Comments on: What is this thing called creativity? http://www.grouphub.org/2007/11/what-is-this-thing-called-creativity/ GroupHub is a creative design community. A collection of individuals and businesses drawn together by a desire to create, design and innovate. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:20:12 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Raithy http://www.grouphub.org/2007/11/what-is-this-thing-called-creativity/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Raithy Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:37:33 +0000 http://www.grouphub.org/blog/2007/11/13/what-is-this-thing-called-creativity/#comment-18 It sure as eck beats me? It sure as eck beats me?

]]> By: steven http://www.grouphub.org/2007/11/what-is-this-thing-called-creativity/comment-page-1/#comment-9 steven Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:04:26 +0000 http://www.grouphub.org/blog/2007/11/13/what-is-this-thing-called-creativity/#comment-9 <p>For 'creativity' to mean anything it has to be put in the context of solving problems.</p> <p>When I'm 'being creative' I think the essence of what I'm doing is looking for new answers to old problems. Not bringing something into being, the likes of which no one has ever seen before - if I did that no one would understand it - it wouldn't mean anything. I'm looking for a fresh combination of the new and the old - the same, but different. Familiar, but surprising.</p> <p>It's easy to be seduced, as I often am, by the romantic notion of creativity: an uncontrollable mysterious/divine force that moves through us and culminates in that quiet explosion that we call inspiration. An untramelled outpouring that has its source in another place. There we go, I've fallen for it again.</p> <p>Whilst this may suffice for the delicate sensibilities of the fine artist, it has no place in the world of design. By definition, design is a response to problem, making creativity a means to an end; a solution to a dilemma; creation with purpose.</p> For ‘creativity’ to mean anything it has to be put in the context of solving problems.

When I’m ‘being creative’ I think the essence of what I’m doing is looking for new answers to old problems. Not bringing something into being, the likes of which no one has ever seen before – if I did that no one would understand it – it wouldn’t mean anything. I’m looking for a fresh combination of the new and the old – the same, but different. Familiar, but surprising.

It’s easy to be seduced, as I often am, by the romantic notion of creativity: an uncontrollable mysterious/divine force that moves through us and culminates in that quiet explosion that we call inspiration. An untramelled outpouring that has its source in another place. There we go, I’ve fallen for it again.

Whilst this may suffice for the delicate sensibilities of the fine artist, it has no place in the world of design. By definition, design is a response to problem, making creativity a means to an end; a solution to a dilemma; creation with purpose.

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