Process It

When considering the creative process, creatively consider making new processes.  A new process will take your mind to new places and it can be a new way to look at old problems.  Stand back from your current methods and processes.  Break them down and analyze them.  With an understanding of them begin to develop and design entirely new ones.  Experiment with systems that have never been tried before.  Outline or describe the new approach and see where it takes you.  As you experience your new processes you can refine and improve them.  You will find that each new process gives you fresh perspectives for numerous creative challenges.


There are many tried and true creative processes that have been developed as well and they too are worth exploring.

The famous artist/musician David Bowie occasionally speaks about a method he likes to use when writing songs. He writes down words that he finds intriguing and collects them up over time. He then cuts the words up so that each word is on an individual piece of paper. He spreads the words out in front of him and begins to experiment with different; combinations, orders, rhythms and so on.  He eventually works these into lyrics, songs and music.

.                   Albrech Durer Wood Cut                                       Leonardo da Vinci

Fifteenth century Leon Battista Alberti developed a process for artists to view and grasp the correct perspective of a scene by observing it through a thin veil with a see-through grid (as seen in the Albrech Durer image above).  Leonardo da Vinci used and further developed similar contraptions as did many artists of the time.

Dr. Yoshiro Nakamatsu (the famous Japanese inventor) likes to submerge himself underwater with a pad and underwater writing instrument.  He feels it helps him think more creatively and he is able to write his thoughts down as they come.

Explore process as you develop your work.  Research the processes of people that you respect.  Try them, refine them and make your own unique systems to enhance your creativity.  It’s always an interesting exercise and it rarely disappoints in producing great results.

          In a nut shell

   1-Consider new creative processes
   2-Analyze your current processes
   3-Research other people’s processes
   4-Make and use new ones
   5-Refine and improve them

Quotes
David Bowie

“There’s nothing more embarrassing than watching somebody who doesn’t love what they do, but does it because they believe that’s the way they’re going to be loved.”

“I've never responded well to entrenched negative thinking.”

Videos

Yoshiro Nakamatsu holds a world record for receiving the most patents (over 3000).  From the karaoke machine to the DVD he has played a major role in many of the inventions we are all familiar with.  In the following video clip he shares one of his techniques for promoting “higher” inventive thinking.  It’s a clip from the documentary The Invention of Dr Nakamats.  He’s funny but he’s no joke.



Daniel Rozin is an interactive digital artist.  He creates installations and sculptures that respond to the viewer in very unique ways.  He is also the owner of Smoothware Design, a software company that makes his  interactive art possible.

Creativity and Context

In a previous post I explained the value of sparking the brain’s natural tendency to create by asking it questions.  This week I want to share with you a specific question that is almost always worth asking and I have included some videos that beautifully demonstrate the amazing results of asking it.  The question is based on context.  What ever it is you’re developing or working on ask yourself the question: “What if this were in a completely new or different context?”.

The following video gained world wide recognition.  Music and choreographed dance was performed in a new and different context.  Rather than on a stage in the usual theater setting, they performed in the middle of Liverpool Street Station.  Notice the completely new ways people experience the dancing because of it’s unique context.  To date this video has been viewed over twenty four million times and has led to many similar performances.



The Opera Company of Philadelphia decided to share their music in a similar way with “Random Acts of Culture” (the Knight Foundation’s "national initiative to bring the classics out of the performance halls and onto the streets").  Their performance connects with people in a new and profoundly different way.  Again, like the dance in Liverpool Street Station, videos of the performance are shared online by millions of people around the world.  Millions of people who may never have considered buying a ticket to an opera felt enough connection to this performance to share it via YouTube with a friend or family member.  This is the kind of impact you can have by asking the question “What about context could be different or new?”



The famous Installation artist Robert Irwin in his book “Robert Irwin" (by The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles) shares a thoughtful breakthrough he experienced as a young artist. 

Robert Irwin, 1971                                            His Walker Installation                    .

He had been a painter working within the confines of rectangular frames.  Irwin felt that they had “arrived at a point where they had a choice to make: whether to confine themselves to a frame, or break that."  He broke out of the rectangular frame and began his light and space explorations.  These led to numerous installations and lectures that have influenced countless artists and designers over the years.  His questions regarding the common and accepted context of paintings and art have led to an amazing body of work that has continued to develop for over forty years.  He was even invited by NASA in 1969 to work with a symposium on space design and habitability for long term space travel.

Robert Irwin • Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow & Blue? • 2006 • The Pace Gallery, New York

Questions work, and the question of context is a great one.  Add a number of these questions considering context to your next brain sparking list and enjoy where your imagination takes you.

          In a nut shell

   1-Consider questions of new and different context
   2-Think of how it changes everything
   3-Go with your imagination

Robert Irwin, 2009

Quote
Robert Irwin

“I tried to paint a painting that didn’t begin and end at the edge.  It broke the frame.”

Opportunity Is Everywhere

In almost every aspect of life creativity can have a significant and positive impact. Many people think of creativity as something only artists or writers use.  Some think of innovation in the world of technology for inventors.  Creativity is much much more.  Creativity can be a perspective on life.  Every minute of life is an opportunity to create something new and something better, whether it be tangible or intangible.

I remember when I was a boy and I forgot to pack my homework assignment that was due that day in school.  My mother explained to me that if I wanted to remember to take something to school I could put it right next to my shoes the night before.  “Wow” I thought “Mom's got some good ideas.”  A simple creative addition to my routine could help overcome a previous shortcoming and make a substantial difference.  These minor insights are creative improvements to life and each is another opportunity to discover, create and share with others.  Seeing the part of life that offers perpetual opportunity to create can bring an excitement and energy to every moment.

Choose to experience the following technique.  Focus on the present, be acutely aware, and ask questions.  Consider the environment you are currently in.  Stop, look around you and begin to ask questions.  Think of how you might want to frame the questions such as “What can be better?” or “What is remarkable about this space?” or “What amazing secrets are hiding right here in front of me?” or just begin asking random questions:  How could this keyboard work better with my hands?  How can my chair better position my hands for the keyboard?  How can I be more comfortable?  How can I be more energized?  What would help me think more clearly?  What would be a great way that I could help someone right now?  Why is this phone shaped the way it is?  What would be a completely new way to use a printer?  What do most people hate about computers?  What do most people love about computers? and so on.  Each question entices your brain to create answers.  It’s the way your brain was designed.  It wants to solve problems, answer questions and find patterns.  Each question is like a dog treat for your brain.  When it sees a question it likes, it starts to wag it’s tail and look for answers.

Notice also the many different areas of your life that offer creative opportunities.  Consider the following areas as questions to jump start your awareness of how many there are:  How do you communicate with family and coworkers?  How do you spend time in your car?  How do you sleep?  How do you choose to see people around you?  How do you eat?  How do you wake up in the morning?  How do you read?  How do you remember things?  How do different people in your life see you?  How are you valuable to others?  How do you learn?  Each of these areas begs for creative insight and improvement.  They also present opportunities for you to offer value and connect with others.  Others face problems in similar areas and they are hungry for creative insights and solutions.  So be open to the many opportunities life presents you to be creative and give your brain lots of dog treats daily.

          In a nut shell

   1-Creative opportunity is everywhere, tangible and intangible
   2-Focus on the present, be acutely aware and ask questions
   3-Notice your areas of creative opportunity and be open to them

Quotes
Clint Eastwood

 “In school, I could hear the leaves rustle and go on a journey.”

"I don't believe in pessimism. If something doesn't come up the way you want, forge ahead. If you think it's going to rain, it will."

Videos
If you are not familiar with Edward de Bono he is well worth looking into.  He has written many books in the area of creative thinking such as “Lateral Thinking” and “Six Thinking Hats” and his lectures have been heard around the world.  In the following videos he presents his “Six Thinking Hats” in a classic presentation he did years ago.  It will open your eyes to many new thoughts and insights as to how we think and it will give you a number of valuable tools you can incorporate into your creative processes.

Put The Ego Away

An important factor to consider in the enhancement of your creativity is your ego (let it go).  By ego I mean the part of you that doesn't like to look dumb or foolish (or whatever words your ego uses).  It’s worth realizing that a large part of creativity stems from your ability to comfortably look foolish.  Paradoxically there are no foolish ideas in the realm of creative thinking, only ideas that lead to other ideas and/or spark further creativity.

Young Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison performed about ten thousand different experiments leading up to the electrical light bulb.  He said of his work “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”  He said of failure “Show me a thoroughly satisfied man, and I will show you a failure.”  He knew that it was only a matter of time before he was able to achieve his objective and that dissatisfaction leads to exploration and discovery.  This is a great way to look at any creative idea or developing vision that you may have.  Great work is often developed through trial and error (not just trial).  It's important to realize that each failed attempt is loaded with valuable information and it's your job to use that information as you continue to move forward. 

If you're overly concerned about how a particular idea, once presented, might make you look then you will not be free to explore.  If that idea turns out to be a temporary setback or short-term failure you will be unable to present or even to create unique original ideas because of your fear.  It's for this reason that you want to intentionally choose to look foolish and actually enjoy the possibilities looking foolish presents to you.  Know that by doing this you will be stepping outside normal, boring conventional thought and into a fresh exploration of the great uncharted imagination.  You will be tapping into the wide open spaces of visionary thought rather than getting caught up in a petty ego restraint.

As you explore leave the part of you that thinks it’s important not to look bad behind.  Remember that it's in your acceptance of looking foolish where you will discover your freedom to create.  A good creativity exercise worth practicing is to intentionally develop ideas that are outrageous, crazy, and "foolish".  Alone or with a group set some rules for unbridled outrageousness.  Then begin intentionally being wild, outrageous, crazy, and "foolish" in your creativity.  Fast and outrageous ideas frequently lead to serious breakthroughs.  Don’t force it, just have fun and let it happen.  Innovate, create, have fun and be the fool with amazing results.

          In a nut shell

   1-Put your ego away
   2-Explore uncharted imagination
   3-Know that breakthroughs are waiting for you
   4-Release the outrageous
   5-Enjoy the breakthroughs

Quote
David Kelly
“If you don’t work under time constraints you could never get anything done because it’s a messy process and it could go along forever.”

Video
IDEO is a product development firm and they know creativity.  They are the experts in the process of how you design stuff.