Re: Brainstorming

Ah, brainstorming good brainstorming techniques.  I’ll start with what I do to get rolling at the beginning of a project. I grab my sketchbook or a blank piece of computer paper and quickly write down any words, ideas, concepts, jibberish that I can think of that has to do with the project at hand. It helps give me direction. The key for me, though, is I have to do it on blank paper where I can roam and doodle and sketch and categorize/draw connection lines when something interesting actually generates in my brain. I get really overwhelmed when I open a blank document on the computer without having taken pen to paper first. Weird. Who knows.

In the spirit of checking out other creative processes like Laura, I found this on a blog titled, “Creative Bloq” – 11 best ways to brainstorm creative ideas.

Let me summarize the summary (click the link above for more detail):

01. Be unselfconscious

02. Get the timing right

03. Look outside for inspiration

04. Give full disclosure

05. Question the brief

06. Sit around a proper table

07. Go back to basics with physical things

08. Be honest

09. Play word games to generate ideas

10. Take a break and let things sink in

11. Try one of these apps: Mindnode, Moodboard, OmniGraffle, MyPantone, iDesign

We mentioned some of these in class last week, especially looking for outside inspiration that does not have to do with the project or other designers. I think the one I need to focus on more is #7 – go back to basics with physical things. I really like the idea of finding another creative outlet that is not designing in front of a computer-- another way to disconnect when we hit that wall, but still be productive. I recently re-found my love for coloring with this adult coloring book craze going on, and realized that when I am coloring, I spend a lot more time thinking about how I shade things and how dark and light tones make a picture look completely different. I cannot draw at all, so doing this on physical paper rather than illustrator where I am manipulating color on a slider was kind of eye opening.

Full disclosure – I had a good run for like 3 days this summer and have not done it since. I think tapping into this type of stuff- whether it’s a groupon painting class, whittling wood with the hipsters (okay, that sounds miserable), or whatever - could be great for brainstorming when you are in a rut. I also found it to be an incredible stress relief tactic, which could be helpful when I am beating myself up for not generating some great idea.

Don, I like your TV channel surfing idea – I may give this one a try!

The Biebs needs to rethink this hair. #donaldtrumping

When it Brains, it Storms

Ugh, that was a palpably grotesque play on words. What do I do when I’ve got nothing and I need something? It depends what I’m looking for. If I’m trying to think of someone’s name, I’ll usually cycle through the alphabet considering each letter. After that fails, I might try to think of the different times and places I saw that person. If I can think of other people who were there, a simple Facebook stalk might do the trick. But what if I see someone who I recognize but can’t quite pinpoint how I know them? Like if I watch a movie and recognize a B-List actor, and can’t remember where else I’ve seen him/her. I suppose I just keep watching in that case. Listen to the voice, take note of the various facial expressions. Checking IMDB is cheating. It's important that we flex our brain muscles in moments like these.  #thoughtsquats #mindgrind # braingains

What if I’ve got a hot date but I don’t know where to take her? Hmmm, I’ll consult the CityPaper to see if anything interesting is going on that night. If all that’s happening on a Wednesday is open mic slap-poetry night at One World Café, I might think of different geographical neighborhoods and try to narrow it down that way. I picture the routes, bars, buildings and parks and try to think of what’s nearby, where I haven’t been. I’ll try to imagine what it would look like to be having a pleasant time with her, and then try to locate a venue that matches what I’d imagined. It almost never ends up how I’d planned it, but this is how I can at least select a time and place.

Right now I’m thinking about how I brainstorm. I’m brainstorming brainstorming techniques. It’s metacognitive inception! And how am I doing it? I tilt my head a little as I type, furrow my brow, and look off into the distance as the film reel spins in my mind’s eye. I picture myself thinking, chewing on a pencil eraser, spewing words onto a page and then rearranging them later. I think about those swirling fragments of thought that don’t quite cleave together, and that eureka moment when I find something shiny amidst the detritus.

Sometimes when I’m feeling uninspired and looking for novel ideas, I turn on the tv and start at channel 2. Without using the guide, I hit channel up, like the olden days, and give each show at least a 15 second chance. This guy is carving wood, these people are fording a river, Kim Kardashian is speaking into the camera, A line drive down the third base line, Animaniacs, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, a Rhianna music video, the pope. I make an effort not to get sucked into anything, but to expose my mind to 100 different things in 15 minutes or so. It rattles the cobwebs loose sometimes. You aren’t allowed to use the guide though, that’s cheating!

I hope this is somewhat helpful. Oh, and here’s the Hoefler-Frere Jones article Laura mentioned:

Aaaaaaaand here's that Bieb video I mentioned earlier. I promise it gets good at 1:07

Class dismissed.

Brainstorming Technique: Challenger

I am admittedly not dedicated to or consistent in my creative process or idea generation. I have to force myself to sketch by hand. I prefer to just start working on a computer because it's quicker for me to visualize what's in my head versus my sloppy sketches. So, anyway, in the spirit of discovery and not wanting to harp about techniques we've all heard before, I went to Google to find some new techniques and I came across the following from PersonalExcellence.co.

"Challenger. List all the assumptions in your situation and challenge them. For example, your goal is to brainstorm on a list of ideas for your romance novel which you want to get published. There are several assumptions you are operating in here. #1: Genre to write: Romance. Why must it be that romance? Can it be a different genre? Another assumption is for a novel. #2: Length of the story: Novel. Why must it be a novel? Can it be a short story? A series of books? #3: Medium: Book. Why must be it a book? Can it be an ebook? Mp3? Video? And so on."

While I don't think this technique would work for every situation, I am intrigued by it and hope to try it soon. I think all too often when I sit down to come up with ideas, I get one or two notions in my head and tend to favor those ideas going forward despite coming up with others. I think the Challenger technique could be a way to overcome that.

I'll try to come up with an example of, say, designing a website for a resort hotel (just popped into my head because this was an assignment for another class this week.) Here goes...

Assumptions/Challenges
1. Websites need photographs of the place.
CHALLENGE: Why does it have to be photographs? Can there be illustrations? Does the imagery have to just be of the resort or can it be of people having fun at the resort?

2. Websites need descriptive content.
CHALLENGE: Why can't the content be narrative? Can it tell a story? Can the images tell the story?

3. Website needs a "Book now" call to action.
CHALLENGE: Why "book now"? Can it sound sexier? Why can't it be, "Plan Your Escape Today"? Can the home page feature an instate availability search with a calendar?

Creative Juice

Something I read long ago has managed to stick with me as my brain destroys and rebuilds itself with the ongoing years. It was in Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People–the second-best-selling book of all time, internationally (The Bible is #1). He says that when faced with a problem and a deadline, you should give it its due consideration well in advance. Keep it in your mind, but don't obsess over it too soon. As the deadline draws closer, you should sit down and devote every iota of concentration you have to the problem. Think really hard about it. Then, don't think about it all. Do what Jim and Erin said: go to bed, take a walk, adopt a highway, whatever floats your boat. The solution will present itself to you.

I like Dale's advice, but like most advice, I take it with a grain of salt. I don't like to teeter too close to deadlines, so I try to do my hard thinking earlier on in the process. This way I have a chance to make changes, discuss with my friends/colleagues, and let the idea mature as I go about my life.

Similar to Shannon, I need a clean slate when I begin. If I have other nagging tasks that I can knock out first, I'll typically tackle those first. I couldn't agree more with the last part of Jim's post: "You are what you eat." To the list of things we consume, I would add the people with whom we surround ourselves. Friends should be motivated, encouraging, frank, supportive, and forward-thinking. If you engage with dullards and slackers daily, guess what?...

Half a lifetime ago I was shooting around on a rim outside of my high school when a man showed up and asked if I wanted to play 1 on 1. I hesitantly agreed, as he was older and more fit, and much to my dismay he destroyed me. Despite the obvious gap in our skill levels, I noticed that I played much better when facing a talented and challenging foe. I told him that after the game and he said "The best way to get better is to play with people better than you."

Surround yourselves with greatness and inspiration will come.

Re: Inspiration

It’s always beneficial to reflect on your creative process and know what works best for you. To start, I know I need to be well rested and in the right mindset to produce my best work. I’m also very sensitive to my surroundings. My workspace needs to be neat and have good lighting.

My process starts with A LOT of research. Pinterest and Behance are the two resources I use the most when searching for inspiration. Mood boards have helped me immensely thus far in the program. On my mood boards I explore typefaces, colors, and find similar designs with the tone I have in mind. Depending on the project and whether or not it requires a logo or new concept, I like to sketch those out before moving to the computer.

My “ah ha” moments always come at a different time during my process. I’ve gone through many projects where it never seems to hit me and I feel like I’m just going through the motions. Usually at some point, I step away from the project for at least a day then come back to it. This usually helps.

A few tips I've learned from previous professors on the design process: Joe Fioramonti has a folder on his desktop that has thousands of design photos. His screen saver is a seemingly never-ending slideshow of design inspiration. This way he is always being exposed, even when he isn't searching for it. Jeanne Fountain likes the cut and paste method once in her digital draft phase. This allows her to look away from the computer on a new medium and explore different layout options. 

Re: Inspiration

Loved the comics, ha ha. As Jim pointed out in his post about how random inspiration can be, I can certainly echo that from my experiences. Sometimes it comes out of the blue while I am drifting off to sleep, sometimes it comes from my crazy brainstorming word lists that I almost always start with when I begin a project.

I feel like as designers, we are constantly consuming and cataloging information either online (pinterest, blogs, portfolios, etc.) or out in the real-non pinterest world of cool projects, noticing building design and signs, color patterns in trees, etc...and it all gets logged into our memory. Maybe we recognize and catalog this information differently because that's how our brains work and BAM it hits us - that poster would totally look great with that weird texture effect that we saw in the gravel on the ground the other day. Like most people, I like to have a certain environment when I work- quiet, cozy and clean, with some music on in the background -is usually my go-to. Late night or early AM is usually my zone. These things help me to produce when I need to be focused.

When I hit a wall while I'm designing something,  like Jim, I usually like to walk away for a bit...or go to bed...if I have time. I know we can't do this all the time and its definitely a luxury to be able to walk away, and when "the wall" happens I usually revisit my research, sketches and word trees to see if I can see something I didn't see before. To me, the answer usually lies in that initial research that I seem to stray away from when I get too caught up in how something "should look" or an element that I love but is just not working quite right. I really do think putting in a ton of energy into research rather than diving right in off of a feeling usually pays off the most.

As a balance to the "AhHA inspiration moment," this famous photorealist artist, Chuck Close, talks about inspiration and work ethic from the other side of the water, where he states, "“Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work.” I don't think it is that black and white but hey, everyone is entitled to their opinion and he makes some interesting points, here, on creativity. He's got a clear routine and it obviously works great for him.

Your The Inspiration by Chicago

As I was leaving the house this morning and on my merry way to another fun-filled day of funds, I began to wonder, "What will I post about tonight" and then like a thunderbolt from the Gods I received on the Sirius radio Your The Inspiration by Chicago. Yes I believe in fate because at that moment I thought it would be such an interesting topic to discuss what our influences our creative juices, or even better, what do you do when you are unable to find that "A-Ha" moment (when you think you have finally found a break-through).

And I thought this would be a perfect idea for us to reflect on since we will be in the process of brainstorming on our current and upcoming pieces. Additionally, I have always found that the creative process just doesn't have a simple-solution, "Take two of these and you will be creative in the morning." No, it can be arduous and sometimes painstaking but I think over time and the more we learn about our own creative process (and the ways that others are inspired to create) we find a trend. A creative journey.

For me in my creative process can be described as a roller-coaster at best. Although, I think that my creative swing might have to depend on where I am emotionally, physically and personally. I have noticed that if I am physically drained or my attention is pulled to 100 other things, it can throw my creative balance off. At that point I just need to get away from the problem and absorb something else. I find that going for a long walk and listening to music or even going out for a bite to eat can sometimes help me re-focus. Many times my mind may be in the middle of daily work and something just grabs me out of the blue.. that A-Ha moment or (not using an Ed Gold term) the That Might Work moment.

Now let me state I am not talking about showing your work to a supervisor or an professor and getting your work revamped/redirected. God bless those people and what they do, because revamping  can be more arduous than coming out of the gate with a basic idea.

(language yes, but I couldn't pass on this)



So I noted one way that I like to deal with the creative process but how do you handle that? Is it to the point where you have a personal process or preference. Do you light candles and say a prayer? What is it that gets you through those dark times?
Stumped? Here are some suggestions on how well-known designers get through their block on creativity:


Niklaus Troxler_Swiss poster designer: "When I really start to work on a design, it mostly happens fast. I might be walking down the street and suddenly, 'ah' make a connection. You cannot go out and find exactly the right trigger, so you have to have time to feel free."

Paul Rand_famous American Designer: "When I sit down to think a job, I do not try to direct my mind. In fact very often I don't think about the job at all, but while I'm eating, 'oh yes', an answer just comes."

Woody Pirtle_American Designer/Pentagram-New York: "There are time when I really get stuck, and need outside input. So I speak to someone about it. I am amazed how often a person who is uninvolved will come at the problem from a completely different direction."



Finally, here is something I stumbled across that you might want to take into consideration. On the blog site creativecreativity.com there is a post from September 15, 2013 noting that we as creative thinkers create as we consume (not food). And maybe this goes back to what I mentioned with my creativity and how it stumbles based off of what I exposing myself to. Maybe we should think to prime our minds to what we are about to create, before we get into a creative rut.

Here is a small exert from the blog:

 What you create is a direct reflection of what you choose to expose yourself to. This is not to say that you create exactly what you take in, although that certainly happens occasionally. No, everything you put in your brain is reflected through the prism of your own unique point of view and experiences. 

 While it is a given that an athlete should change their diet while training for a big event, why don't creative people do the same thing?