I have ben trying to get into blogging for a few months. It has been hard for me to find what to write about. I can write about Tightrope’s product releases, tricks in our software, or general reactions to things that I run into. That hasn’t motivated me. I needed a subject that I could make a series of posts on. I needed focus. I heard a phrase while I was in college that changed me, and it is my muse:

'Art comes from limitations'

Art – beautiful, meaningful, invoking, inspiring, freeing
Limitations – restrictive, confining, captive

These are two words that have juxtaposed meanings. How can something great be made by limits? I think it is because people have limited brain power, we can’t process that many options at once BUT problem solving is a fundamental part of our survival and we are REALLY good at it.

For example, if I told you to make a piece of art what you you make? How long would you think about it before you started making something? How many versions would you make? How long until you knew you were finished?

Now, make me a piece of art with a piece of white paper, a black pen, and you can only use 4 straight lines. How long now until you start laying out those lines? How many versions will you make now? How will you know you are done.

I think that you would create something faster and with more creativity being given limits than with the first assignment. Some people may look at the first task and put their own restrictions on it. They will instantly box themselves into a medium, material or idea. Most will circle the problem brainstorming all possibilities before producing anything.

This is not limited to art. It is completely transferable into business, sales, product development, etc. Now, I use limitation for myself when I’m feeling uninspired, or overwhelmed. I think the creativity and ingenuity can create great things.

Challenge your co-workers to creative problem solving.
Box your developers into a quirky limitation of UI concepts.
Make your marketing staff only use pictures for their next promotional mailing.
Play tennis and only hit drop shots (not in a real game of course).

I think you will find that these limits will make your job more fun and bring some inspiration.