Flow Communications prides itself on being a hub of creative energy – but to be creative you have to be constantly inspired, and we know that we don’t get inspiration from sitting behind a desk.
Inspiration is not a walk in the park, but it can strike when you are walking in the park, watching a craftsman at work or flying in cyberspace. That is the experience of some Flowstars.
We asked a few colleagues what inspires them when having to come up with creative solutions for our clients, when time is against them and when they think you have nothing left to give.
Kevin Collins, artist and strategist, is inspired by possibility.
He actively seeks out people who think about new ways of solving life. He says artists and dreamers see past the clutter of daily drudge and they give him a sense of "anything can be done".
"My world has been shaped by a basic belief that I have an answer somewhere in my brain and I just have to tease it out – pressure does this. But I do believe that people are becoming less and less reliant on 'self-as-source', because they replace it with the vast generalisation that they can find 'anything' on the interwebs," says Kevin.
His very best inspiration comes from observing people's output; artists making, craftspeople crafting, bakers baking. "The millions of individual touches that infuse a basic output like a loaf of bread fascinates me," he says.
Roela Hattingh, writer-strategist-teacher and maker of milktart to appease the dragons, has a nifty trick up her sleeve.
If it is really crazy, and she has very little time, Roela closes her eyes and thinks of the brand as a person.
"Then I wonder, if this person was my friend, what would I do to make him or her feel good, better, be happy, change an attitude, solve a problem?
"What does he or she need? I think of small things, like a nod, a cup of coffee, a walk in the garden ... and then I try and create that same feeling in words or with a strategy," Roela says.
If she has more time she employs a longer theory, thinking of the brand in circles and ascertaining what the key finding, the underlying insight, is.
"The insight is normally the answer to asking 'why' seven times. I then look for a concept to illustrate that insight. Concept is always king for me. And concept is a way to show the backbone of the insight," says Roela.
Her third tip is to remind herself that inspirational problem-solving is fun, and thinking and writing are two of the most pleasurable activities that she knows. "I know that swimming in the sea with my kids and drinking chardonnay on the balcony will make me happier – but they will not solve the problem. And then I remember why I am here. To make new meaning.
"What inspires me is the possibility of making new meaning," Roela says.
Stuart Buchanan, web content developer and writer (and all-round tech wizard), finds a lot of his inspiration online. He regularly heads off into cyberspace and navigates to sites like www.thisiscolossal.com, IFL Science and Gizmodo, where he finds interesting stories of people doing inspirational, innovative things.
Stuart also finds inspiration from a number of writers he follows on Twitter. He recently went to Science Café and says: "I heard from some incredible people doing some incredible work – that was super-inspiring."
Web designer Ryan Levenson is always open to inspiration; he knows it can strike at any time and he must be able to catch the inspiration before it slips from his grasp. He scours the web for inspiration, always mindful that it could come from any quarter. "It could be a movie poster, T-shirt, anything really," he says.
He always works with the client in mind, thinking of what will please and excite them. "If I'm designing for the Two Oceans Aquarium, I am in tune with what the staff are excited about, and I use that for inspiration," Ryan says.
Kate Rau, Flow's Cape Town manager, finds a lot of her inspiration when she is outdoors. Her quest for inspiration, when she feels she has nothing more to give, starts when she steps outside and takes a deep breath.
Sometimes, though, when she needs more than a quick walk in the park, her next step is to step out of her shoes, literally. Being outdoors is key for Kate, who says: "During difficult times, I find it helps to try and zoom out of your emotions and your current state, and the way that works for me is to go outside."
Kate says being able to find her inspiration outside could be because the world "out there" is so much bigger than the world "in here". She says: "And somehow my minute relevance in the face of entire creation makes me feel better and makes me grateful. And from that place I can be creative, I can try to think out of the box, and I'm inspired by what I see around me."
Ultimately, just to get out of the door is stepping outside. "It doesn't matter if I'm stepping outside into a massive forest, or onto a windy beach, or if I'm stepping outside into a tiny garden with one tree in the corner – being in nature comforts and inspires me. And I suppose that fresh air helps, too," says Kate.
Flow editor Christine Marot finds great pleasure in storytelling. She is inspired by the quality of work delivered by Flow, by the wide-ranging clients we take care of, the integrity of Flow's leadership and the great Flow spirit. Christine, a writer of note, keeps her creativity and inspiration going by always looking a different angle.
The next time you are stumped and need inspiration, try a Flowstar technique. You may be pleasently surprised at the results.
