on Mon Dec 07,  2009  at  06:29 PM

Glenn

Thanks for the concise response and the kind words.

I like your perspective on creativity; the idea that every designer has his/her own creative flavour that is sometimes inspired by things/situations outside the realm of professional work.

Creativity is certainly about assembling various ideas from distinct contexts into one cohesive whole.

Even today, as an academic researcher, I find myself constantly thinking about ways to connect seemingly disparate entities and how such a connection can inspire the creation of something authentic (at least in my eyes). smile

13

Picture of Felipe Martyn Felipe Martyn tripped on Tue Dec 08,  2009  at  06:15 PM

Man, I love your blog.

How each part of it is placed nicely and with great proximity relationships.
Thanks a lot for such beautiful piece and also for awesome real type of posts, instead of just lists, lists, lists.

Give us opinions! Thx

14

Picture of Josh Josh tripped on Tue Dec 08,  2009  at  06:34 PM

Felipe

Thanks for the kind words! More content will be coming over the next few weeks! So stay tuned.

Cheers

Josh

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