Countdown to spring…

Well, the countdown to spring has begun! I saw the first signs of daffodils beginning to bloom amidst the remains of the melting snow. Fresh air aplenty, the evidence of my neighbors getting a head start on their yard clean up…bins full of branches, dried grasses and other debris line the streets on trash days.

This time of year is one of my favorites…the bright green of new plant growth, the tiny bits of color that change a bit every day. I relish the drive to and from the office, trying to see what is new that day. The clean fresh look of nature brightens my designs and adds to my inspiration immeasurably!

What does spring do for your creativity?

Color in communication

Color is the most instantaneous of all non-verbal means of conveying meanings and ideas. Before the aesthetics of color began to be appreciated, human survival depended upon color as an integral part of the identification of warning signals and necessary items, whether animal, vegetable or mineral.

Today much of consumer reaction to color is subliminal, with most being unaware of the persuasive effect of color. In corporate identification, logos, advertising, signage, print, packaging and web communications color wields considerable power. In the .03 seconds that consumers’ eyes rests upon a package, color is an important ingredient in riveting the observers’ attention, appealing to they psyches and informing them of the package contents. Appropriate colors can have an impact on the perceived value of a product.

Colors invariably are influenced by what we feel. Infants perceive color differently than pre-adolescent and young adolescents. Every culture has its own heritage of color symbolism that is unique. We all need to do our homework on the perception of color in the specific cultural group with which we are dealing.

Have you considered how your branding and product colors impact your customer base?

Daily Challenges to Creativity

My daily activities are not all creative. Many days my functions are much more mundane: research, paperwork, invoicing, tweaking or updating existing design elements…

When I notice that my creative thoughts are a bit stagnant, I find myself reaching for inspiration. My favorite inspiration is music of all genres, with rock and roll or Vivaldi making frequent trips to the top of the play list. My musical search for inspiration is followed closely by or actually paired with visual stimulation. Whether that stimulation comes from nature or more abstract visualizations depends on the time of day, the season and my location.

Here in the northeast, as spring has not yet sprung, the creative visualization depends a lot on digital images. I have collected multiple “slide shows” for inspiration ranging from the mountains in Colorado, sunrises and sets from countless locations, macros of nature in full bloom, animals, beaches…the list goes on.

What is your inspiration? How do you handle the challenges that day-to-day functions inflict upon your creativity?

A Life of Creativity

If you could be living the most joyous, fulfilling, creative life you could imagine, what would it be? What steps would you take to begin the journey to that life? Where would you make changes? As spring is beginning to show tiny signs of renewal, take a moment to consider your own questions. But remember to remain positive with those questions.

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. ~~ Helen Keller