Articles, Experience Design, Strategic Innovation

Are you creative?

I recently asked this question to many hopeful candidates interviewing for some new positions at the office.  The responses varied from an enthusiastic “HELL YES!”, to the ironic “not with words”, to the shrug-accompanied “in my head, I guess.”

What did I mean when I asked “are you creative?” Indeed, I purposefully left it open to interpretation. Almost all applicants responded the same way, by immediately measuring themselves up against the more typically-labeled “creative” people in their lives; painters, musicians, writers, etc. This is normal. Not correct, but a normal response.

For the record, I think everyone has the capacity to create. We’re all creative. You are creative. Yes, you. Indeed, some people generate more potent fruits of their cognitive labor than others do, but we’re all creators in one way or another. It’s important to know that. It’s important to own that. Some people create visual art, while others create prose. Some people create philosophical notions, while others create lies. Don’t sell yourself short just because you haven’t been conventionally appreciated for sculpting a bust or composing a soulful lyric. I believe that you are creative. Naïve? Perhaps. Hopeful? Definitely.

If you think I’m being too lenient, dismissing the inherent contextual relevance of asking this question in an interview at Idea Couture, I understand your protest. I know that not everyone defines the term as I choose to, but I am deliberate with my words. I want to stir up some inspiration here, mainly because I’ve seen strong creative contributions come from unexpected sources and I want to encourage everyone reading this to summon their own creative energies with greater confidence and pride.

Now, it’s true that valuable creativity stands apart from the inconsequential variety. Just because you created something doesn’t mean it’s aligned with what’s required. For example, the McGangbang at McDonald’s may be creative, but that doesn’t make it right. I want to discuss this in greater detail – and I will in a future post – but to start let’s keep things simple. For the moment, we’re going to shelf this part of the conversation and focus on ways to nurture the basic creative sensibilities in all of us that are just waiting to be tickled. I want to light a fire under the butts of all those feeling lame when it comes to creative ventures.

Here are 5 (of many) easy ways to energize your creative juices, in no particular order of importance. Please share your own ideas in the comments section below, the more the better!

1. Spend more time with people that you judge as typically “creative”. Everything begins with inspiration; like the flu, a good way to get some inspiration is to hang with those who have it. The creative spirit is cantagious. Who knows – maybe you’re just about to tip and all you need is that push, that compliment to return your serve…
2. Be well supplied. Having utensils and materials at your fingertips makes it easy for you to capitalize on your creative urges. If drawing is your thing, make a run to the art shop. If you love to write, equip yourself with a comfortable and ergonomic chair and such. Good utensils feel good. (Expect a future post on this topic soon…)
3. Consciously configure your environment. Everyone has their own conception of how they enjoy their physical spaces. Some prefer chachkas everywhere, others like American Psycho neatness. Whatever floats your boat. Just make sure that you derive some type of significant inspiration from your creativity-conducive environment. I, for example, work very well to music and loud places. I often derive motivation from busy environments like coffee shops and bookstores, so if I have to crank out something on a deadline, I may go to a café or an Indigo rather than a library or boardroom.
4. Make a real effort to try new things. Whether it’s food, clothes or cinema, step outside your general comfort zone. By exposing yourself to phenomena that lies on the peripheral of what you find directly appealing, you may be surprised with what you find. Open your mind and entertain new stimuli.
5. Be patient. Good results usually take time to generate. Don’t be hard on yourself and don’t give up. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the band Tool takes 6+ years to produce each record. Wait a second. Adam, you said “easy ways to energize…” Well, I lied. Patience isn’t a natural virtue for everyone. If you struggle with this, start with the basics: know that practice is good; know that dedication usually reaps strong returns; equip yourself well from that start by nurturing a strong interest; let it marinate into deliciousness.

Hopefully this post will be helpful to some of you. If you have any thoughts that you’d like to share on what creativity means to you, or how you like to facilitate the manifestation of your creative impulses, please share.

Lots more to come on this topic in the future… thanks for reading.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pseudopff/51890707/