As a parent, I am in-charge of my children. Their physical and emotional well-being. My husband and me define the direction of their moral rudder. Everything from using less water while brushing their teeth to picking up after themselves when a job is done, is a push in a particular direction. Be it lego blocks or a class project. All these little moments and tiny decisions come from a routine that is set by a parent or from emulating an adult that is around a child in their formative years. I imagine bringing up older children who may already have set ideas would be a lot more challenging.
As a creative who has worked in various industries from afashion magazine to design houses to e-commerce businesses, I have found it to be more exciting to get to develop something completely new and fresh. I got to create a template that was used for over 300 offices worldwide for an international consulting firm. I got to create a new feature as a newbie at Elle India. This opportunity allowed me to create, design, art direct and share packaging ideas and see it from concept to completion. I have created countless logos/ brands for products or services that didn’t exist before. It is challenging but so gratifying. Going into a physical or digital space and seeing the poster or packaging you created in its full glory is definitely a high.
Working with a new brand is always exciting. As a creative, I can give it a direction that I think works best. Historically I just have other brands to compare and then look as competitors. But I am free to chart new creative territory. To work with older brands (which I have in plenty as well), I need to follow brand guidelines. I have to generate ideas that best further the original thought. I can share ideas but only those that align with the existing brand will see the light of day. I come into an existing setup and play my part in furthering the story. It is often challenging and makes you question your creative freedom. Especially when you are a young creative. But it is also the best way to train yourself into understanding the brand fully. It is always a creative challenge to take on an older brand that has too much baggage, use its existing equity and present it successfully so it conveys the same message in a new way.
Working with a new brand is always exciting. As a creative, I can give it a direction that I think works best. Historically I just have other brands to compare and then look as competitors. But I am free to chart new creative territory. To work with older brands (which I have in plenty as well), I need to follow brand guidelines. I have to generate ideas that best further the original thought. I can share ideas but only those that align with the existing brand will see the light of day. I come into an existing setup and play my part in furthering the story. It is often challenging and makes you question your creative freedom. Especially when you are a young creative. But it is also the best way to train yourself into understanding the brand fully. It is always a creative challenge to take on an older brand that has too much baggage, use its existing equity and present it successfully so it conveys the same message in a new way.
As an educator, I enjoy working with students and learning from them. I have taught entry level courses to graduate level thesis classes. I have taught some to turn on the computer and some to safely use an x-acto blade for presentation boards. It is definitely easier working with those that haven't formed any bad habits or work ethics — be it "idea exploration lethargy" or "fall in love with your ideas" syndrome. My job is more effective when the student comes ready to work hard, is passionate and open to learn and push boundaries. A student that has no preconceived notions of creative concepts is much more fun to mould into an “idea machine”. You get to enjoy those light bulb moments as they take place in front of you. The satisfaction of teaching courses that have unexplored concepts give that joy. In the rigorous quarter system that I have always taught in, getting through to some is a challenge. Especially when they are set in their thought processes, work ethics and communication rhythm.
Much of what we see around in the workforce and the people we deal with in life aren't new or fresh or white as a blank canvas. We can be successful at communication, at our jobs and at friendships only when we take the time to work around a personality type or a work ethic that someone already has in place. We tap into their intelligence and resourcefulness despite their quirks. We are able to learn from what exists and build upon that. But acceptance is key. If we accept and respect differences, it becomes easier to function, communicate and be a successful team player.
Much of what we see around in the workforce and the people we deal with in life aren't new or fresh or white as a blank canvas. We can be successful at communication, at our jobs and at friendships only when we take the time to work around a personality type or a work ethic that someone already has in place. We tap into their intelligence and resourcefulness despite their quirks. We are able to learn from what exists and build upon that. But acceptance is key. If we accept and respect differences, it becomes easier to function, communicate and be a successful team player.
This is no easy task.
Which makes me wonder if this instinct needs to be nurtured a lot more. Our sometimes excessive need to have the next new version of gadgets, devices or relationships could be a sign of a generation that is always to ready to move on. One that isn't giving importance to the knowledge base gathered from experience.
In a city like Atlanta, acres of land are cleared out to build the next shopping complex and townhome units. Hundreds of years old trees have been wiped out and in place of those, new ones are planted. The ones that look oh-so-perfect on that architectural rendering of the new space. Ones that go with the design of the building structure. Developing a design that might include them is not easy and most times not cost effective. Hence, it is ignored and never accounted for. Land cleared out, animal life lost, fertile soil trucked away to a new location. This gives you a new easier beginning for sure. But you don’t get the compounded benefit of the past — ecologically, historically or culturally.
Buying the next new Halloween outfit rather than recycling what you have to make it close to what you want is not an attitude that comes naturally to many of us. It needs nurturing. It needs to be given importance. A lot of issues of overconsumption require a shift in attitude. We all have an uncle, younger cousin or childhood friend that has a specific trait or quirk that we would rather avoid. Our grown-up life does not have the mental space to navigate it. It is too much of a bother. So we spend more time with new friends instead. They fit our current life and we enjoy that for the moment. It won’t be long before they become old news too. Do we just continue to re-configure our social settings all through life? Or do we work with what we have, look on the brighter side, take in the positives and keep investing into those people/ things whose history is closely tied with ours?
As is the case with old brands, older relationships or an existing site for a new development — being able to transition it and create a new chapter in its existence is the true test of a creative mind. New friends are wonderful but polishing those old friendships can result in so much joy. Creating a solution that is original and workable despite quirks, history, personality or an awkwardly placed 200 year old oak tree is the kind of thinking that is the only thing that can extend the existence of our planet. As a mother, an educator and a designer, I sincerely hope each of us can instill that in ourselves.
