keys to staying inspired
I have read countless articles about getting out of the "creative funk" (if you can call it that). I have read even MORE articles on ways to "stay" creative, as if genuine, authentic creativity is something that just randomly comes and goes. I am one to believe that creativity, in the truly creative, is something that is as constant as breathing. AND I am not sure about you, but there are very few times during any one day or month that I need to be resuscitated. INSPIRED? Now that's a different story. Inspiration is indeed random. Some days may leave you feeling more inspired than others, however your ability to be creative is a constant. In-fact I can bet that in any given day you are creative HUNDREDS of times (100 or more), in various ways. You may carry on a conversation where you are creative with words, you may give an alternate idea or solution to an existing problem... Something, will spill out of a creative person at least 100 times a day... HECK!! Maybe a thousand (okay I am stretching it...)
SO what are the key's to staying I N S P I R E D ... That should be what we, as creatives, designers, should be looking at. Do NOT!!! OR should I say... BE CAREFUL about dwarfing your creativity... You are creative, you will always be creative, period. INSPIRED? Ummmmmm... Questionable.
Five easy ways to be (or get) inspired ...
1. Be quiet. Stop rallying for ideas. It's when you are quite and really THINKING that you get inspired (most of the time)
2. Be still. Stop running around looking for ideas. Ideas (really good ones, authentic ones) are not the products of you running around looking for them. This often causes you to replicate or build upon the things that you have come across ...
3. Observe. Start looking around more. Find the real problems, and start thinking about real solutions. Rather it be a visual challenge, social challenge OR organizational challenge, YOUR ability to observe and formulate creative solutions (there's that word again... "creative") is paramount!
4. Listen. Observation with your ears. Listen to what people are talking about ... WHAT are the issues? What's really going on? GET INSPIRED by the R E A L problems ad get even MORE inspired about finding a solution... Creating one.
5. Experiment. Do something OR say something totally insane. Often, inspiration can come from opposing forces... Speak up in a conversation that you have a distinctly different perspective about, you will be amazed at the responses (observe... listen..) and THIS type of inspiration can be HUGE. DO something, experiment with a poster, a movement, a cause and see what types of reactions emerge... Reactions = Inspiration.


