Sorry that I have taken some time away since my last blog post. I have been completely focused on client work but I have truly missed posting weekly articles. So to keep a more balanced work-life, I am taking another run at it!
This post is on the art of creativity. We all seem to think we have some creative talent, to some extent we do but in reality do we ALL? I would think that we don’t and yet many share things that they come across as if it were a creative notion, a unique concept but most likely it was introduced to them by someone else.
I feel that creativity is a conscious stream that cannot be harnessed in or forced under duress to produce. The creative process is one of taking a look at something with a fresh perspective aside from what anyone else is doing as a cue. In effect it is being a risk taker. If you are not characteristically a risk taker, I would say you are not creative by nature.
You have to be willing to have people shoot you down and still not shy from offering it up! But because they do take a swing at you doesn’t necessarily mean they are correct. Often, they are not. I can think of stories where this type of situation has happened quite frequently. I’m sure you can think of countless stories of big name celebrities giving the thumbs down to an up-and-comer, to only find out after the fact that they became a bigger name star then even themselves. It is with this thought I write this post, for that true creative that believes in their craft but needs just a slight polishing or perhaps a nudge of confidence.
Creative Thunder:
Be yourself in expressing your concept – Don’t water it down, twist it to fit your boss, adapt it to fit your partner, bend it into an accordion to please your clients. Make it resonate with your target audience, but give it your best, truest shot and see how it fairs on its own merit. Not everyone will get your perspective but often you will be surprised at what ends up becoming successful!
Be Classic – A good idea is great but too many good ideas are a nightmare. Also, try not to recreate the Mona Lisa on the head of pin just keep it simple and clear. This type of creativity works best in messaging, digital images and logo marks.
Pop it – Once you have your creative idea roughly sketched out in your thoughts, sit down and pop it. In other words, make it sing and take out any extra fluff. It doesn’t have to be overly fussed with. Good creative work usually comes out pretty pure in the first pass, you just might need a bit of refinement to get it to gel, but its raw form needs to remain. Don’t overly obsess over it (I can definitely be guilty of this one at times) since this is more likely your insecurity taking over and you will dilute the best parts of your masterpiece by trying to overwork it. Let the work speak for itself.
Flop it – Unlike the one before, this refers to taking a different approach from what the mainstream is doing. Meaning observe what is currently being done and come up with a new perspective of your own to present. Not just to be argumentative, a separatist or contrarian but to significantly offer a whole new angle on how to see, express, communicate, or demonstrate something. Then give it some runway to refine while in motion. Try it a few times, see what your results net and then refine. Again fly it and refine once more. How do you think the Wright brothers did it? Lol
In general, there are plenty of blogs out there on creativity already but I hope this one you can simply apply to your current creative work. And if you are not creative hire someone who can see past what you give them. I have worked with many “creative” people that were not so creative and had to be spoon fed from the creative jar. As well as clients who would accept nothing else but what they spoon fed you! Either way that will not provide you with groundbreaking results and truly that is what we are after. Aren’t you?
