Comments on: Creative Discussion – How Does Your Environment Fuel Your Creative Process?

By: Nicolas

Nicolas — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:09:45 +0000

I live in Québec city in Canada and I would say that a positive environment helps to develop better creative thinking. I find a lot of my ideas listening to music while I walk in my little neighbourhood going to school. Thanks to ipods! I also have many friends with whom I great discussion and it oftens inspire me finding ideas.

I know that environment is important in creative thinking because I have lived abroad for a while (Scotland, Iceland and South America) and you get to see people who think differently and you learn to look at things from a new point of view. But that is no new facts… Lots of artists go travelling to find new insparation. I just felt it was a good point sharing it with you guys! lol

By: Inspiring Environs : A Creative Discussion #2 Wrap-up | Fuel Your Creativity

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:06:03 +0000

[...] the discussion that was had, there were ranges of creatives that either had their little nooks carved out in non-creative [...]

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:14:21 +0000

Thank you for this topic, it’s inspiring me already.

I bounce between designing at work (partially) and designing and editing video at home. My office at work is stark white, with dingy yellow cabinetry. There’s a decided lack of inspiration with the exception of some good music – kept at a low level of course.

At home, in the suburbs of Cleveland, my spare bedroom has been converted into a cluttery office – a desk, some shelves, some hand-me-down furniture. There’s a decided lack of inspiration there too.

After this topic though I think I am going to spend my free time this week cleaning up and doing a little inspired redecorating. Maybe that’s what I need to get me out of my creative slump, an inspired environment! Thanks for the great ideas!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:33:51 +0000

Absolutely!

I’m near Charlotte, NC — but — when I think environment, I think about my actual space for working. For me, an environment that fuels my creative process has:

1. LOTS of light: I’ve worked in dark offices. It doesn’t work for me. Thank GOD I still have a MacBookPro with matte screen — the glare isn’t bad. (I’m waiting for matte to come back before I upgrade)

2. Awesome music: Ambient, acid jazz, etc. gets me in the zone (SIA is on right now!)!

3. Clutter free zone: I’m not a total neat freak, but I can’t get in the zone unless my desk is clean.

This was a great question, Rob! Thanks for posting!

By: Seth Etter

Seth Etter — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:02:31 +0000

I had to think on this one a bit, I never really took into consideration how my location affected my creative process, or my designs. But it most definitely does.

I’m from Wichita, KS, and in contrast to other places I have visited, I like to pride myself in living in a very friendly, relaxed, and overall simple place. Most of the people here are very outgoing and never afraid to start up a good conversation. I think my designs reflect this friendliness in the simplicity that I try to keep in them. I never want to overclutter or even include anything that is not needed. Keeping everything as too the point and user friendly as possible. I guess I should note that my biggest field is web design and usability. So you can see how this would carry over. :)

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:00:02 +0000

I get that. We have our own select sounds piped in, and some white noise going to drown out the neighbors yapping chihuahua when she gets going, otherwise, she is a major hindrance to the creative process.

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:57:22 +0000

Awesome insight. I really like the idea of firing up the old LP. If I had half a chance to delve into my dad’s LP collection I know I would find some really great stuff…wouldn’t be able to play it, since I no longer have a record player, but some great stuff, nonetheless.

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:52:22 +0000

I like the idea of taking your work and inspiration on the road to see what it yields. Seems like such a freeing experience that it could not help but offer a veritable fount of endless inspiration! Let us know how that develops.

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:48:44 +0000

I agree. Getting to work mostly from home and be here with Angie is worth more and is more inspiring than any place else I can imagine working.

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:46:06 +0000

The power of the imagination! :)

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:45:27 +0000

Very cool and interactive environment you have created for yourself. Awesome idea. I really like the thought of watching it evolve, and allowing it to be ‘whole’ or ‘complete’ at the very stages of its evolution, while always feeling the possibilities it holds.

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:41:08 +0000

@ Will – Thanks for the pic. That’s cool, and it’s funny you actually touched on the extended topic post coming up next week where we ask people to comment leaving us links to their most creative places. The places around them that inspire them the most, be it an office or some place they go to get away. :)

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:37:43 +0000

Sounds like you have carved yourself a little niche to be creative in. That’s what I love about creative people, we find ways to craft our environment to fit us and our inspirational flow. And using the internet simply expands the reach of your ‘environment’ and allows for further exploration of the world around us. Gotta love that www.

By: Will D. White

Will D. White — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:09:35 +0000

I’m the ‘new guy’ of the bunch at the studio so unfortunately I didn’t get too much input in the original setup. Our creative director originally ran the shop out of his house years ago – and started picking up too much work to handle himself. After hiring a few folks full time and finding a place, he started branding the studio to match the company – just like you would any other piece. It works pretty great in my opinion. The color schemes work well together. Our office even has a store-front type setup so when you walk by there are huge windows to look in and see what everyone is up to. We have a “left-brain” meeting room and a “right-brain” meeting room – which we use depending on whether its a creative meeting or a more logical/process driven meeting. Talk about setting the mood for a meeting!

I actually found a few photos – they are before we bought the big pool table for the front area and put up several pieces from our portfolio on the walls but the pics are pretty neat none-the-less.
http://www.pinpointcreative.com/office_portfolio.html

What about y’all – any shots of the studio? Its always really interesting to see what environments inspire others.

By: Rob Bowen

Rob Bowen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:48:03 +0000

I think that you are right, the simplicity of nature is an easy reset for the creative mind. As creative people, who generally spend our time online, we are inundated with the chaotic nature of the technology that feeds us. Nature really offsets that and offers a relaxing balance.