Introduction: Design is an art that requires creativity, and at ARCH College of Design & Business, we believe in nurturing and celebrating this unique ability. As part of the third edition of our Design Culture Learning Series, we recently had an engaging session on the topic of creativity, led by Krishan Jagota, President of ADI (Mumbai chapter). He is an artist, designer, thinker and creator who has always held a passion for art – from drawing to singing, from poetry to magic tricks. He is now building a community of artists by helping them pursue their passion under his project called “Fluid”. He believes in celebrating Human Fluidity through this platform. The session highlighted the essence of creativity and explored the challenges and possibilities that arise when someone expresses their imagination. Let’s dive into the session and discover the insights shared during this thought-provoking discussion.
Unveiling Individual Creativity: The session commenced with an interactive showcase, where participants asked to share their creative drawings. Krishan invited participants to present their drawings. From emojis to flowers, musical instruments to book covers, each participant came up with d their unique creations. It was fascinating to witness the diversity of ideas emerging from a room filled with imaginative minds.
Embracing the Inner Child: Why do we create? To find the new (novelty is exciting). Krishan emphasized that everyone possesses an inner child—a part of us that is free, expressive, and unbound by rules. As children, we indulged in creativity without hesitation, allowing our ideas to flow without inhibition. However, as we grew older, societal conditioning influenced our creative processes, introducing judgments and limitations.
Balancing Expression and Communication: Creativity in the realm of design involves not only self-expression but also effective communication with others. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that our creations are understood by the intended audience. It’s not merely about drawing or designing; it’s about conveying ideas in a way that elicits surprise, appreciation, and understanding from others.
The Role of Communication: Communication (what does it mean?). Communication is to find the common (familiarity is safe). It involves more than just spoken or written words; it encompasses body language and non-verbal cues as well. Krishan encouraged participants to acknowledge that as creators, their communication skills play a pivotal role in effectively conveying their ideas to the world.
Striving for Novelty: Creativity and communication intertwine in the pursuit of novelty. The purpose of creativity, as discussed during the session, is to bring something new, unexplored, and thought-provoking into existence. By expressing ourselves, we share a piece of our unique perspective with others, sparking conversations, connections, and new possibilities.
The Alien Paradox: To illustrate a fascinating paradox, Krishan prompted the participants to draw aliens. Despite aliens being unfamiliar and unexplored creatures , the majority of drawings resembled human-like figures. This paradox questioned our tendency to rely on familiar patterns when creating the unknown. Participants speculated that influences from movies, perceptions, and preconceived notions might shape our interpretations of the unfamiliar.
Embracing Diversity in Creativity: The session concluded with an open-ended discussion about the reasons behind our inclination to envision aliens as human-like beings. It highlighted the importance of acknowledging and embracing diversity in creativity, encouraging participants to challenge conventional perspectives and explore a broader range of possibilities. We are great at spotting differences, the objective is to find common.
Conclusion: The Design Culture Learning Series session on Creativity served as a reminder of the power of imagination and the challenges we face in expressing our ideas effectively. At ARCH College of Design & Business, we strive to foster a creative environment that encourages students to explore their unique talents, break free from limitations, and communicate their ideas authentically. By embracing our inner child and diversity in our creative pursuits, we can unlock the true potential of design and make a lasting impact on the world. Let your creativity soar, and may it be a catalyst for positive change.