This week I’ll be blogging about my adaption of another church‘s creative process called the “4D Creative Process”. The four D’s are:
- Dream
- Define
- Design
- Develop
First up: Dream. Although this is the smallest step, the idea is the spark that leads us through the creative process. It comes like lightening (brain “storming”), usually when you least expect it. It sometimes hits me while I’m showering in the morning. That dream is what launches us through creativity. A good, regular practice is to schedule time to dream. I know this sounds a bit hippie, but just like the your body, you need to exercise your creative muscles to stay fit for your art. It could be just 15 minutes a week, but it’s necessary to stay “fit”.
Here are a few practical tips for dreaming:
- Before I sit to “dream”, I always pull out my Bible, the ultimate inspiration.
- Clear your head, open a blank page, and just write down everything that comes to mind.
- Keep an idea journal. I use Evernote for this.
- Keep an open, but guarded mind. Open to new ideas, but guarded from where sin may lead you (another reason starting with scripture is so important).
- Know your sources and places of inspiration. Examples: If you find you have more ideas at Starbucks than in your office or at home, go there. If listening to music inspires you, then do it!
Lastly, I say this is the smallest step because it takes the least amount of physical effort. A statement I read on this topic is a cornerstone of Friendship Creative:
Genius is 1% Inspiration and 99% Perspiration. – Thomas Edison
Meaning, ideas don’t just happen because you dreamed it up. You have to go out and work to make ideas happen.
Tomorrow, we look at step 2 in the 4D process: Define.
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