A good question to ask ourselves from time to time: “Am I Living Up To My Creative Potential?” This global study by Adobe shows 75% of people don’t think they are.
(via)
Once again, the explanation for this effect returns us to the benefits of not being able to pay attention. The stupor of alcohol, like the haze of the early morning, makes it harder for us to ignore those unlikely thoughts and remote associations that are such important elements of the imagination. So the next time you are in need of insight, avoid caffeine and concentration. Don’t chain yourself to your desk. Instead, set the alarm a few minutes early and wallow in your groggy thoughts. And if that doesn’t work, chug a beer.
The role of the imagination is to create new meanings and to discover connections that, even if obvious, seem to escape detection. Imagination begins with intuition, not intellect.
Our offices should encourage casual, cafe-style interactions, but allow people to disappear into personalized, private spaces when they want to be alone. Our schools should teach children to work with others, but also to work on their own for sustained periods of time.
– be a graphic communicator: create big ideas not just designs
– if there is no meaning to your work there is no meaning to your life
– treat words with reverence: equate words and design to the words and music in a song
– using a computer does not equal a big idea
– intuition can be more important than intellect
– strive to defeat habit; originality should win
– there’s a big idea in everything you do
UPPERCASE - journal - DesignThinkers: George Lois
Paraphrased George Lois
Ennui is a cognitive gift, but it must be properly unlocked. We can get better at being bored.
When asked for advice on painting, Claude Monet told people not to fear mistakes. The discipline of art requires constant experimentation, wherein errors are harbingers of original ideas because they introduce new directions for expression. The mistake is outside the intended course of action, and it may present something that we never saw before, something unexpected and contradictory, something that may be put to use.
self-awareness helps participants intelligently use feelings to guide cognitive decisions, self-management helps with adapting to change, social awareness is essential to understanding consumer’s needs and aspirations, and relationship management skills help participants better understand how to inspire and influence throughout the consumer engagement process.
So you've got an awesome idea?
This could be extrapolated to any awesome idea sans implementation.
So many more things could go into this list but at least these 29 are nicely animated.
29 ways to stay creative, out of 6.023 x 10^23
