I’ve been re-reading a book by Shakti Gawain called Creative Visualization. It was written in 1978 and published under Bantam’s New Age umbrella. Contrary to what most might think of new age material, it’s not all woo-woo and fairy dust. The principles of the book are basic – just out of most peoples’ everyday frame of thinking. The purpose of Creative Visualization is “to make positive ideas and concepts a reality”.
When I first read this book several years ago, it was difficult for me to put some of the methods to practice, since I can’t sit still long enough to get into a meditative state. (Which is why I would visualize before falling asleep.) Gawain’s Creative Visualization suggests following four steps: 1) setting a goal; 2) creating a mental picture of it; 3) focusing on it often; and 4) giving the goal/idea positive energy. You’ve heard of the Law of Attraction, right?
When I started reading through the book again last week, it dawned on me that since my first experience with it, I’ve been unconsciously applying this method to my design process. Each one of the four basic steps correlates with creating a client piece. Let me explain:
- Set a Goal: Meet with the client to determine project parameters and specifics and establish the desired outcome for the piece, i.e. build brand awareness, increase web traffic, etc.
- Create a Mental Image: I begin brainstorming solutions and sketching pieces of the thoughts I’m having about the project. I imagine what the outcome will be – what size, color palette, and shape it may have; how the intended audience will react to it.
- Focus On It Often: Brainstorming can happen anywhere, any time – on a hike, eating dinner, even in the shower. I’m always percolating on solutions. Allowing ample time (usually a week or so) in the schedule for this process always yields the best results.
- Give It Positive Energy: Doing the front-end work of brainstorming, visualizing and contemplating builds a really great creative flow for me that allows me to charge ahead with executing designs in digital form. Finally giving the idea life is one of the best parts of my job.
This technique can be applied to any challenge, and it works. Can you apply Creative Visualization to a challenge you’re facing?
