Finding creativity can sometimes be hard, and sometimes be easy.

Music and links from this episode

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/The_Binge_Watchers__Score_1/Komiku_-_The_Binge_Watchers_-_Score_1_-_21_Ambiant_Point_Of_No_Return (Ambiant Point Of No Return by Kimiko)

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Comme_Jospin/A_Monplaisir_Best-Of__Lets_hear_that_crap/Comme_Jospin_-_A_Monplaisir_Best-of__Lets_here_that_crap_-_27_Pinon (Pinçon by Comme Jospin)

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Alpha_Hydrae/A_Monplaisir_Best-Of__Lets_hear_that_crap/Alpha_Hydrae_-_A_Monplaisir_Best-of__Lets_here_that_crap_-_25_Feet_Gone_Wild (Feet Gone Wild by Alpha Hydrae)

Line-by-line notes

INTRO

Creativity can sometimes be like a rare jewel

Everybody knows the power of it

And how beautiful it is

But it can be really difficult to find

Other times, creativity is like a cheap £2 jewel

It’s everywhere

And anybody can find it

And buy it for cheap

This is AADA, and I’m Craig Burgess

PLAY MID SONG

Creativity is weird that way

That it can sometimes be readily available

And other times

Absolutely impossible to find

Creativity can’t be controlled

It can’t be summoned on command like the other skills you already possess

If somebody says

What’s 2 plus 2

You immediately work out the answer is 4

But if somebody says to you

I want you to create a piece of artwork

About the number 4

The answer either immediately popped into your head

Or you wouldn’t even know where to begin

Imagine selling your creativity professionally

It can sometimes be a difficult skill to harness on command

Some days I’ll turn up creatively

And some days I know my creativity has gone for a walk

But I still need to summon up the ideas

The thing that usually separates a seasoned creative

From a young inexperienced one

Is the ability to use techniques to summon the mysterious power of creativity

When it isn’t readily available

It might sound easy

The job of a designer

Just sitting drawing stuff all day

But the pressure is actually much greater than that

Most people get to enjoy their creativity when the mood strikes

But professional creatives, people like designers

Have to learn to turn it on like a tap when it’s necessary

So because of that the pressure is quite high to perform

When you tell people you’re a designer

Or a member of any other creative pursuit

They expect you to be creative

To be different to them in some way

I guess in a way that might be true

That we’re wired up different, and think slightly differently

I think it’s possible that creatives might think slightly differently

But I don’t buy the right brain, left brain paradigm

I believe anybody can learn to become more systems focused

Or anybody can learn to become more creative

I think the environment that you put a human being in

Largely dictates their level of creativity

Children are by default creative

And as creativity is often seen as a childish concept

As we get older and older

We get more of the child pushed out of us, and forced way

Creative people are the people who fought back against that push

And survived out of the other side to continue their childish pursuit of creativity

Being creative is an act to be admired, not vilified or devalued

Having said all that, I don’t want to put creativity on too high of a pedestal

I do genuinely believe creativity is a skill that can be learned

Sure, some people might be more naturally adept at being creative

But anybody can be taught to be creative

Just by being exposed to the act of being creative

Maybe I’ll talk about that one day soon

OUTRO

This was Ask a Designer Anything. I’m Craig Burgess.

Music featured in this episode was...