Do Drugs Enhance Creativity?
On the second day of class in my first semester teaching Graphic Design, one of my students asked this question: Do drugs enhance creativity? Many
Quote: “All things are created twice,” says Stephen R. Covey
“There’s a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation to all things. “Take the construction of a home, for example. You create
How to Spend More Time in Flow
Book Review: Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi I’m intrigued by the idea of flow. I’m certain that I chose graphic design as a career because
Become the Creative Force in Your Life
Book Review: The Path of Least Resistance by Robert Frtitz What does a musical composer know about creativity that he can teach the rest of
Creative Process
“Think about it . . . deeply. Then forget it. And and idea will jump up in your face.” —Don Draper, Mad Men The creative
Design Strategy
design: to form or conceive in the mind for a definite purpose strategy: a plan for obtaining a specific goal or result More and more companies
Creative Advertising Gets Results
Creative advertising gets more attention from consumers and fosters positive attitudes about the marketed product. Ask any marketing professional, and they’ll tell you that creative ads
Anyone Can Be Creative
Creativity is not a trait limited to artists and authors. Anyone with a goal or a problem to solve utilizes creativity to find novel solutions,
Designing a Logo
This is a real world example of the creative process at work.
Generation C
From trendwatching.com “The GENERATION C phenomenon captures the an avalanche of consumer generated ‘content’ that is building on the Web, adding tera-peta bytes of new text,
The Agony of Creation
The creative process can be broken down into steps, followed methodically, and achieve results every time. Occasionally, the creative person has a “eureka” moment when
Variations on a Theme
When you have a good idea, get more mileage out of it by creating variations on the same theme. That is the foundation for ad
Patterns and Anomalies
Patterns are formed by repeating elements. Repetition can become tiresome, so patterns are often used in the background rather than as the main focus. However,
Parallelism
When you have more than one thing grouped together, keep them parallel. A simple example: in a list of actions, use the same verb tense
Mythology and Folklore
A rich source of symbolism and imagery is found in mythology and folklore. To find out why these stories resonate so strongly across cultures and
Tell a Story
A story has an arc—a beginning, a middle, and an end. A good story builds tension and anticipation, and has a climax followed by a
Limitation and Parameters
What is more intimidating than a blank page? The best spark for creativity is a limitation. Do not strain against parameters, use them to transcend
Creativity by Quantity
One way to accomplish a creative breakthrough is by sheer quantity of solutions. Set a goal of coming up with 100 ways to solve the
The Sketchbook
Inspiration can be fleeting. Your sketchbook is the net to capture elusive ideas as they flutter by.
Creative Environment
For me, the most important condition for a creative breakthrough is the right environment. I like a space that is free of clutter. Reminders of
Copy the Masters
If you want to paint like Van Gogh, copy one of his paintings brushstroke for brushstroke. If you want to improvise like Charlie Parker, transcribe
Japanese Tea Ceremony
For a mental break and a return to clarity, create your own ritual based on the Japanese Tea Ceremony. It requires little equipment or time.
Quote: “Real Creativity”
“Real creativity . . . works best when we aren’t searching for outcomes but are simply allowing them.
Creativity
You were born creative. Humans are, by nature, creative beings. Maybe in third grade you thought your picture didn’t look as good as the “talented”
Creativity Killers
Stress: Although some of us work best under pressure, constant low-level stress will suck away your creative juice. Comfort: Staying in your comfort zone will
Creativity Triggers
Need to jumpstart the creative process? Here are some ways to spark your imagination: Synthesis: add something. Introduce a new element, either similar or completely
Creativity Triggers
Need to jumpstart the creative process? Here are some ways to spark your imagination:
Why be creative?
Creative thinking can: overcome obstacles resolve conflict give you a competitive advantage at work encourage personal growth brighten your outlook make life interesting