Creatives: Rethinking and Reinventing

To creatives and designers alike, the industry is shifting into a more fluid and innovative landscape. Old mediums of the past are being thrown out; human focused design and art are paramount to achieving an effective creative voice in today's market. We'll look at two articles that detail this tumultuous environment.

Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Salon 94

The first article details artist, Laurie Simmons first foray into makeup with a limited edition red lipstick. Simmons speaks of her intuition and inspiration from everyday items around her. Lipstick was a big part of her life and identity in the 70s (where the picture above is from) and so she began to include it into her photography works. Pushing boundaries of art and what it means for a display to be considered art, Simmons has created a cosmetic that reinvents both makeup and artistry, solidifying her creative voice and influence.

Credit: Jonathan Knowles/Getty Images

The second article discusses the changing nature of the creative director role. Penston talks about how, like much of the marketing industry, most creative directors are stuck in the past, doing things the old way and ignoring the fluidity of today's modern creatives. Brand identity, Photoshop and repeat is their mantra. Penston states that UX (user design) is one of the most important facets of the creative director role today. As brands find the need to seem genuine, relatable and human, consumers become the paramount focus. In order to maintain a loyal following, your product or service must consider and reflect your efforts at designing a user friendly experience. Knowing your customers' interests, hobbies, needs, desires and how they engage with content is more important than ever. In order to maintain a creative voice and show that your brand is not just a bland machine, it's imperative to consider human interaction when designing anything these days.

Consider the following to build your own creative voice:

Quality over quantity: Now, more than ever, content must seem carefully crafted and personal instead of just another piece of content to be lost in a sea of media.

Design for life: Design should maintain practicality and be focused on user friendliness while remaining aesthetically pleasing.

Don't be afraid: Creativity is synonymous with innovation and requires a pushing of limits to be successful.