Meaning of Creative Process

We also have discussed about the system of designing process. It is begins with a designer’s hand and tools then assembled with contents and concluded as a format as a final outcome. Contents are divided into two groups. Some contents such as ink, code, sound, light, etc. are raw and unrefined resources. (I would rather use term resources rather than materials because designers utilize non-material resources such as information or light to shape their ideas). Texts, video or audio are pre-formed contents. The outcome of design process is format. The designer’s idea is finally embodied as format, which can be expressed through texture, shape, temporality, behavior and so on. Some designers even create contents for themselves; In this case the outcome will have more distinctive characteristics comparing to others.

Personally, the most interesting topic from the last discussion was about the meaning of creative process. I think most designers not only design their outcome but also design their own creative process by facing their work. I’m definitely not a very creative person, but I often get inspired by my brainstorming sketches and storyboards that I created during my creative process; they suggest alternatives and even answers. The history of creative process of an artist is critical based on whether the outcome turns out good or bad. Most of all creative works are produced through at least several months of enduring period of trial and error. During that period, each designer cumulates his or her own experience of history of making process; it contains precious information of histories built through the beginning to the end of their creative process. For example, when we see a photo of Ray Eams work desk, we clearly notice that there is some kind of “organized mass” is developed in that photo. It might looks disorganized at a first glance, however those numerous piles of files, photos and magazine clippings are systematically organized by the designer who is sitting in front of that desk, brain storming and crafting for several hours almost everyday. This systemized chaos contains and remembers a history of the designer’s creative process because they were built and developed by the designer from the beginning when she started to work at that particular desk and it is naturally organized according to her working habits and routines through several years. Yet, later on it is providing collected information to the designer whenever she need. The interaction between artists and the revaluation of their creative process keeps nourishing the overall process of making, because those records of history can be utilized for the future projects as a guideline or inspiration.