Think you are creative?
by , (6 comments)
I came across a brief description of creativity in a new book I’ve been browsing. I found it interesting and thought some of you might resonate with it, I did:
“Creativity can be defined as the ability to conceive unexpected solutions to apparently unsolvable problems. Without magic or mysterious touches, creativity is nothing other than intelligenceóan intelligence that, in certain ways, can be developed and that, in the midst of a flood of unconnected and chaotic data, allows one to discover connections that others do not discover, see differences that other do not see, and, as a consequence, produce new and surprising integrations… Creativityóalthough requiring uncommon skillsóis based on a number of controllable processes, such as observation, attention, research, and analysis, and, to a certain extent, on the possession of thinking strategies that combine flexibility with efficiency… [creativity] has nothing to do with self-expression and an indulgent egocentrism. It requires, instead, an objective and flexible intelligence, an ability to analyze any problem from a multiplicity of viewpoints, so as to be able to understand the intentions of a client, and the possible perceptions that a wide range of sectors of the public could have of a given message.”
ñ Jorge Frascara, Communication Design: principles, methods and practice. Allworth Press, 2004.
I’ve often said design and creativity are as much about patience as they are about talent. I happen to have the patience to spend hours analyzing and editing the minute details of a symbol or icon. My wife has the patience to work out the musical details of complex piano composition. We each find new solutions to expression of ideas, and we do it by much exploration, observation and hopefully intelligence. To take it to the extreme, it’s not entirely different than what the accountant, biologist, educator or social worker do.
Happy New Year everyone!
Comments (6)
kadavy said:
I don’t think it’s extreme at all to say that’s what a biologist, accountant, etc. do. That was, in my mind, a perfect description of creativity. People can be creative in any profession, it just so happens that many people like to take the path already travelled (there is no shortage of designers doing this). Those who made that path had to be creative. I really think it must take a great deal of creativity to develop the GAAP.
Posted on January 6, 2005
Adrian said:
That is a great definition. The line that says “creativity has nothing to do with self-expression and an indulgent egocentrism” seems to be worth dwelling on for a little while. It seems to me that this is at the heart of the difference between art and design. It seems that there is a temptation for designers to create a unique personal style and then apply that style to whatever project we work on. That approach seems to work for some designers. I don’t think I have a “style” and the result is a personal portfolio that looks like it was done by ten different designers. I would like to think that is a good thing because I have developed unique creative solutions to different problems.
I also agree that creativity exists in almost all professions. I cringe when I hear people say that they aren’t very creative. Creativity isn’t just a talent that some people have and some don’t. Creativity has more to do with the ability to think critically than to some sort of genetic inheritance.
Posted on January 7, 2005
Bennett said:
I think the idea of having an individual style in design is usually a bad thing. I think there are exceptions to this rule. When you have a reputation for a certain unique approach and style and clients come to you for that style, I think that can work. Much like what Charles Anderson does. If a national bank wants a new identity they probably won’t go to CSA. If they did, I assume Mr. Anderson would turn down the job. In this way I think CSA is more in line with illustration than design. Obviously a very specific style has worked for many of the legends in our profession Glaser, Rand, Carson … so what do I know.
On the quote. Does it matter how we as designers define the word “creative”? If the majority of the population has a certain idea about being creative, how are we to say that they are wrong. Is there a better word to describe what we do and who we are?
Adrian, you say: Creativity isnít just a talent that some people have and some donít. Creativity has more to do with the ability to think critically than to some sort of genetic inheritance.
Don’t some have more ability to “think critically” than others. Perhaps they were even born with this ability. Creativity can be learned, but I think some people have to work a little harder at it than others.
Posted on January 7, 2005
Adrian said:
“Donít some have more ability to ìthink criticallyî than others?”
Bennett, that’s a good question. I guess some people are better at math than others, so maybe some people are better at thinking creatively than others. However, I do think that creativity is something that most educational systems don’t do a great job at developing. If you don’t learn it as a child, I think it is going to be much harder to learn as an adult. I think most creatives develop in spite of their education, not because of it.
Do you think the quoted definition of creativity is that different from the general population? How do you think a non-creative person would define creativity?
Posted on January 7, 2005
kadavy said:
Regarding style, I agree that it can be bad to have an individual style, but only if you’re defining style as a visual thing. People can have differing “styles” or processes of thinking creatively, and I think its great if someone can develop such a thing. This may result in work that looks similar, but because that look is developed by using this “style” as a parser of information crucial to the project, rather than decoration that is applied to the exterior frame of that information, it is what I would consider the essence of style.
Posted on January 7, 2005
Steven K. said:
ìCreativity can be defined as the ability to conceive unexpected solutions to apparently unsolvable problems.”
I’d go a bit further and say creativity can also be the ability to recognize and identify problems that others do not see.
Posted on January 11, 2005