storytelling with data podcast: #77 creativity with data, a chat with Alli Torban
May 23, 2024
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Information designer Alli Torban discusses creativity with data on the podcast. She believes creativity is about generating new or remixing existing ideas in a useful way. The podcast explores techniques to overcome mental blocks, find inspiration, and foster creativity in data visualization projects.
Creativity is not just art but the ability to generate new ideas effectively.
Tailoring creative ideas to match the context enhances presentation and project effectiveness.
Deep dives
Cultivating Creativity Through Small Steps
Creativity is a journey that involves taking small steps to cultivate and care for it. By focusing on mini-C creative acts, little-C creativity, and pro-C creativity, individuals can gradually enhance their creative skills. The goal is not to aim for big-C creativity like Einstein but to progress through achievable steps.
Preparing Ahead for Presenting Ideas Creatively
Before presenting creative ideas, align them with the situation by matching them to the reader's time, capturing attention, and project goals. It's essential to tailor creative concepts to fit the context effectively. By articulating why the idea is useful and how it contributes to the project's objectives, presenting creative ideas becomes more convincing.
Striking a Balance Between Creativity and Productivity
To balance creativity in a fast-paced work environment, consider personal creativity rhythms. Engage in creative tasks when the analytical critic is low and execution tasks when it is high. This strategy allows for effective time management and optimizes creative output.
Exploring Practical Techniques to Enhance Creativity
Practical techniques like taking breaks, collecting inspiration, rest, and engaging in thought exercises help enhance creativity. These methods, such as bad gifts exercise and break the box prompt, support openness and idea generation by training individuals out of restrictive thought patterns.
Data storyteller Alex talks with information designer Alli Torban about her new book, Chart Spark. Alli believes that creativity isn’t a synonym for art; instead, it’s the ability to generate new ideas or remix existing ideas in a useful way. When you learn to harness that creativity, you can develop new approaches to create more impactful data communications. Tune in to discover helpful prompts and strategies that will help you push past a mental block when you aren’t sure how to visualize your data and capture inspiration for the next time you need a creative idea.