Jesse Brockmeyer, Author at Next-Mark

David Kelley, a founder of the well-known Silicon Valley design and consulting firm IDEO, believes that creativity is not just something that some people are born with and some aren’t; and that it’s not just something restricted to artists, musicians or writers. Instead, it’s like most things, he believes creative ability is something that everyone possesses and that it’s like a muscle; you can exercise, practice and improve on it and as a result, gain confidence from it.

Daily our clients rely on us to continuously push creative boundaries and devise fresh, imaginative ideas for their brands. Thus it’s of the utmost importance for us to be constantly on top of our creative game and constantly demonstrating our creative confidence.

So how can hone and flex your creative muscle and boost your creative confidence?

Allow (even encourage) Yourself to Daydream.

David Kelley calls this practicing “relaxed attention” and in order to harness the power of it, we must do this at a time when our mind is idle, and consider a problem or obstacle that is in our way. When daydreaming, you’re not just wasting time wishing you were somewhere else, a lot of times a new idea will suddenly emerge as you dream, and be sure to document those ideas, write them down. They very well could be the next breakthrough idea for one of you or one of your clients.

Collect Your Ideas

It’s important to write your ideas down. A lot of time, our creative self-esteem decreases because somewhere along the way, we stopped listening to our own creative spirit. The next time something random pops into your head, listen to it and write it down! Go old school and keep a special notebook, binder or folder solely designated to your ideas. Successful creative people understand that all ideas may hold value at some point, but we can only focus on creating and implementing them one at a time.

Create a Creativity Routine

Remember when we said honing your creativity is like flexing a muscle? Well a routine means spending a little time each day flexing that muscle. Flexing your muscle should be a habit you commit your time and energy to each day. Designing this routine, and implanting it into your day can have a powerful impact on your business success and your client’s success. Writing, journaling, doodling observing the creative world online and around can be something to include in your routine, there is no wrong way to express your creativity.

Try on Multiple Hats

When solving a problem, or trying to come up with a new idea for one of our clients, it’s important to think about the situation from many different viewpoints. We challenge ourselves to not just settle with looking at it from a perspective we are comfortable with, but stretch ourselves to push our comfort zone limits and develop ideas that are unique and that will constantly create a conversation about our clients brands. Wearing multiple hats when you’re looking for that next idea will create many fresh perspectives and might guide you to where you may be out of alignment your ideas.

Socialize!

One of the best ways to come up with creative ideas is to talk to other people. Socializing can be an incredible source of inspiration and originality. Here at Next-Mark, we are constantly bouncing ideas off one another and getting constructive feedback; it’s an important part of our creative process. Everyone has a different way of thinking, so it’s essential to talk to your team, friends or sometimes even a complete stranger to gain a different perspective on your ideas. Most of the time someone will offer something that you had not even thought about that can take your idea to the next level.

At Next-Mark, being creative and inventive is critical to our success, and the success of our clients. We constantly exercise our creative muscles in order to maintain our creative confidence. Use these tips to boost and maintain yours. If you have any other tips, write them down and send to us!

In the mid ‘60s Marshal McLuhan introduced the timeless phrase: “The medium is the message”. With this, he proffered that the form of a medium embeds itself in the message, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived.

A couple of weekends ago, as I was admiring the graffiti murals throughoutMiami’s Wynwood neighborhood, McLuhan’s phrase really hit home. I saw a sugar skull painting for the beverage Oculto (matching their branding ) that was creatively splayed across a wall along one of the areas main avenues. While I applaud their efforts, however, I am unsure if the Anheuser-Busch product stands up to the craft of the art of the mural in this mecca of authentic street art.

Wynwood, the art statement, located in an old Puerto Rican section of the city, has become an awe-inspiring street graffiti museum with works from more than 50 artists representing 16 countries who have covered over 80,000 sq.-ft. of walls. This walking tour will make you rethink of you definition of graffiti.

Six years ago, renowned community revitalizer Tony Goldman set out to transform the warehouse district of Miami by turning the buildings into giant canvases for street art. Starting with a complex of six separate buildings, his goal was to create a public center that would develop the area’s pedestrian potential. Now, brands are beginning to utilize the walls for advertising and promotions.

In this day of cluttered media, Oculto is attempting a creative way to make a brand feel and appear hip, young and authentic to reach certain demographics while giving the product street credibility. While it’s not anything new, I think it’s great that street artists can be compensated for their craft, as Luis Valle was for this product. (Let’s hope he wasn’t paid in bottles of Oculto, a mediocre beverage with a hint of tequila, as I have read some unflavorable reviews of the product.}

More often than not, street artists create this art via their passion, sweat and tears. Although it’s often associated with vandalizing, graffiti has evolved into an art form. Typically, it is done metaphorically and goes against the mainstream, and that’s why I love it.

Colossal Media, a leading advertiser in outdoor hand-painted campaigns, is just one example of a company that lets its clients tell their stories though cans of spray paint. Today in Wynwood, you’ll see brands aligning themselves with street culture such as Heineken and Anheuser-Busch (which recently launched a new multi-million dollar campaign that culminated in an over- the-top-celebration at Wynwood’s Soho Studios) splattering themselves across the walls.

Take Shepard Fairey, for example. He’s an American contemporary street artist who created a sticker while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design that evolved into a worldwide street art campaign. From there, he launched his own clothing line: OBEY Clothing.

As far as brands reaching their target markets and trendsetters, Ocluto has done a successful job of align itself with the graffiti medium. The challenge then becomes creating a product worthy of a lifestyle brand – one that consumers genuinely embrace and that doesn’t become a fleeting trend. Next, time I come across a bottle of Oculto I will give it a swig to see if it gives me the same feeling I get when among the walls of Wynwood.

Author: Jesse Brockmeyer

5 Sure-fire ways to Boost your Creative Confidence

The Mural is the Message