21 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Survive Creative Highs and Lows
Turning ideas into products is an emotional and financial roller coaster.
How ThoughtMatter helped an arts centre find its way in a new neighbourhood
When arts centre Tacoma Arts Live moved to a new area, a brand refresh and new wayfinding were urgently needed. Design studio ThoughtMatter explains how it went about it.
Designing the Designers for a More Regenerative Future
Why I am launching The Design School for Beautiful Business
Why clients often undervalue graphic design (and how to persuade them otherwise)
Many clients don’t fully appreciate what graphic designers can offer them. Leading practitioners explain why and offer advice on the way forward.
Showcasing illustration work: how to create your best portfolio
Putting together samples of your work for art directors, editors, and others might sound straightforward, but many illustrators find it anything but. We share some tips from the Creative Boom community on presenting your illustrations in the best possible light.
A great article about my pal Kevin Brady and Highway 9 Consulting
How to Be Creative on Demand
Creativity feels like an inexplicable miracle when it arrives. We may never be able to isolate all the variables that generate it. But there are ways to reliably create the conditions to make creativity a more predictable occurrence. The first thing you should do is think about the problem you’re trying to solve — let it marinade — and then walk away from it. This first round of effort is less about solving the problem than about priming the pump. It is after this step that the unconscious work begins — the work that draws from a fuller complement of mental resources, experiences, and creative connections. While that problem sits in the back of your mind, follow your curiosity. The key is to pay the price to create a rich experience with these sometimes pointless amusements. It’s often tempting to ignore these whimsical thoughts, but you do so at your creative peril. Begin collecting and organizing the experiences and information you’re taking in. Try to do something that doesn’t interest you daily — you never know what will turn out to be useful, including engaging in uncomfortable conversations. Finally, when the creativity hits, stop what you’re doing and work. Honor these moments by writing; don’t ignore these impulses.
An Instagram post on DJ Stout