Will be posting quite a lot of things here especially things which may or may not make sense to you.
Ok I am gonna do a little trivia now. ( It's a lot actually... )
i) What is Imagination/Creativity? (Please provide your own definition, write down as much as you know about these terms. How do they relate to design? Has your conception of creativity changed since coming into SD?
Imagination is the creation of space inside our mind. How big is that space? No one knows, but it seems that there is a limit to it. While using imagination, we are thinking. We are collating all the experiences and memories and manipulate them into
something "new" and "never-before seen ". Why do I say that? We've definitely experienced our imagined products before, one way or another. For example, if you say you have just imagined a walking chair, you've just combined things like a regular chair and legs together. The visuals in your mind is set. It has a motion that you have seen before somewhere. It is part of your knowledge.You cannot say it can XXXX because you have not experienced or known XXXX before.Thus, imagination
does have a limit and it is the knowledge that we currently possess. It is just a form of manipulation of knowledge created in an instant.
It definitely relates to design. In fact, imagination is what makes design. Using different experience from different situations to adapt to one's living condition or an area's living condition ; to change people's life using your knowledge. Imagination is a designer's best weapon. They say a pen is mightier than a sword. But to a designer, his imagination is greater than the strongest of weapons ; because he can always have ideas to modify the weapon even more!
My concept of creativity and imagination have not changed. Why? Because from long before, I've already drawn my inspiration from the number one designer of all time and realms : God! :D But coming to SP have indeed helped me greatly by increasing my knowledge. Knowledge is like ammo for the mind.( METAPHOR ) With more knowledge, I can imagine more.And thus create more.
ii) Do you think you are creative? Why/Not? Please explain in more detail (reflect on your creative process in Sem 1 while going through the Common Foundation courses) to answer this.
Hmm good question. Yes I think that I am creative, in fact not only me. All humans who have a mind IS creative. Even by thinking, we are creative ; because we create scenarios in our mind. But I think the main question is, HOW creative am I? Upon reflecting the CF period, I find myself not as creative as I think I could be.
Maybe it's due to the immense workload. Creativity needs space itself, it's an irony.
But with so little time and so many work, my brain gets tired easily. Now not to complain or anything, but it is a fact that too much work kills creativity. Its like
having lactic acid in my brain or something, but I just cannot produce quality thinking.
During most of my projects, I realise that I just wanted to finish it quickly. Just in case I could not make it in time. Everything seems so half done that even I am not happy with what I am doing. However I make it a point to keep my style even if the lecturers sometimes object to my suggestions. It is like my signature. Fear kills creativity. If I don't try what I like and conform to EVERYTHING, then why am I going to be a designer anyway? However it is important to accept sugestions too. Be like a good sponge; one that can absorb all the knowledge, and also filter all the unwanted stuff. This is my creative process.
iii) What were the last 3 creative things you did? Describe in some detail, and provide criteria why it was creative. If you have not done anything creative recently, please say more about why that is so.
1) Making my very own "Environmental Awareness Ad" using my photo from the DCMD trip
to kuantan.
I find it creative because I used irony and contrast / highlight. In a way, using indirect means
to convey a message to the public to not litter. It's ironic how the Season's ice lemon tea is found by the Sea itself when it is supposed to be in the dustbin. I highlighted the "Sea" and used magic wand tool to retain the blue part of the sea to create the irony, just incase the "Sea" itself is not obvious enough. Creativity comes with a huge risk. If no one laughs, that's it.
2) I made a "poster" for my friend, depicting the society and whether we should conform to it, or make it a better place for everyone.
He sitting on the floor itself is a sign of not conforming, and the highlight and blur effect just adds on to the contrast.
3) Bringing out the emotions of my photo in black and white. ( From Kuantan yet again )
I really like how the image is composed. Realise all the dogs in the background are either looking
down or are looking depressed. And then there is this contrast of emotions ( not colour ) of the leader dog in the foreground with the others. The leader dog looks hopeful amongst the rest.
It's as if they are some beggars on the street, but the leader never gave up hope.
I've also realised from this editing that sometimes, colours are not the decorative part. Instead, it distracts us from the focus of pure emotion itself. Taking out the colours from this photo really gives it a different feel.
iv) Do you think Creativity can be taught/and learned? Why/Not?
Creativity definitely can be learned and thought. You can learn it, but you cannot be taught it. Creativity comes from oneself. Pershaps through teaching, more knowledge will be gained. Like whta I've said before, the knowledge is the ammo, you've gotta fire the weapon yourself.
v) What is your general gameplan for improving your Creativity? Please explain some possible goals and directions you have in mind. How can this class help you specifically.
My general gameplan for improving Creativity is to be bold. Experiment on all sorts of crazy ideas and not stereotype anything. Be open in mind. In summary, be a good sponge that can absorb all things; and at the same time able to squeeze out all the unnecessary stuff at the right time. ( eg, doing a project for a client )
I am looking forward to discover more of myself and gain more knowledge from this DCC class. I
am planning to do freelance photography if I am free in the future ( to fund for my camera lens... T_T), and explore the other mediums of design like filming. I am currently doing a collaboration project with one of my friend, putting digital painting, photography and filming together. Hopefully it will be a success and become part of my portfolio.
