The development cycle is abstract

The development cycle is abstract.
I think this sums it well. I've been trying to figure out how to describe my design process, because personally, I feel like it differs from one project to the next...and it should! I mean, there is no sure-fire one method to solve problems.

Conversations with J

I met up with an old friend in Vancouver in April, and had a wonderful conversation. It was a really nice reunion and he is one of the few who understands both sides of my life. Anyway, I didn't have a pen so I transcribed as much as I could on the ipad.. if you can read it. Otherwise...


On the topic of creativity, and being a good artist, wherein my friend is afraid that his work is too 'safe'..

"I would like to live a simple life. Just a bed and a desk, nothing. What is all my stuff worth?" J asks.
Is he too safe? He is not a crazy artist/creative person (he is very balanced), so his work is 'safe'. Therefore there is no 'edge' in his work. But is that what makes better work? Craziness? Unbalanced-ness? I postulate.

"I think you cannot gauge art against other art. As there are different artists out there, they each have their own strength, quality and style. Can you say who is better, Picasso or Mondrian? What one admires in Keith Harring for Keith Harring's style is uniquely his and is something Yoshitomo Nara will not come up with." I reply.

"But," J argues, "What is skill?"

"To me, drawing is a skill, that is something you can sharpen. Draw all day, every day and you will improve. Guaranteed. Actually the question is perhaps, 'What is talent?'" I continue, "Talent is creativity and skill. Because you can have talent, but you need skill to ---- that talent into something understandable for other people."

"That's not true" he argues, "you can sit and do things 10x faster than the normal 'untalented' guy. I don't argue, that creativity comes from character and experiences, drawing is a skill you hone/sharpen. That will make you faster and more adept at it. It is a mental model perhaps even. But creativity? That cannot be trained!" At this point he seemed exasperated.

Hard work pays off, promise.