When we have an idea, we should write it down. Or in some cases, sketch it out!
First and foremost, as a graphic designer, I always love working for my clients. They are the most important part of making a simple graphic such as a logo represent a much bigger brand with deeper meaning. What I love so much about this though, is that there’s always the challenge of getting the right connections in the first place.
In order to make the right connections to gain the right type of work, it’s important for the client and the designer to see eye-to-eye. We always hear about not working for free, but the reality and truth of the matter is that in order to attract the client you want, we have to put work out there to begin with. This is why I have adopted the practice of jotting down ideas in my head onto a piece of sketch paper.
I’ve been doing this ever since college, long before I could attract any type of client. Upon constantly exposing myself to other forms of design and seeing what the possibilities are, it’s too difficult and too fun to not get the big question in my head of “what if?”
One primary example of one of our current brands is the Whale Watch logo below. This originally started off as an idea that I wanted to execute from my very own cranium. I kept envisioning a simple logo of an animal face or head, but I had tried this several times previously, and the result was always something too complex.
What started off as a sketch is now being branded on leather hat products.
After about two months of thorough research and hard work, I finally accomplished my goal of creating that singular, powerful image that would be placed on gear for tourists on the West Coast. But like everything else I do, I want it to be for a good cause. This is why we are donating 10% of the profits from these leather hats to the Ocean Conservancy to help clean up plastic in the ocean.
Why is this Important?
These hat designs have so much meaning to help direct people to make good decisions. However, I also wanted these to be thought of for their layered meaning. Creativity, I believe, can influence us to make better decisions. One thing that needs attention now more than ever is our environment. These hats serve as a reminder to do the little things right to help a much bigger cause. This can include even simple things like remembering to recycle or turning off unused electricity. Ultimately, I wanted to create an artistic symbol of good decisions that can help make for a cleaner environment, as this is a societal issue I am very passionate about.
I feel these beautiful pieces of apparel will resonate in a really positive way with outdoorsmen especially who want to work to preserve our environment for future generations. These will also work especially well for people going on whale watch tours. My ultimate goal is to use graphic design to remind people not to make careless decisions, as the clock is ticking on our environment.
Ways You Can Be Creative
Sketching and writing lists can help us to remember ideas. We are 1.4 times more likely to take action if we write or sketch our ideas out.
Creativity is not black and white. There’s a lot of ways we can practice the basic principles of creativity, such as being mindful of people and surroundings. This can also include avoiding stereotypes and keeping an open mind. As I said, sometimes the little things we do can lead to much bigger life discoveries. Keeping an open mind is the best way to shed light on new knowledge and new experiences!
But what about the more constructive parts? Writing a list is a common practice. Sketching and drawing ideas out is a practical skill any person can take on. It is possible to be in an industry that doesn’t necessarily involve drawing and still articulate ideas through visuals. This can also come in the form of cutting out bits and pieces of writing and creating a collage through visual storytelling (see below).
An example of a collage.
We’ve also mentioned in previous articles not to be too much of a perfectionist, because there are some activities that take time and practice to show improvement on. Capturing moments in nature and our surroundings is another popular way that people express their surroundings and memories. Quite frankly, it’s important to keep in mind that sometimes things that are not perfect add a sense of the human element, which can trigger even more powerful emotions from our memory banks. We don’t have to make the greatest painting or illustration to make someone’s day, because sometimes all it takes is some visual references to spark memories of the past.
I’ve also provided a helpful article link below to help explain some of these practices more in depth.
https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/25-ways-to-be-more-creative.html
Conclusion
If we have a vision, something as simple as drawing it out on a piece of paper can serve as a reminder of what our vision is. The perfect thing about this is the fact that we are living in a world where there are lots of ambitious entrepreneurs who have visions of how their business will look and function. Keeping an open mind towards people and our environment can also help us to unlock new knowledge and open us up to new experiences that could help change our environment around us for the better.