The Creative Act: A Way of Being

To say this book was transformative would be an understatement. Having been a product designer for nearly four years now, I associated doing anything creative with work. I did not do any extra curricular learning, was not keeping up with trends, wasn’t experimenting, and felt stagnant in my design practice.

This book allowed me to look at design and creating with new eyes. It’s reminded me what it was like when I was young with coloured pencils drawing Yu-Gi-Oh and Dragon Ball Z monsters constantly. It’s not necessarily about the output, but the creation and experimentation itself. That’s the secret sauce. If I was struggling to draw a specific monster I had in my head as a kid, which happened often, I would be hyper-focused on attempting to depict what I could envision.

That’s what I’ve done with this portfolio. I don’t know how to code (yet), I have a lot to learn when it comes to animation, but I continued tinkering away and learning in the process, and I know I am a better designer for it. My ability to visualise and build the ideas I have has vastly improved, just like when I was drawing as a kid.

There are a few concepts from this book that I have really taken into my design process:

1. The beginner’s mind - Rick says that expertise can act as a creative cage for ideas, and naivety lets you see what the experienced person might miss. I am nowhere near being an expert in my field just yet, and building this portfolio has taught me so much I should have already known. Going into it with eyes wide open and experimenting has led to something I’m very proud of.
   
   

“Beginner’s mind is starting from a pure childlike place of not knowing. Living in the moment with as few fixed beliefs as possible. Seeing things for what they are as presented. Tuning in to what enlivens us in the moment instead of what we think will work. And making our decisions accordingly."

2. Making for yourself first - this one is funny as I’m building my portfolio as it might be the most audience-focused artefact imaginable. Although a lot of aspects are designed for hiring managers and specific companies, a lot of it is designed as I wanted it to - to emulate a desktop tool.

   
   

"In terms of priority, inspiration comes first. You come next. The audience comes last."

3. Nature as a source of inspiration - being an avid hiker and bird-watcher, nature is a massive source of inspiration for me. My partner and I went to Guatemala in February 26 and it was here that the fire was lit in my belly to create this portfolio (perhaps seeing Volcan de Fuego erupt was a perfect metaphor).
   
   
   

If you haven’t read this yet, I highly recommend it. It is always by my desk if I need some words of wisdom from the creative guru himself.