Creativity is only a word
Some years ago, as a senior designer, a new head of development arrived on a project that I had been on for some time. He had a long-celebrated history of creating successful engineering firms, navigating complex delivery of projects and a personality that was appealing, he was someone that you would naturally respect and listen to what is said.
We would often have meaningful conversations about ways to make the project better, how to inject quality outcomes at an efficient scale, and he seemed to trust my creative input to solving problems presented. However, one day over a causal talk about making a difference in life, many of the far-ranging topics I enjoyed talking with him, he pointed out that once you turn 30 and definitely by 40, history has shown that your most productive years in being creative are over.
Now, having passed my 40’s I was taken aback by this statement and wasn’t saw if it was an actual comment about me or just his usual worldly observations. It did make me think, and years after I became extremely conscious of my creative side and if there was anything left in the tank! Having three design degrees of various disciplines made me ponder the worth of creativity, if it is hard fought and easily faded why put yourself through such processes when there are more practical professions available.
For years following nothing really happened, I still kept pouring out strategic master plans, design solutions to tricky urban places, maintained a vast array of knowledge that I shared with my colleagues who were either under my direction or were engaged to deliver commissions that I managed. Projects I directed won various awards for their creativity and excellence and the endless stream of colleagues who worked for me and sought their own mark in the world, shone. However, that thought of loss of creativity lurked in the farther reaches of my mind, torturing me to not drop the ball.
It wasn’t until recently, spurred on by my love of music that I came across a similar argument that most great songs by musicians are done in their early 20’s and rarely masterpieces conducted by artists in their 40’s. Highlighting the fluid and crystalised intelligence rationale for this phenomenon, with the former enjoyed by the younger performers not having been shaped by years of accumulated (or crystallised) knowledge that restrains independent abstract solutions. At no time was creativity faded or lost, it was just produced differently, either by fluid or crystallised processes.
Crystallised intelligence plays a larger part of creativity as you get older because you have learnt the rules, failed a number of times and learnt how to get projects over the line with many times stating, ‘won’t make that mistake again’. However, fluid intelligence doesn’t leave you, you just focus on more practical processes because of more responsibilities you take on besides being solely focused on design problems. As you get older you can still tap into fluid intelligence if you are able to let go of rational processes and associated rules. As with all skills acquired, you need to keep practicing to keep it fresh and sometimes it great to experience the freedom of not having to abide by the fences we create and just let go and design with no constraints, it won’t disappoint you even though it is not refined.
When forming teams to deliver creative projects there is value at having the right mixes. Fluid intelligence input to help with brainstorming events as they are not constrained by practical approaches, but for delivery often crystallised intelligence is engaged in turning abstract ideas into feasible and impactful solutions, because they are better at effective communication of ideas. This is a key requirement for any design professional, knowing how to assemble creative thought and processes accordingly.
By the way, the shadowy spectra has disappeared, because I have learnt how to better harness my creativity, both fluid and crystallised for better outcomes. Don’t let others define how or what you do, it’s only words.
As a reflective process to my creative journey, I have always tried to understand where my creativity came from, as my father and his before were engineers born from a rational approach but great problem solvers. My mother was a book keeper, with the truth in either black or red, but she always promoted me to dream and play. I had available workshop tools from my father, and time from my mother that allowed me to experiment – that is the essence of where creativity rises from, not from getting it right every time but failing and trying again differently.
My kids have been exposed to my daily creative activities early on in their lives, I would let them attend brainstorming workshops when appropriate, do drawings and generally express their thoughts on what is a good design solution for them and they excelled at being creative beings.
My kids seeing the happenings of a creative design workshop
However, since that dark shadow of creative doubt rose, I tried to steer them towards other pursuits, nudging my eldest to medicine or other STEM careers. To appease me she studied as I asked but kept on with some creative streams to find balance. She shone in these and it made her happy, her efforts and creativity led to an early acceptance for a double design degree which is where she will now find her own creative expression.
Sometimes you just have to let creativity blossom, within your teams or your kids. The world is far better when creative people are allowed to express themselves, don’t hold them back with words that stop or hinder this creative process. Words matter; make good choices.