# creative mindsets The creative mindsets and conceptual ideas for creativity. These are not the practical [[! creative activities|creative activities]] but the motivations behind the activities. Also connect this with the section on how to [[! creative lifestyle|live as a creative person]]. A few examples to dive into: - [[active learning]] - [[curiosity]] - [[beginners mind]] - [[aimless engagement]] - [[fascination]] - [[wonder]] - humility - risk tolerance - process over product > One version of confidence is: _I've got this figured out._ Another version is: _I can figure this out._ The first is arrogant and close-minded. The second is humble and open-minded. Be humble about what you know, but confident about what you can learn. > > — James Clear ## hidden curriculum in design school (professional skills) _(thoughts on professional soft skills that might need to be on a separate page. feels relevant to the creative mindset so seems appropriate here for now.)_ I love this article from [We And The Color on the unspoken lessons in design school](https://weandthecolor.com/what-they-dont-teach-you-in-design-school/183045). As a college instructor, I'm biased toward formal design education rather than learning from YouTube videos and random websites. However, there's an important point made in the article about the things you learn in school related to building a creative mindset. These are the important things you actually learn in school that aren't necessarily listed on a syllabus. Sure, both the internet and design school can teach you about things like design principles and elements, color theory, typography, and how to use specific software tools. That content is important, of course, but what you really learn is HOW to be a designer. Design theory and software skills are the tools you use as a designer but there are many more soft-skills you need to succeed as a professional in the industry. I think of these as the creative mindsets you develop in a creative learning environment that are difficult to learn by watching online videos. - **Resilience** is working through changes, challenges, failures; overcoming rejection and moving forward with new ideas. - Similarly, **adaptability** is being able to roll with changes that comes with shifting project scope, software updates, client uncertainty, changing trends and technologies, and deadline surprises. The only thing constant in the creative world is that nothing is ever constant. - Effective **communication** in multiple forms between various stakeholders, from emails to client pitches to end-user research to dealing with those implementing your work (such as developers, printers, broadcasters). Designers need to be good with writing, speaking, listening, critiquing, and explaining at appropriate levels with various stakeholders. - **Collaboration** because every project in the real world is a team project. A designer will be a member of many different teams concurrently based on projects, clients, end users, etc. Rarely will everyone be on the same page, have the same expectations, or the same needs. Often, the designer is the one that needs to keep the different teams functioning together. - **Pursuit of excellence**, pushing past trite, boring, mediocre answers toward quality solutions. Refining subtle details and building unity even when most people won't notice because of an internal motivation to create the best quality work possible. - **Time management** and **project management** to hit those benchmarks and deadlines. This includes understanding the process and knowing when to shift from creative exploration to production of deliverables. - **[[get to work|Showing up]]** to do the creative work even when you don't feel inspired or are unsure of next steps because client work is _**work**_ and it doesn't wait until you feel like doing it. --- tags: #creativity #process #mindset home: [[! creative process]]