Page 1 of 1

My limited creativity

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:42 pm
by Todd_Z
Does anyone feel similarly?

Having been programming since middle school, the left side of my brain has nearly complete control over the right. I have limited to no creative sense, as I look at something 100% functionally, not aesthetically.

Has anyone seen a book or have thoughts about systems of creativity? How to linearly and systematically make things pleasing? I'm not only talking about color schemes, but the general usability and arrangement of a gui for example.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:44 pm
by Benjamin

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:46 pm
by Todd_Z
Yea, i've seen that around.

Apparently we're somehow comforted or attracted to the golden ratio subconsciously

Very odd

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:07 pm
by superdezign
I'd like to believe that you cannot learn creativity, though you can develop your creative talents.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:00 pm
by alex.barylski
I don't think creativity is the word I would use. I believe I am quite creative, just in a technical sense. Artistic on the other hand, is something I am not, likely due to years as a pragmatic software developer.

I don't think you can train yourself to be artistic, like you can programming. You either have wat it takes or you don't. Because there are no hard or fast ways to draw something, create music, etc, it's something you simply do because of passion. People either like it or they don't.

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:12 pm
by Todd_Z
ah crap :D

thanks for squashing my hopes :?

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:14 pm
by superdezign
Hockey wrote:I don't think you can train yourself to be artistic, like you can programming. You either have wat it takes or you don't. Because there are no hard or fast ways to draw something, create music, etc, it's something you simply do because of passion. People either like it or they don't.
I don't draw or make music due to passion. :P
The closest to that is poetry, but all of mine is to make a point.

Unless money is passion. ;)

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:52 am
by MrPotatoes
i'm half and half. i think it's what makes me great at what i do. i also think it's what frustrates me in most co-workers.

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:10 am
by JayBird
MrPotatoes wrote:i'm half and half. i think it's what makes me great at what i do. i also think it's what frustrates me in most co-workers.
Ditto Image

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:22 am
by matthijs
Creativity is for the biggest part something you are born with or not. So if you have absolutely no creativity you will never become a Rembrand or picasso :) And you might not win the next web design award.

However, I don't think that a limited creativity is a major problem in web development/design.
First of all, you can improve your creativity. Buy a sketch book and start drawing every day. Secondly, being creative is only a small part in web design. Too often the very creative websites are very difficult to use. Many 'creative' full-flash sites with hidden navigation come to my mind. A boring website, but one which adheres to the general best practices (usability rules etc) might be less pleasing to the eye but much more successful.

And, you can always leave the real creative work to the professionals. Hire a graphic designer to design some concepts and/or brand/logo/colors and do the website building yourself.

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:35 am
by Todd_Z
So i guess theres no "teach yourself creativity in 24 hours" or "creativity for the absolute beginner"

Shucks.

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:42 am
by Benjamin
Well there is science and math behind complimentary colors at least.

Re: My limited creativity

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 1:47 pm
by ReverendDexter
Todd_Z wrote:How to linearly and systematically make things pleasing?
That's not being creative, that's trying to make creativity a logical process.

The only way to redevelop your creativity, much like programming, is to go out and do it. You're not going to be able to get it from a book. Find some way to create expression, and the less logical the better :) Don't get discouraged by your early attempts. Sometimes you have to have some structure to be creative within. If you're musical at all, try experimenting with blues. Very simple pattern, (I, IV, V progression), that you can do all sorts of crazy stuff with. Try drawing. If you're no good at it, just draw stick figures and put them in interesting situations

And if everything else fails, just go smoke some pot ;) (j/k, I'd never suggest the use of illegal or illicit substances... o_0)