Unlocking Creativity Through Rapid Visualization
With the world around us always changing, it's easy to feel overwhelmed when staying up to date with trends and the design industry as a whole. However, the recent AIGA, American Institute of Graphic Arts, workshop on Rapid Visualization served as a powerful reminder of the importance of brainstorming skills when creating new designs.
Led by Rebecca Bagley, an Elon University Communication Design professor, the workshop focused on three key Rapid Visualization techniques designed to help tackle design challenges. These techniques not only enhance our ability to solve design problems but they also help us open up our creativity.
The first technique consisted of turning 30 circles into different designs in 30 seconds. With very little time, you can create designs without overthinking if they are well-designed or not. This activity helps you open up your creative mind and push away the negative critique in your head.
The second technique consisted of receiving a company name and brief description and then designing different logos for the company in 60 seconds. For example: The Post Plant Company, a plant store located in an old post office in Brooklyn, New York. While it is hard to create a well-designed logo in 60 seconds, using this technique can help create a number of ideas that can be built off of later on in the design process. By refining ideas early on, we can avoid potential pitfalls and ensure that our final designs are both impactful and effective.
Lastly, the third technique, called Round Robin, consisted of writing down a brief description of a project and passing a paper every 60 seconds between designers (or coworkers) and drawing logos and design elements that could be used for the project. By consciously considering the ideas of other designers, we can create a strong final design.
Overall, the workshop served as a powerful reminder that a rapid change of pace can help unlock new levels of creativity and make a real difference in the design industry.
