WORTHGROUP Architects and Designers is made up of a collaborative team of creatives, who spend each day actively engaging in design thinking. However, living creatively goes beyond the artistic “making “of a visual or tangible representation of your creativeness. Every person is creative whether or not they realize it. Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” When we pick out an outfit, cook a special meal, buy a gift for a friend we are exercising our creative muscles in everyday life. Creativity is a practice not a selective gift that only a lucky few possess. True, it may come more naturally to some, but creative thinking and living is something that anyone can cultivate in their lives. #Nationallivecreativeday
WORTHGROUP Designer’s 5 Tips for Fostering Creativity
Meditate
And by this we simply mean clear your mind – which we all know isn’t always so SIMPLE. For some, this means sitting cross-legged in a silent room chanting ommmmmm, but it can also mean going on a long hike and reconnecting with nature, or engaging in a different hobby which we find relaxing. Meditating helps us be mindful of creative ideas that are trying to fight their way through all the noise.
WORTHGROUP’s Founding Principal Doug Worth says, “My most creative thoughts occur when I’m physically engaged with other tasks. For me, that usually involves building something. I try to find time as often as possible to work with my hands, and that usually helps me find my answer to any difficult problem or creative block.”
Surround Yourself with Creative People
You’ve heard the phrase “never be the smartest person in the room, and if you are, find another room” well it’s the same for creativity. Find people that inspire you, whether you know them personally or follow them on Instagram, keeping tabs on those you admire for their expression of creativity will get those creative juices flowing in our own brain.
Our Director of Interior Design, Jamie Thomas likes “reading through other design industry newsletters, blogs, etc. to see what else is happening in the general world of design, not just specifically Interior Design. To see how others are using their ‘out of the box’ ideas inspires me to try something similar or completely different from what I’ve done in the past or to alter something I’m working on right now. An email link may send me on a ‘goose chase’ over the internet until I find exactly what I’m looking for.”
Embrace the Fear
Being creative means taking risks, and risks are scary. Fear is an inherent part of the creative process, and every actively creative person will tell you that. The trick is not to pretend that the fear doesn’t exist, but acknowledge it and even embrace it. In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert writes “I made a decision a long time ago that if I want creativity in my life – and I do – then I will have to make space for fear, too. Plenty of space. I allow my fear to live and breathe and stretch out its legs comfortably. It seems to me that the less I fight my fear, the less it fights back. If I can relax, fear relaxes, too. In fact, I invite fear to come along with me everywhere I go.”
As Architects and Designers we are constantly pushing the limits of aesthetics, form, and function. We take risks during the conceptual process and allow ourselves to brainstorm through hundreds of possibilities before finding the ideal solutions to our design questions.
Try Something New
If you find that you’re experiencing the dreaded creative block that everyone faces at one time or another, try a different vehicle for your creativity: Change Mediums (If you’re a writer try sketching, if you’re a dancer try music, if you’re an architect try photography, etc); Take a trip, traveling somewhere new and experiencing a different culture is a great way to ignite creativity; use the materials and media you typically work with in a new and different way, stretch their limits.
“If I’m feeling creatively stuck in architectural design, I’ll often paint (abstract) or focus on photography for an evening.” Says WORTHGROUP Architectural Designer, Marit Jensen “Exercising other genres of design help me see architecture in a different light. I take a break from the medium, but still push my creativity. (It’s a bit like making sure to do leg day at the gym and not just arms.) Helps me to keep my creative mind toned overall and balanced.”
“My creativity is fueled by traveling and experiencing architecture.” says Laurissa Gibson, “Ever since I studied abroad in Europe in college I have been keeping a journal where I sketch and analyze architecture. Sketching the world around me has been my architecture creative outlet for many years.”
“I enjoy cross disciplinary products and finding new uses for products that haven’t been tried yet. This practice of reinvention helps me think outside of the box during my design process.” Says Interior Designer, Emelia Jost.
Practice Grace
Give Yourself a Little Grace. Don’t be too hard on yourself during this creative journey of yours, because it’s just that, a journey. Your creative process might not be at the same stage as someone else’s. You might be on day one of your C25k (Couch to 5K) app and someone else just finished a marathon, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re being mindful of creative moments throughout your day, and turning those moments into real creative thoughts, and eventually turning those thoughts into creative well-rounded ideas or products.
“I like to think that anything is possible, you just need the right tools for the job.” says WORTHGROUP Architect, Jon Hanes.
