white space creativity
DESCRIPTION
In visual arts and graphic design, white space is fundamental to allowing a creation to exist, by creating delineation and focus. Similarly, in our lives, creativity often sprouts from the "white space" of time: the moments in our increasingly busy schedules between activities and thoughts that allow the subconscious to better absorb and connect information. Clearly, in order to be more creative, we need to open up this "in-between" space in our lives, but once we've done so, how can we best capitalize upon the brain's natural creative capacities? In this talk, we'll explore several counter-intuitive and potentially subversive methods for leveraging this "white space" to foment innovative thinking creative productivity.TRANSCRIPT
white space
Skissernas Museum ∙ University of Lund Lund, Sweden∙ 6 November 2013
Denise R. Jacobs
@denisejacobs
#skissernasmuseum
#whitespacreate
My own blocks caused me to binge-create
But I was still afraid: am I truly creative?
Photo: Denise Jacobs
After writing this…
I had an epiphany
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44085287@N05/4055814772/
In terms of
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4771136128/
We ALL hold the power
http://www.flickr.com/photos/assbach/267598910/
It’s highly valued
http://business.time.com/2013/04/26/the-time-creativity-poll/
I’ve decided it’s my life work
Photo: Derek Kearney
THE CANVAS The State of the Create
What’s our most important tool for creating?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ogil/1507585665/
Precisely.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APSM_V14_D495_Side_view_of_the_brain_and_spinal_cord.jpg
Time
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33909700@N02/3159761620/
Attention
http://www.flickr.com/photos/copperfeesh/147493122/
Focus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambdachialpha/203904103/
However, what happens is this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7693102@N07/2536807562/
And you run
http://royhoes.deviantart.com/art/Out-of-Inspiration-85588391
Can’t access all of your great ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8156999698/
When we are in the creative flow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfear/289257055/
We are alchemists
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Faust_image_19thcentury.jpg
Creativity is newness produced.” - Sir Ken Robinson, Out of Our Minds
It feels like
http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/2761300969/
Creativity is magical, but it is not magic.” - Dr. Charles Limb, Your Brain on Improvisation TED talk
NEGATIVE SPACE Perception & Lies
It starts early
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barretthall/3036598475/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/3135103537/
Age 6
Dad
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
Mother & Sister
Photo: Deloria Jacobs Photos: Deloria Jacobs
Me? A graphic artist
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
Age 10
Oldest friend in the world
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
Age 12
Camp Whip-poor-will
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
My genetic heritage
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
Mom: 5’11 Dad: 6’3
Taller than everyone, all the time
Age 24
Happy graduation! Now what?
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
First airplane ride!
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
Internalized the critical voices
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeapalooza/553545517/
These lies that we tell ourselves
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emayoh/4589881812/
Leave parts of us paralyzed and imprisoned
http://www.flickr.com/photos/b3ni/2990601183/
Adds up
GIVE & TAKE Creativity and Power
Power
Afraid?
Photo: Denise Jacobs
We’re powerful
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89927155@N00/2144275209/
Overwhelmed
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freeflyer09/7574540716/
Instead of using it fully
http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/3310336516/
Try to contain it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gc_photography/4662878037/
We give our power away
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6D-O5ECr5EUow5jrck2A2A
NOISE & CLUTTER Distracting Complications.
Internal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boojee/4457378697/
Look outside ourselves
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtcatbagan/1557200142/
Distractions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/generated/2084287794/
Addicted to hyperconnectivity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andersdenken/2082816707/
Intermittent reinforcement
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jepoirrier/422469526/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristoferbjorkman/6910216819/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignoffice/2671039488/
Unclosed mental loops
http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/Zeigarnik_Effect
Hyperconnectivity gives us the perception of getting more done. It makes us feel like we're doing more, because we're using every free moment of every waking hour.” - Jonathan Fields
Unleash it?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanekemp/6152286326/
Multiple places at once
http://www.flickr.com/photos/figliodiorfeo/2393269886/
Bored =
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
Seeking distraction/entertainment
http://www.flickr.com/photos/modenaroid/4103509077/
Something else
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djgarage/3680441291/in/photostream/
The in-between
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aguslepe/5512044294/
Allows creativity to blossom
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beigephotos/16139685/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/beigephotos/16139686/
Genius is the offspring of the in-between.” - Jonathan Fields
CLARITY Changing Focus
Maximize
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cblue98/7254347346/
A balanced brain
http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=left%20brain%20right%20brain&order=9&offset=48#/d10qlpq
Integrate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47691521@N07/4639590640/
Neurons firing well
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorelei-ranveig/2294885580/
Know your Brainwaves
Alpha: the gateway to creativity
Spacing out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frinthy/4680321558/
Daydream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzzylittlemanpeach/4633972431/
Mindless activity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabi/2499381396/
Being prone
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snazzy54/4581347651/
Showers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/3761878381/
Get physical
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguel77/2728104156/
Breathe to refocus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guiniveretoo/1573049301/
Laughing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wickenden/3644297054/
Playing/Fun
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkendall/3613416741/
When you are playful, you are activating the right side of your brain. The logical brain is a limited brain. The right side is unlimited. You can (do and ) be anything you want.” - Madan Kataria, The Laughter Guru
Instead of this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielsilliman/4489863368/
Intend Alpha
http://uniteunderfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Brain-waves.jpg
When your brain is supposedly doing nothing, it’s really doing a tremendous amount.” – Marcus Raichle, Neurologist
THE INVISIBLE Aid from the Unseen
Sometimes dabbling in mysticism can be a fun way to understand and solve a problem.” - Carl King, So You’re a Creative Genius, Now What?
Natalie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barretthall/3036598475/
From the mind of a 4yo
Photo courtesy of Laura Bohill (@LauRARbee)
A little help from (imaginary) friends
Travel our internal lands
http://archivingthecity.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/maps_of_the_imagination.jpg
Your subconscious
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Themuse.jpg
One form of a genius…
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Albert_Einstein%2C_by_Doris_Ulmann.jpg
Another form of a genius
Daemon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babel_fish_(The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy)#Babel_fish
Muses
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:NAMA_3_Muses.jpg
Mneme – Memory Melete – Practice or occasion Aoide – Voice
The Three Original Muses
Muses were thought to be the true speakers for whom an artist is merely the mouthpiece. Muses were also thought to inspire people to do their best.
Mneme (Memory)
Photo: Denise Jacobs
Melete (Practice/Occasion)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayray/4069381837/
Aoide (Voice)
Photo: Denise Jacobs
The spirit of the idea
http://www.flickr.com/photos/generated/3152875826/
Ideas want to take form
The world is being circled by ideas and creativity that wants to made manifest and are looking for portals to come through…” - Elizabeth Gilbert
Ideas use us (not vise-versa)
Listen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theory/3193684688/
Converse
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tojosan/181249465/
Trust is everything.” - Scott Berkun, The Year Without Pants
Voila!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bohman/174718774/
CHOOSE How will you move forward?
The choice is yours
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasoneppink/80772661/
How you use your creative brain power
“Untitled” by Americo Morales
Creative flow lies in-between
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgeithner/5290115839/
True.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stealingsand/5563317146/
Reclaim our power
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8216666102/
Value yourself, ideas, and process
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pocait/2847866615/
Moving forward
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/6005503875/
Creativity makes day to day experiences more vivid, more enjoyable, more rewarding. When we live creatively, boredom is banished and every moment holds the promise of a fresh discovery.” - Mihali Csikszentmihalyi, Creativity
Leverage white space
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdoublew/2663137942/
The End…?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imuttoo/232100469/
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Resources!
netmagazine.com/features/ four-secrets-enhancing-creative-productivity alistapart.com/articles/ reigniting-your-creative-spark/ alistapart.com/articles/ banishing-your-inner-critic/
My articles for further reading
Art & Inspiration: Americo Morales
“Untitled 1” Mind map AmericoMorales.net
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