Manage a Creative space...

Managing a creative space is looking at the world around you, being inspired and finding u what inspires you.  Everyone, from people in business to designers use the world around them to motivate them. From people in business creating aims, using inspirational books and quotes, just in the same way designers may choose to stick up materials they find, images, typefaces, interesting layout etc.

Creative spaces can be your bed room, a garden, your work desk or even a lecture room at university all which are filled with inspirational images and scenes, designer’s works to get your mind sprinting of creative ideas.

I make collections of artists, illustrators, designers, sculptor’s articles from a variety of magazines, this allows me to flick though to get some inspiration or even to relate to my own work. Interlinking with, developing fluency as I will be broadening me thinking process by engaging with the different materials and images I have collected.

^a few of my collected articals of inspirational artists. A lot more in the folder! It truely is a great way of getting inspiration and interesting peices to read!

Below is the working space of the designer Danny Allison, through this image of her creative space, if we go to analyse what his work may be like I think we will definitely be able to see whether his work is inspired by her working area. The cutting mat suggests that he may do some collage work, with the incorporation of the paint, with the brushes and paints in the background. With the computer central could also suggest that his work is very much manipulated and refined also suggesting that he may be doing editorial work rather than one off pieces. We are also able to see a graphics tablet which again justifies my opinion.

After looking at his work I am defiantly able to see that he is inspired by his creative space, to do the particular things he creates.
You can see more of his images here:  http://www.dannyallison.co.uk/

Using the creative brain…

Throughout the course of any reflective visual journal people go through processes of playing, experimenting and processes of reflection and analysis. This comes unconsciously from the way our brains work, with the left and right hand side working differently yet working alongside each other to create. The right hand side of the brain can be described as the ‘child’ creating motions of creativity, experimentation and play allowing us to create different thought and ideas. The left hand side of the brain is more analytical, creating brain waves of speculation and allowing us to evaluate and interrogate pieces.

With these two processes combined we are able to focus of designers works and evaluate things/designs we may have done unconsciously, allowing us to explore and find possible structure to work. This thinking also merges into the cyclic design process with the idea that we may sketch something down (using the right hand side brain), then evaluate it and improve it (with the left hand side of the brain) rekindling the cycle of development.

I have seen that there are some apparent online ways, in which so call can ‘test your right brain and left brain to determine whether you have a creative brain or not’. But I feel that there is no way of determining whether you are creative or not everyone expresses creativity in their own ways, whether it be drawing, writing, singing, creating lyrics or through clothing etc.

One website which does it : http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/left_right/rb_test.htm

The Cyclic Design Process

The cyclic design process is a method of changes, developments and solutions. Everything which is produced consists of this design process; an initial idea is always evolved into something better. It goes through stages of development, refinement, evaluating, testing and justifications etc. The process is repeated several times, with questionings like, how can it look better? how will it look like this? what if I do change this? all developing from a first notation or a quick small sketch.

The process can be done thought sketches, brainstorms, evaluating and even prototyping, a style in which everyone can do depending on preference. Also showing that this process is done by several occupations including; designers on their designs, musicians for their music/lyrics, scientists on their creations etc.

 This cycle is carried out on things from everyday buildings and structures to advertisements, foods, toothbrushes and light bulbs. A perfect example of this cyclic design process would be of the famous Thomas Edison who designed over 10,000 prototypes of the light bulb, until he was satisfied and knew it worked. A way to think of it is not the effort which you put in and it not working but the acknowledgement of knowing you tried it and it wasn’t as good as it could be! Overall creating something improved and to be adored by several.

Not only does the cyclic design process evolve over the period one project/ brief but also happens over time; for example the development of architecture, structures, of technology, logos etc.

This example of the apple logo shows the use of the cyclic design process, with the logo evolving and developing from its initial state over time. Changing from Apples original logo; with Isaac Newton under an apple tree, to a rainbow ‘bitten apple’ silhouette concept and now to a simple, modern monochrome logo of the ‘bitten apple’ silhouette. Changing to adapt to the society and modern developments within its field and to its audience.