Let’s collaborate….into the future.

By morrel shilenge

Cross fertilization of ideas in different disciplines is the source of growth creatively.

As a creative, one needs to collaborate outside their fields in order to make new discoveries creatively…..

©2010 illustration: Morrel Shilenge 

Rent Minds is a playground where Copywriters, Art Directors, Photographers, Multimedia Designers, Strategists, Media Planners, Concept Developers and Illustrators….

collaborate. 

In doing this we are able to execute ideas that are original and thought provoking. Collaboration allows for an idea not to be one sided.

When it comes to collaboration, there’s no hierarchy. Everyone is equal before an idea.

I asked one creative, who owns the production company that produced Jerusalema, how to be a better creative and he had this to say.

Hi Morrel

I am not sure how one can become a better creative. In my case, I just try to do as many creative things as possible, all the time, relentlessly. 

I think the best thing for you is to explore as many creative avenues as possible and then find one that agrees with your talents the most.
Also, get involved with other creative people, artists, musicians, etc, and try to collaborate with them in some way.

Creativity can't be thought, can only be exercised and developed. You got not only to set your mind free, but also MATERIALISE your thoughts. So, if you like photography, for example, then you'll need to create the images in your head and then make them happen through the lens.

Gutto Bussab

Director / Producer / Photographer / Musician / Cultural Entrepreneur/
Other

For more on Gutto go to: www.mutifilms.com or www.gutobussab.com

Let creative’s do what they are supposed to do…….which is to create.

Creative people often do not believe in their own ideas and are not good in explaining themselves well.

Often we creative’s battle to let a client see the visual in our minds, because the idea is from another realm, which is not yet physical.

Because of lack self believe and the inability to sell the spirit behind an idea, Account Executives misrepresent it to clients and it often gets changed and looses the meaning that it had initially.

Clients sometimes, don’t want to go with something that is too creative, they want something the same as they’re competitors but different.

When a client give us free reign to free our imagination like balloons but with a rope around the noose holding us, we are only let loose when we are able to explain the concept in a way that they understand.

As a creative I say know how the client thinks – do it his way and also do it your way.

Pity they always choose the one that fits into the status quo…that is why as creative’s we should start releasing rejected work to grow our confidence, while we learn to express an idea.

by morrel shilenge

Social Media Explosion (The dictator just being social within a network)

Media consumption simply means how one uses different mediums to get news, however, it’s a choice one makes to use that medium. Social media consumption has changed among people, especially amongst the techno savvy I mean the young and curious.  

Social media has blown up around the world like an atomic bomb, so much so that it’s now on fire like a volcano. It’s on everyone’s’ lips, with a touch of a button “boom” you’re online. New technology now rules the world together with new media for the benefit of consumers. Perhaps, it’s a new kind of technological revolution with new devices like iPhone, iPad and Mac leading the rest of the pack. However, access to social media is no longer an absolute mind field but it’s now a breeze thanks to new technology. Consumers are now driving brands and telling marketers; brand managers of this world, what their wants and needs are.  (Talk of a dictator) Today, if you fail to listen to the consumer within a social network, you’ve missed the boat completely and your brand is history. Access to social media is now like buying flavoured bottled water. (Accessible yet tasty)

Media consumption has changed dramatically on the side of consumers, with a choice of messages and media consumption being the determining factor. (Be uninformed and fade into the crowd) Gone are the days when marketers and brand managers used to “bulldoze” consumers into what they assume, with regard to the direction they thought the brand should take. (Nah! it’s all a dream now-social media rules) Consumers no longer fantasise about which medium to consume, they now got the “balls” to choose/use whatever medium they see fit. (Media planners understand the consumer or kill the brand).

We live in a global village and the media landscape has changed all over the world, with people exercising their choice with regard to how and which medium they consume.  We live in an age where curiosity now drives change, with media planners constantly undressing other media avenues to target consumers who are dressed in social media. Technology is so vast today that you will not fool consumers as they’re more inclined to navigate their medium of choice. (Social media come over - cellphone/internet easy access now than ever before) If you care about consumers they’re likely to drive your brand by word of mouth, in turn promoting it using a social medium. (Do I hear credibility, of course?) Failure to do that they’re likely to burst your brands’ bubbles preventing it from going up, fading in the process.

The future might be mobile depending on who you engage with from a media/digital/mobile or even content point of view. Social media consumption is of paramount importance in this day and age of technology, information and choice. Today, it is important how you reach your consumers and the frequency with which they are exposed to your brand daily. 

Social networking sites are too many that it now makes it easier for consumers to kill the brand instantaneously. Furthermore, media consumption is influenced by many things, what you probably like, know, easy access, environment comes in handy as well, word of mouth and what friends are absorbing in terms of news on social sites. Perhaps it might be plain simple, however, you consume what interests you on the social networking sites to a degree and the rest goes to the drain. Social networking sites have revolutionized, how people consume news, fast and furious with a click of a mouse or even going mobile. Maybe is the massive appeal that they have especially amongst young people.

Social media consumption is like a beat of a drum that is so loud it will not stop now. However, the most important aspect of it all is to be cautious not to undress yourself completely, by disclosing too much information online.

By Kamo “Kginias” Masemola. 

Idea Generation (branches of an idea generation)

Idea generation is a process that starts in the mind before it goes on to paper. When you generate an idea, your brain starts connecting words/visuals. Consequently, that’s why different ideas come in different days within different times. Ideas are your greatest asset as a creative. Usually an idea starts in the mind while growing day and night like branches of a tree. The process of idea generation sometimes takes days, however, sometimes a “killa” idea pops in to your mind “walla” the next thing it creates that awe moment. However, it doesn’t end there because executing the idea is another very pivotal step within idea generation; I call it the make or break of an idea.

Generating great ideas, don’t be fooled can sometimes if not always be a cumbersome process. The ones you usually either see or hear on both TV and radio have probably taken days if not months to generate. Creativity is found within all of us, however, you don’t become a great creative idea generator overnight. As a creative you work on idea generating for days, like a film-maker that works through the night trying to get great creative angles for a storyline for a movie.

To generate ideas better always carry a small booklet and a pencil to jot down all your ideas on to paper. The reason for this is to have a pool of ideas which you can draw from, to pick and connect ideas into one idea that will work for your client or even your own business”nogal”. You might be great at generating awesome ideas but always think of seeing the bigger picture, of creating an idea that’s going to be “killa” for either your client or your business. Therefore, when you generate ideas make sure that your mind is set on anything goes. Furthermore, the reason for this is to later connect all ideas that you have come up with into one single idea that will work like a charm. Ideas don’t have a warning button they could pop in to your mind at awkward times i.e. like while in the toilet doing number five. Moreover, idea generation is about a process that first takes place in the mind; as a result you don’t wake up one morning and come up with a single blazing idea that will have a client eating out of your palm.

By Kamogelo"Kgenius"Masemola