How To Find Your Creative Idea
Original Article posted by Efi Kabak on Muzli
We think, research, ignore, sleep, decide, and eventually, at one point design. But where the magic happens? How do we get the so-called creative idea?
As artists and designers, we have a pattern that we habitually follow but don’t know what really is and how to control it.
After reading the 1926 classic, The Art of Thought, from Graham Wallas, the way I look at this process has completely changed. Most importantly, the outcome has changed.
Let’s clear this off before we go into the process.
Thinking out of the box is a lie, you can’t think of anything if you don’t know what is inside the box.
To have an idea, you have to find what is inside the box, walk around the box, and then look out of it.
So, let’s spill the beans.
1.Preparation: Stay inside the box.
Let your mind prepare for the creative journey, have everything in one place, lay it down on the desk. Study each detail you catch, and don’t leave anything out. Turn yourself into an inspector and investigate every clue.
It doesn’t matter if your project is painting a portrait, designing a logo, or buying a pen. Everything you gather in this phase will help you to shape your idea flawlessly. Get your hands dirty, and be the operator later
2.Incubation: Get away from the box:
Once you gather everything — literally everything in your mind — get it out of the zone. Leave it for a while. Do anything you wish that’s not connected to the project. You can take a walk, have a shower, or even baking a banana bread could help. It’s like opening a new tab on your computer, let the work stay in the background. Your subconscious will do the job. Most importantly, don’t think this phase as procrastination and believe in the process. As in the words of T.S. Eliot;
‘’We do not know until the shell breaks what kind of egg we have been sitting on.’’
T.S Eliot on idea on creativity
3.Illumination: The Magical moment.
This is the time when you’ll shout, “I GOT IT.” An instant moment, you get something out of nowhere. Meet your idea, be kind, as Elizabeth Gilbert says,
‘’ Our Planet is inhabited not only by animals, plants, viruses, and bacteria but also by ideas.’’
Your idea is out there waiting for you.
4.Verification: The last look at the box.
How you shaped your idea is as essential as getting the idea. It is now time to judge the box. Does it still make sense to you? If yes, you achieved what we call the creative approach. If not, feel free to blame your new friend, Idea, and prepare yourself for the next adventure.
