Creative Mornings
It is the end of the 1st week of my 6th quarter. I’ve been a terrible blogger, but considering this is my first blog I feel entitled to a little leniency. Maybe not. So what has been going on since the last time I wrote? I’ve successfully completed (at least on paper), my 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th quarter at Portfolio Center. Wow.
Why pick up the blog again after almost a year of absence? I feel like I need to start writing. Writing is an extremely important part of the creative process. The past couple quarters, we have been given assignments that are based on a personal story. The projects become successful when you are able to articulate your story into a few sentences to better define your execution. I found myself struggling to put down the words that I needed to say. So, now, maybe, possibly, this blog could help me work through that struggle.
The past month, I had the opportunity to attend the very first Creative Mornings lecture in Atlanta. If you aren’t familiar with Creative Mornings, it is a breakfast lecture series. It doesn’t last very long, but it is a chance for a group of creative people to drink coffee and listen to a person from the creative community. The first lecture in Atlanta was by Sid Mashburn. Sid, to put it simply and not do him justice, owns a men’s store. He has played top roles at Ralph Lauren, J. Crew and Lands End. I love this quote, pulled from his website:
Our inspiration draws from Gordon Parks and Steve McQueen, from Charlie Feathers to Belle & Sebastian, from the 1971 BMW 3.0CS to the BMW 5 diesel station wagon — a fresh interpretation of old standards.
Our role is to serve… to help men navigate the uncertainty of their wardrobe choices. We are not just offering the perfect suit, socks, or sweater; we are providing a sense of security, confidence and joy in the wearing of them. We want to help men to be properly dressed and properly served… clothed and in their right mind.
Besides hugging people with your eyes, one thing, that stuck with me, is how he said creativity is a team sport. I think that is completely true. Collaboration is a massive part of my creative process these days, especially at Portfolio Center. I’m surrounded by amazing minds and talented individuals who are always willing to lend a hand. I’ve had the opportunity to work with extraordinary photographers, copywriters, craftsmen, designers and illustrators. Allowing other people to give their point of view is vital to the success of my projects. Whether it is asking an old friend what they think about Atlanta or standing in front of a critique panel, it is all part of the creative process.
Often, around school, I see people who seem intimidated by collaborating. They have never worked with a photographer before or they might not know how to direct an illustrator. I’ve found that just jumping in and asking questions along the way is the easiest way to get over that fear. Not only do you get the unique perspective of another person on your project, but you learn a new process. One of the greatest things about design is perpetual learning. Each project presents something new to learn. Milton Glaser said:
I go to work every morning with the possibility that I might learn something I don’t already know. . . . If you look at a problem as an opportunity to show what you already know, it’s useless. You should look at every problem and think, “What can I learn by doing this?” And if you think you can learn nothing, forget about doing it.
Coming from personal experience, as a creative person, you don’t progress when you aren’t learning. It gets really boring, really fast. If you aren’t moving forward, “forget about doing it”.
