Creativity and the Magic of the Process

by Blog

Creativity is often messy, but it doesn’t have to be. My best ideas come when I’m able to follow a creative process, a structure that allows my creativity to flow through channels. These channels create constraints around my thinking allowing my ideas to be repeatable, consistent and organized.

Throughout my career my creative process has evolved with my work. I’ve found an immense amount of value in following a somewhat rigid (but ever evolving) order of operations. Here are the steps to what is the foundation of a solid creative process.

“All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself. Things occur to you. If you’re sitting around trying to dream up a great idea, you can sit there a long time before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and something else that you reject will push you in another direction.”

Alan Watts

Step #1: Better Understand the Problem

Once presented with the problem at hand, the first step is to surround yourself with potential solutions. By stimulating your brain with a mashup of other inventive ideas you’ll be able to remix them for your own purpose.

Example of this step: Perform research to gain a better understanding of how others have solved similar problems. During this step I like to create a Mood board of the styles and techniques that are a good fit for the problem I’m trying to solve.

Step #2: Find Direction & Brainstorm Ideas

During this step the goal is to piece together the most applicable information from step #1, allowing yourself to identify the correct direction of the project. While brainstorming I will often go for a walk or have a conversation with someone to provide a necessary change of pace.

Example of this step: Take a walk and avoid distraction

Step #3: Create & Iterate

Once you’ve found direction the next step is to make something. I like getting my ideas on physical paper sketching them out as they take shape. The three stages of this step are as follows:

Stage #1: Rough Draft

This is the stage where you get to start creating; sketching a layout or writing a rough draft.

Stage #2: Get a Second, Third, or Fourth Opinion

Feedback is critical. Here’s where you share your work with people that you trust to give honest, helpful feedback.

Stage #3: Iterate

Once you’ve gathered a useful amount of feedback the next stage is to iterate based on that feedback.

Step #4: Verify & Review

Once you have a near final version you should review it to make sure it hits the mark; making sure it solves the problem it sets out to solve.

Example of this step: Perform an A/B test

While sticking to a creative process requires an investment, especially at first, it leads to improved creativity, more efficiency, and better results.

Shameless Plug

At Boileau Communications, our creative process is built into everything we do. Whether it’s a Managed Website, a campaign identity, or something in between, we would love to talk to you about your next creative project.

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About the Author

Greg DeWeerd
Greg is a strategic thinker, designer and digital marketing expert with over 10 years' experience both in-house and in the agency setting. He earned his bachelor's in business from Davenport University and continued his education with design courses through Kendall College of Art and Design. In his free time, Greg likes spending time with his wife and two kids and enjoys camping, hiking and going to the beach.
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