Traditional views on creativity lead you to believe only a small percentage of people are born creative geniuses.
Accordingly, we look at Kanye West, Virgil Abloh and Rihanna and assume they all must have a special gene that allows them to create brilliant work across multiple disciplines. “The Creative Curve” by Allen Gannett debunks the myth of the creative genius. Moreover, Gannett declares creativity is developed with specific actions and there’s a science to the work that goes viral. Certainly, innovative people are led by their curiosity and follow four frameworks to develop their artistry.
4 Ways To Develop Your Creativity:
1. Consume: Dive deep into the content that piques your curiosity and inspires you. Kanye West is well known for the soulful samples he uses in his production
2. Imitate: Make things similar to the stuff you like. Some examples are the following:
a. Learn lessons behind your favorite creators;
b. Take the thought you resonate with most from the different resources and combine them to make something fresh; or
c. Find your own unique voice Virgil has a three percent approach, where he creates a new design by changing an original by three percent.
3. Community: Build relationships with other creators. Once, Rihanna described her “establishment at the Fenty house as a hub”. She added, “I’m welcoming everyone’s vision here, because that’s what it’s gonna take. I can’t just think I know everything.”
4. Iterate: Finally, make bad things until they become good. When Kanye received a question about taking the leap from production to rapping he retorted, “My beats was wack at one point, dog…I wasn’t always having hot beats. I learned how to make hot beats.”
Overall, no idea is original and people aren’t born as creative geniuses. Rather, they leverage consumption, imitation, community and iteration to find their unique style. Innovation is a natural byproduct of them connecting the dots.