How do you define creativity?
I don’t think about creativity in terms of a definition. Creativity is something that is both simple and incredibly complex. I believe that every human is inherently creative and can express that creativity in many contexts and forms.
To me, the ultimate form of creativity and learning is play. When we play, we are in a state of flow. We are then open to learn, try things out, form new perspectives, wonder why things are the way they are, and execute “what if” scenarios.
Kids do this naturally. Grown-ups stop being creative because they’re immersed in society and work, which often squashes creativity.
I have been lucky to have grown up not being constrained by trying things out. I’ve been able to keep a lifelong philosophy and practice of experimentation and play. This is ultimately why I align with Messier’s mission. Motivating people to tap into this powerful human ability is a very worthy thing to pursue.
I also think about creativity as a verb. Creativity is to create. I tend to be more energized by the process of creation than the result. Creativity is a never-ending cycle of questioning, conceiving, making and improving things. Not necessarily in that order.
Preparing to create is just as important as the act of creation. Setting up our space along with our tools supports our creativity. The preparation can be a set of non creative actions, but can be creative on its own.
I have prototyped digital interactivity and coded generative graphics. I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out logical things to create playful tools in code to play with the outcomes. Coding became a brush that became key in my creation process.
A few weeks ago, my daughter and I painted a large Vasarely painting on a wall in my home studio. The act of preparing it together and then recreating the art work was fun and allowed us to appreciate what went into such an original creation.
What type of creative practice do you have? What do you do to "get creative"?
In my day job as a design director in tech, I work with many designers and individuals in other disciplines. Designers are inherently creative, but ironically designers are not always flexible or open enough in their thinking or exploration (we’re only human, after all). Part of my role is to ask clarifying or provocative questions and offer thought starters to alternative solutions. The goal is to create and improve solid solutions to challenging problems.
I also listen a lot in my work. It’s not unusual that I’m doodling during those moments, especially in a group setting. While in a classical sense this might be considered as being distracted or bored, the opposite is often true. Making notes is proven to activate the brain; doodling is the same.
When it comes to my creative practice, I allow myself to act on what feels right in the moment. I tend to be someone who thrives in ambiguity, context switching, and having quite a few balls up in the air at the same time. It’s a certain kind of restfulness that makes me feel productive and can be good for creativity. It’s also healthy in terms of not taking things too seriously for too long. The good stuff tends to bubble up to the surface or stick naturally this way.
That said, focus is what’s needed to get in a state of creative flow. Enforcing creativity is often about starting to try things out. We all need to get over the “blank page” problem. We need to start somewhere. It’s not important what it is, it’s more important that the first step leads to the next step and we respond to whatever comes through. It’s important to consider different versions, iterate, mix versions, and play with options towards a result. Over time, we develop skills which on their own tap into creativity, because when our ability to make something expands, it also expands the possibilities.
When I was in art school, I built digital experiences around a conference on “Play,” which was organized by the Doors of Perception in Amsterdam. One of the speakers was Bruce Mau, whose talk was reading out loud his manifesto for growth.
I loved the content and the way it was presented. I ended up taking the manifesto statements and creating a playful interactive toy to listen to it.
It’s a great set of advice on how to grow, which also includes actionable things to get creative. A simple thing like “take a walk outside” can clear our thinking and get us unstuck. Walks aren’t the only way we can get creative. I tend to be creative in my thinking when I’m on a bike. I often stop when riding alone to make notes, so I don’t lose the thought.
How has creativity been important in your professional work? How about personally?
I am where I am largely because of creativity and craft (i.e. developing skills to make things). I allow myself to make creative thoughts tangible and through doing that have become more creative. Creativity and craft requires us to take ideas and make them real.
What's something important for people to know about creativity?
Is there anything you would change about how creativity is perceived or how to get into a creative mindset?It’s not unusual that non-creative professionals confuse creativity with craft. Crafting can be a creative process. Crafting something can be done without being creative. Creating can be done without craft.
Most importantly, creativity is a mindset. It’s a way to be open to new things and act on it.
Creativity is not about beautiful aesthetics or high quality. Seeing others' results can be incredibly intimidating and become a hurdle to start. Instead, seeing how something was created, including the struggles, can be much more motivating. Creating based on what wants to come through, versus worrying about how others might perceive it, is also important.
We would also love to hear what excites you about being a Messier advisor. How does the company's mission align with your own values? How do you see Messier benefiting individuals (and companies)?
When I’m in the flow of creating, I feel whole as a person. Helping to create a platform and tools to motivate and guide people to experience what is such an important part of life – being creative – is the ultimate drive to being involved with Messier.
I’m also a big believer that this is part science, part art. Figuring out the tools and stepping stones to get creative and improve well-being is a very worthy use of time and energy.
A lot of things are solvable if we are more open to things, see things from other perspectives and allow ourselves the creative process to iterate and shift toward different or better results. The Messier platform has the potential to contribute to this higher goal.
