Creative Outlets

More than just one discipline...

Remaining solely focused on your design discipline can make you exceptional at your craft. This very focus, and attention to detail can propel you to new heights in your career. However, a singular creative endeavour can encapsulate us within the box that we fear the most.

As a creative person you probably have several creative interest in addition to your main creative focus. For example, you may be an architect, but also enjoy cooking, drawing, photography, dancing, and a plethora of other engagements. These extra creative engagements may not be your focal point, but they are an extension of your unique capabilities. Neglecting these small outlets may actually dampen your main endeavor in the long-run.

Is Vibrancy a thing?

Wait... there's more colors than grey???

Have you ever noticed how American cities seem to lack rich colors? Colors meaning surfaces that are not advertisements (sorry Times Square). If you visit historical structures, you will notice the eye-catching designs that inhibit the interior of the building. Considering the fragility of art, it is a wonder how these structures survived the rapidly changing world around them. Buildings like these are sooo profound that hundreds of years later they become a tourist attractions.

Our modern designed buildings are focused on simplicity. This can be especially useful when featuring works of art. However, if you go into a corporate office, you’ll realize that the picture on the wall is no more than a print out with a frame. How will our buildings be appreciated in the future? Will they appear as a monolithic architectural theme of our time? Aside from the museums, what can we point to in the present day, other than a few buildings that may have a unique shape? As a designer, there is an inherent responsibility to push through the trend. We are at a turning point where we need to take that responsibility to heart.

When is the project finished?

Projects and designers share a love-hate relationship, but it's necessary.

Working on a design project can be both joyous and frustrating. Through trial and error, I believe a design project has 3 main components that characterize the design process.

1. Early Excitement

When you begin a project, you can be overcome with a rush of energy. Your mind can begin generating ideas, and the possibilities may seem endless! At this stage you are putting pen to paper (or screen), with a certain feeling of freedom.

2. Repetitive failure

At this stage you begin to form your main idea. Your design begins to enter an applicable reality. However, towards the middle of this step you begin to approach the tall, beautiful rectangle called the creative wall. The main idea is formed but you begin to obsess over the small details. You may even feel like you’re in a rut. Just know that you’ll break through.

3. The Perfect Imperfection

You have finally broken though the wall! Your idea has taken form and passed the rigorous evaluation. The project you’ve worked on is ready to be presented, but you start to feel inadequacy and doubt creeping in. This is the mistake that most designers make. Remember you have put in hours of work and you should feel confident in what you have done. Your project will speak for itself.