Flint Dille, animation and gaming industry veteran, shares how artists can use game design methods to enhance their art education and practice. He discusses the concept of gamifying art study, setting goals as quests, and finding a balance between challenge and accomplishment. The podcast also explores Leonardo da Vinci's inspiration, strategies for overcoming challenges, and the importance of personal projects in the art industry.
Creating a habit is crucial in gamifying education and can be achieved through a routine of low-risk, focused practice.
Setting achievable goals and adjusting the difficulty curve based on progress helps maintain motivation and prevent burnout.
The gamification of education allows individuals to explore their artistic strengths and passions, deviating from initial expectations.
Embracing challenges and failure as learning opportunities fosters resilience and problem-solving skills in the pursuit of artistic growth.
Deep dives
Developing Habits and Creating a Propulsion Loop
Creating a habit is crucial in gamifying education. Start by establishing a routine that involves daily practice in your chosen field. This can be writing, drawing, or any other skill you want to develop. It's important to remove any pressure or judgment during these practice sessions, as they are meant to be low-risk and focused on technique. Building these habits helps reduce friction and makes it easier to stay motivated. Additionally, incorporating feedback from others, such as teachers or peers, can provide valuable insights and help you improve. The key is to find a balance between challenging yourself and experiencing wins, as too much difficulty or constant failure can lead to burnout. By gamifying your education, you can cultivate a habit-driven approach that leads to continuous skill development and growth.
Setting Achievable Goals and Adjusting Difficulty
When gamifying education, it's important to set achievable goals that keep you motivated and offer a sense of accomplishment. Start with easy wins to build confidence and gradually increase the difficulty level over time. This enables a positive learning experience and prevents burnout. It's crucial to continually adjust the difficulty curve based on your progress and feedback. This ensures that you are consistently challenged, but also have enough opportunities to succeed. Additionally, by identifying and focusing on your strengths, you can leverage them to overcome setbacks and push further in your educational journey. Remember, the goal is to continually learn and improve, and your personal growth is the ultimate endgame.
Exploring Different Paths and Finding Your Niche
The gamification of education allows individuals to explore different paths and discover their artistic strengths and interests. As you engage in various exercises and projects, you may realize that certain areas resonate with you more than others. Embrace this exploration and follow the path that aligns with your passions and talents. Don't be afraid to deviate from your initial expectations and be open to unexpected opportunities. Building a strong network of peers and mentors who share your interests can also enhance your journey and provide valuable support and inspiration. The goal is to find your niche and continually refine your craft, always striving for personal and artistic growth.
Embracing Challenges and Learning from Failure
In gamifying education, it's essential to embrace challenges and view failure as a learning opportunity. Just like in games, where some difficulty is necessary for growth and accomplishment, challenges in education help you develop resilience and problem-solving skills. It's crucial to design a curriculum that presents a balance between manageable tasks and more demanding assignments, allowing for steady progress and occasional breakthroughs. By reframing failure as a stepping stone to success and approaching it with an open and growth-oriented mindset, you can extract valuable lessons that propel you forward. Ultimately, the willingness to face challenges, learn from mistakes, and persevere will contribute to your long-term success as an artist and learner.
The Importance of Grand Strategic Vision
Flint emphasizes the significance of having a grand strategic vision for one's life. This involves thinking about where you want to end up in the long run and making decisions that support that vision. It includes considering practical aspects like finances and stability, as well as personal aspects like relationships and timing. Having a clear grand strategic vision helps guide important decisions and enables one to prioritize and allocate resources accordingly.
The Value of Tactical Grind and Scrimmage
Flint stresses the importance of engaging in tactical grind and scrimmage in one's career and creative pursuits. The grind refers to consistent practice, skill development, and honing the craft. It involves putting in the effort, even if the results don't immediately pay off. The scrimmage phase is where one actively works on projects, competes, and gains practical experience. Both the grind and scrimmage contribute to growth and improvement, preparing individuals for future opportunities and challenges.
The Role of Operational Practicality
Flint discusses the operational aspect of one's endeavors, which involves practical considerations to sustain and support their pursuits. This includes financial stability, establishing networks and connections, and making essential decisions related to resources, agents, and strategies. Being operationally practical ensures that one's pursuits can be sustained long-term and allows for adaptability in the face of changing circumstances. It also emphasizes the value of being organized, financially responsible, and proactive in managing one's creative endeavors.
Our guest this week is animation and gaming industry veteran Flint Dille! He’s been involved in a wide range of projects from the 80s animated Transformers movie to games like Diablo III and Pokemon GO. We sit down with Flint to find out how artists can use methods valued in game design and writing to take their study routine and education to the next level. Flint shares how you can use familiar concepts familiar to gamers, like grinding for levels, as a form of practice in order to enter a propulsion loop where you feel rewarded and fulfilled while moving forward in the “main quest” of your art journey.
