Creativity has become one of the most valued traits of the 21st century. CEOs and next-gen employers believe creativity to be a significant leadership quality today. After all, software and AI-enabled tools have taken over all the monotonous and manual work. Thus, it is time for employees to step up and expand their creative horizons. So, what can you do to foster creativity?
One tool we have at our immediate disposal is technology. However, most people view it as a distraction in educational and workplace settings, but that’s not true. Technology can reap more benefits than one can imagine when used the right way. It can help people think in new ways while stumbling upon original ideas. Likewise, it allows emerging entrepreneurs to take inspiration from big brands and fuel their startups with more creativity.
Furthermore, today’s generation must look for opportunities in the creative space. From the makerspace movement to media development – tech is exploding with creative opportunities. If you’re puzzled about where to start, let us help you understand how to use technology more innovatively. Here we have highlighted six ways to expand your creativity using technology.
1. Find the Right Gadgets
People think they can make the most out of every tech tool, but that’s not how modern-day technology works. Not every software, tool, or application will inspire you to spark your creativity. Therefore, you must spend a handful of time finding the best tools. Some people find TED talks inspiring, whereas others explore the artist in themselves through android drawing tablets and iPads. As a result, they can try their luck as graphic or web designers.
Moreover, you can analyze the gadgets around you. Do your headphones create an ambient noise that helps you concentrate better? Asking questions and exploring these things can go a long way in finding yourself the right gadgets. If you are uncertain about this, follow tech influencers on Twitter and catch up on leading tech blogs to learn about innovations.
2. Balance Privacy & Sharing
Undeniably, using tech to expand creativity is a lot easier when you can share your work across different channels. What people fail to realize is that oversharing can stifle creativity. So, you must think carefully about how much of your creative side you want to expose to the world.
According to research studies, you should never share the incubation time. It is the moments you spend alone where your thoughts wander freely. Simply put, sharing these thoughts on social media will mean a lot of comments and constructive feedback. In turn, this could break or halt your creative thought process. After all, feedback is always valuable, but it can also stifle creativity and innovation at times. Hence, you must work on finding a balance between sharing ideas and setting personal boundaries.
3. Look for Right Distractions
From parents to teachers, we all hear them labeling technology as a distraction. It can be distracting when most of your time is spent surfing social media, but that is not always the case. Good distractions can be highly productive, letting you unfold your creativity. Let us explain how. Playing sudoku on your smartphone won’t be helpful if you want to get some ideas about a new blog post. Instead, you should read BuzzFeed lists regarding your blog topic.
In addition to new ideas, it will help you find a list of points you can include in the blog post. Similarly, you can go through renowned artists’ artwork if you seek inspiration for your next art piece. Believe it or not, technology can help you in many ways possible when used correctly for the right purpose.
4. Discover Social Media Opportunities
Even though most people use social media for entertainment, it encourages youth creativity. Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram allow students to combine technology with inspiration. They can create a wealth of resources and collect information globally. Similarly, students pursuing higher education can innovate and engage in virtual discussions and gain cross-cultural exposure. They can also share ideas and collaborate on different projects.
Moreover, social media has unfolded creative employment opportunities. Many brands use social media and brand managers to handle their business pages. It could be an attractive job opportunity for people who want to make a career in this creative field. The role mainly revolves around uploading posts and engaging with customers. Simply put, social media can do wonders if you know how to use it correctly.
5. Follow the Makerspace Movement
Unsurprisingly, technology is also making waves in the educational sector. Teachers and educators are giving students room to think creatively and out of the box. One way they’re achieving this is by creating a tech-oriented makerspace. These are small spaces in libraries, labs, and learning centers with materials and supplies, allowing students to engage with each other. Mostly, the resources include advanced 3D printers and laser cutters.
These tech tools within students’ reach allow them to explore and unwind things independently. In addition, teachers and students can also learn many new things by using these materials to build new things. Remember, makerspace allows people to think, which helps them project their inner creativity.
6. Explore Film Innovation & Gaming Industry
People sometimes fail to explore the creative industry due to a lack of resources. With tech innovations, you can explore film innovation and gaming that might channel your inner creativity. It would allow you to develop new ideas, games, and solutions to everyday problems. Perhaps, you could design a game for adults to unwind their minds. Likewise, you can use your creative thinking skills for film innovation by analyzing their software solutions.
Young adults can develop numerous innovative solutions through their innovative skillset. In the gaming and film industry, technology thrives where there is a spark of creativity. It allows people to experiment and try new things, which is crucial for building something worthwhile.
Final Thoughts
Technology can tremendously help people channel their inner creativity. It is all about using the right medium and tools to explore different horizons. Students can take advantage of makerspaces to explore and try new things. Likewise, adults can invest in the right gadgets and find productive distractions to make the most out of technology. Remember, the 21st century has made us learners; hence, we must keep exploring to remain creative and intuitive.