UX/ product former architectural designer writing about building a creative practice in modern times
How Heuristics Drive the Creative Process
In the creative field, the ability to make quick, effective decisions is critical. Big ones, small ones — every decision could impact the outcome of your project. As such, creative professionals must develop their arsenal to navigate the never-ending path of decisions toward their desired destination. Enter heuristics — The simple mental shortcuts that guide our choices through recognizable patterns. By enabling us to make better choices, faster, heuristics are a powerful ally in a creative p...
How Heuristics Drive the Creative Process
In the creative field, the ability to make quick, effective decisions is critical. Big ones, small ones — every decision could impact the outcome of your project. As such, creative professionals must develop their arsenal to navigate the never-ending path of decisions toward their desired destination. Enter heuristics — The simple mental shortcuts that guide our choices through recognizable patterns. By enabling us to make better choices, faster, heuristics are a powerful ally in a creative p...
Go Beyond Just Knowing Your Audience. Connect with Them.
Recently, I read Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, it offers a brilliant perspective on creativity from a music producer who’s worked with many of the great musical legends. Rubin believes all art comes from a personal connection with a greater source. A source we are all connected to.The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, image is author’s copy of the bookWhile there’s truth to this, I believe an intimate connection with an audience still remains a critical source of direction and insp...
Go Beyond Just Knowing Your Audience. Connect with Them.
Recently, I read Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, it offers a brilliant perspective on creativity from a music producer who’s worked with many of the great musical legends. Rubin believes all art comes from a personal connection with a greater source. A source we are all connected to.The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, image is author’s copy of the bookWhile there’s truth to this, I believe an intimate connection with an audience still remains a critical source of direction and insp...
Creative work doesn’t happen in a vacuum — Make the most of your feedback opportunities
Quality work does not happen in a vacuum, especially creative work. It’s usually the result of great collaborations and a great deal of feedback.Direct feedback cyclesIn Malcolm Gladwell’s acclaimed book Outliers, he illustrates that many top performers accrued 10,000 hours of practice while receiving tons of feedback. While the 10,000-hour rule — the idea that top performers put in 10,000 hours of practice to become great — is a gross simplification, there are important lessons to pull from ...
Creative work doesn’t happen in a vacuum — Make the most of your feedback opportunities
Quality work does not happen in a vacuum, especially creative work. It’s usually the result of great collaborations and a great deal of feedback.Direct feedback cyclesIn Malcolm Gladwell’s acclaimed book Outliers, he illustrates that many top performers accrued 10,000 hours of practice while receiving tons of feedback. While the 10,000-hour rule — the idea that top performers put in 10,000 hours of practice to become great — is a gross simplification, there are important lessons to pull from ...
Losing the Steam to Keep Going? You Need a Worthwhile North Star
“If you don’t know what port your sailing towards, no wind is favorable. “ ― SenecaNorth Star (Midjourney generated)The journey of creating great work is not easy, a North Star helps to endure the inevitable challenges and obstacles. But people don’t stumble upon their North Star, they shape it. This lesson is captured well by Angela Duckworth in her seminal book Grit. She gives an example of Seattle Seahawks Head Coach, Pete Caroll, and his guiding life philosophy. Coach Carroll’s life philo...
Losing the Steam to Keep Going? You Need a Worthwhile North Star
“If you don’t know what port your sailing towards, no wind is favorable. “ ― SenecaNorth Star (Midjourney generated)The journey of creating great work is not easy, a North Star helps to endure the inevitable challenges and obstacles. But people don’t stumble upon their North Star, they shape it. This lesson is captured well by Angela Duckworth in her seminal book Grit. She gives an example of Seattle Seahawks Head Coach, Pete Caroll, and his guiding life philosophy. Coach Carroll’s life philo...
The Power of Obsession: Harness Your Inner Drive for Success
Bob Dylan performance in NYC in 1963When Bob Dylan arrived in NYC he spent long hours days on end in the New York Public Library. He was mostly reading accounts of life in the 1800s, more specifically, the Civil War. Why? Because he wanted to know what life was like then and how this country got through an era where society was torn at the seams. What were people talking about? What were there day to day concerns? Most importantly, how did people talk and what was the language? When living in...
The Power of Obsession: Harness Your Inner Drive for Success
Bob Dylan performance in NYC in 1963When Bob Dylan arrived in NYC he spent long hours days on end in the New York Public Library. He was mostly reading accounts of life in the 1800s, more specifically, the Civil War. Why? Because he wanted to know what life was like then and how this country got through an era where society was torn at the seams. What were people talking about? What were there day to day concerns? Most importantly, how did people talk and what was the language? When living in...
