Five to ten years ago if someone mentioned a ‘creative’ job I would think of scruffily dressed, independent thinking artists with messy work tables filled with drawings and sketches. The word ‘creative’ was always something I associated with the arts. Now that I am a part of that very industry, I see creativity in a very different light. It also seems that many others are now realizing and understanding the benefits of a creative mind for industries other than the arts, as mentioned in Harvard Business Publisher’s article ‘Learning From How Designers Think and Work’ by Becky Bermont.

 

Ms Bermont examines how while managing graphic designers she understood that there is an entire ‘experience’ that a designer thinks about for an end-user or customer that is often forgotten by business affiliates. Creative minds have the ability to make information more tangible and interesting to users. Ms Bermont poses questions regarding how remarkable abilities such as these could affect and in turn help the business world.

 

The beauty of the creative mind is in its freedom to go outside the lines, to push the boundaries. I find myself, when in a creative-management situation, I often borrow concepts or ideas from varying silo-departments and mesh them together unconsciously. In the end the final product incorporates all that satisfies the end-user as well as meets the project objectives. So in response to Ms Bermont’s posed questions, I do feel there is tremendous potential for the creative mind in the business world. I also feel those in the creative industry if equipped with the right business knowledge would pose as a serious threat to existing business related jobs. Business is something that can be taught, whereas the ability to come up with innovative solutions is not something that can be learned. I think many are over looking the world of design, and as a result it is not being given the recognition it deserves. Designers are not just artists; they can also be strategists and innovators. Look at Apple; their primary goals are for user experience and aesthetics. If Apple can see the value in creative minds, why can’t your company do the same and benefit?