Things my kids accidentally taught me about creativity…in the best way!
Some of the best lessons I've learned about creativity haven't come from design books, social media, courses or years of experience. They've actually come from my kids.
As a graphic designer, I spend my days creating, planning and working on designs others need. I think about colour, patterns, branding and bringing ideas to life. But somewhere along the way, many of us are taught that creativity needs to be productive, polished and perfect…. but children don't create that way.
They don't stop to wonder if the colours work together. They don't worry if someone else will like what they've made. They don't spend hours overthinking whether they should start at all. They just simply begin and that’s one of the best parts of becoming a mum. Watching my girls create without second guessing themselves has reminded me of a few things I'd forgotten along the way.
More Colour Is Usually the Answer
Children aren't afraid of colour. If one shade is beautiful, then ten must be even better. I mean there’s absolutely a time where I need to stop adding more but you can create designs with more than just 1-3 colours. As adults, we're often told to tone things down or “play it safe” (BORING) Whilst intentional design is important, colour has always been one of my favourite ways to tell a story and bring personality into what I create. Sometimes we don't need less colour, we simply need the confidence to use it well. I remember studying at Uni and hearing '“blue and green should never be seen” on a design I created. I was embarrassed, I thought it was a design ‘rule’ I had broken. Turns out it was just some stupid saying that means nothing….. And as a mum I’d never tell my children to tone it down, use less colour or that colours don’t belong together. I’d simply let them create.
There Are No Rules Worth Following Too Closely
There are plenty of design principles that guide good work but creativity has never been about fitting neatly into a box, I mean that’s kinda the whole point right?! Kids don't create with rules in mind. They experiment, they play, they make unexpected choices simply because they feel right. Some of the most memorable brands and creative ideas exist because someone was willing to do things differently. That’s what my work is all about, doing things differently and standing out from the crowd. If we were all the same this world would be very boring.
Perfection Is Overrated
This is probably the lesson I need reminding of most and it’s a hard pill to swallow. Especially when we are so hard on ourselves. I am my own biggest critic in this business. It's so easy to sit on an idea whilst waiting for it to feel perfect. To endlessly tweak, edit and overthink until I talk myself out of creating altogether or putting it off for another day when it feels right. Children don't do that, they aren't concerned about perfection. They're simply proud because they made something and they are excited to show us. There's something really freeing about that mindset and scary to pin point where we lost that ourselves..
The Best Ideas Often Start as a Mess
Behind every finished design is usually a messy beginning. There are scribbled notes, colour explorations, ideas that don't quite work and concepts that change direction entirely just sitting on my desktop incase it sparks another idea. Creativity isn't linear, sometimes it just doesn’t happen and it certainly isn't tidy. Kids understand this instinctively. They give themselves permission to make a mess first and figure it out later (I mean usually I’m the one packing up the mess) But maybe we could all do with just making more mess to begin with.
Confidence Comes From Creating, Not Overthinking
Every piece of work I've been proud of has started with just showing up and creating. Confidence doesn't come from waiting until we're ready, I don’t think we would ever be ready if that was the case. It comes from practising, experimenting and giving ourselves permission to make imperfect things. Gosh imagine if I could find the work I first created and how far I’ve come. The more we create freely, even on projects we’re not getting paid from. The more personal projects we do for ourselves the more confidence we have in ourselves.
Play Is Never a Waste of Time
Perhaps my favourite lesson of all is that play is productive. Some of our best ideas arrive when we're not forcing them, wondering around and finding inspo. When we're experimenting, being curious or simply enjoying the process of making something. Creativity doesn't always have to lead somewhere, it will eventually lead to something or be reinvented to another idea. Sometimes it's enough that we created at all.
My kids have reminded me that creativity isn't about perfection or productivity. It's about curiosity and taking a leap to be different. It's about making things simply because we can and maybe that's why children are some of the most creative people we know because they haven't yet learned to be afraid of getting it wrong or what people think. I'm trying to hold onto a little more of that in both my work and my personal life.
So here's your reminder: make the thing, use all the colour, embrace the mess and don't overthink it.
The world could probably do with a little more playfulness and colour.
