Staying competitive and sustaining success in today’s business environment requires thinking “outside the box”. Patented technologies, improved bottom line, streamlined processes, and market leadership are some of the compelling reasons for unleashing creativity in the workplace. Acquiring skills that help develop creative potential require strategies that are an interplay of art and science. The art is about intuitive wisdom —believing that you and your team have the intuitive ability for creative thinking and giving your mind time to synthesize unconventional, breakthrough solutions through deep, exploratory thinking. The science is about effectively implementing the tools and techniques to spark ideas.

Here are seven ways to ignite and foster creative thinking in the workplace:

1. Hang a large piece of paper on your office door; at the top, write a question or issue that requires a solution. Invite everyone to freely share thoughts and ideas.

2. Show a stand-up comedy video before every creative session.
Laughter stimulates free thinking. You can also read a book of jokes for a few minutes to break the ice before meetings. Randall Osborne, professor of psychology at Indiana University, cites evidence that developing a respect for humor in the workplace has brought amazing results in large corporations such as Kodak, where it was learned that humor and creativity went hand in hand. Kodak has developed a “humor room” where employees can escape the pressures of their work.

3. Exploit divergent thinking.

Remove the barriers and break down obstacles that prevent your team from taking risks. Allow the opportunity to stimulate, support, and reward creativity. Seek activities that get people out of their comfort zones and encourages risk-free experimentation. If your company has a rigid culture in which a hierarchical structure is the norm, it will be a long time before subordinates feel comfortable in expressing their alternative solutions that don’t necessarily align with the company’s core philosophy and values. Exercise flexibility by actively listening and then acting upon your staff’s feedback and suggestions.

4. Hang a board with “if-only” or “what-if” prompts.
Leave fill-in-the-blank sections on the boards; ask for volunteers to complete the scenarios. Creativity emerges when perspective is changed.

5. Have everyone design and wear a different hat – one that may represent a specific characteristic or profile of a client – then have them participate in the creative session as if they were that client.

6. Change your environment
Going somewhere else to generate ideas—the park, a toy store, or even a different conference room—stimulates fresh thinking and outrageous conversations, pushing through uncreative dry spells. A lot of creative people have their great ideas when they take time away from their work. Daydreaming and “free thinking” allows them to think of their problems in new ways. Many people experience the ‘aha’ moment when they are doing something else.

7. Encourage your staff to do something with their hands during the creative process.
While playing with toys and doodling have been criticized as being “too simplistic,” busy hands stimulate brain cells. These exercises can weave right-brain imagination with left-brain logic. You can also encourage this exchange of communication between the right and left brain by having your staff write with the opposite hand.

With the advent in greater technology over the past decade, more and more people are seeing video games more than just a way to relax. Video game design and production is becoming an increasingly lucrative industry, one that invites the best and the brightest to showcase their full potential. However, entering and making a name for yourself in the gaming industry involves more than simply a passion for interactive digital entertainment; you’re going to need a drive like none other, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, a strong work ethic, and above all else, a world-class education.

The world of video games is constantly changing, and schools are certainly compensating to keep up with the ever-increasing demand by the industry for top-quality designers and programmers. As such, colleges and universities specializing in game design offer more than just a general Bachelors Degree in Game Design. Instead, universities offer many programs under the vast umbrella of video game design. Artistic individuals interested in crafting characters and creating game worlds can get their degree in Game Design. Those who feel more comfortable working with code can sink their teeth into the real soul of the games by getting their degree in Game Programming. Wherever your true passion lies, there is a definite spot for it in the vast industry of game design.

Most accredited universities offer four year degrees and even Masters programs in Game Design, Game Programming, and other applicable disciplines. However, just having a Bachelors of Arts or Science won’t make you Lead Designer at your dream studio. Much like any industry, the video game market is looking for individuals who are not only highly dedicated to their craft, but have something worthwhile to bring to the table. This means you’re going to need internships and a high caliber portfolio to ensure that you get your foot in the door at your studio or designer of choice. Most accredited universities offer information about internships with leading design studios and developers in their career services office.

After getting an internship and graduating, you may feel that you need more education to further your advancement in the game design industry. If this is the case, then it would behoove you to get more education and attain a Masters in Game Design. Much like any other industry, having a Masters Degree will grant you a huge advantage over all of the other applicants vying for your position. Being in possession of a Masters Degree will make you more skilled in your chosen field, specifically tailoring you for higher-tier, more in-demand and specialized opportunities that the industry’s most renowned companies have to offer.

Better technology leads to better games. In order to make these games, development studios are constantly searching for more educated individuals to enter their teams. In order to enter your rightful place amongst these design studios, it is absolutely tantamount that you receive the very best education you can in game design. As such, you will be fully prepared to do your part in making the next big video game title.

by Nauman

About the Author

• ???? ? ??????

Software Application Development, Affordable Website Design, Web Development and Internet Marketing Service have always been our core focus. Design Soft Studios is a UK base company providing a high quality Web Application Development ]]> http://designermeetup.com/6-best-web-designing-tips/feed 0 http://designermeetup.com/how-important-is-website-usability http://designermeetup.com/how-important-is-website-usability#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:42:33 +0000 Jessica http://designermeetup.com/?p=573 Continue reading →]]>

by Kate Henlay

About the Author

Kate Hanley is an expert on online media solutions, web development and search engine optimization in Dubai, UAE along with 360 online media solutions. He has vast experience of working in Dubai online solution providers market. ]]> http://designermeetup.com/how-important-is-website-usability/feed 0 http://designermeetup.com/benefits-of-graphic-designing-combination-with-website-design http://designermeetup.com/benefits-of-graphic-designing-combination-with-website-design#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:14:56 +0000 Jessica http://designermeetup.com/?p=494 Continue reading →]]>

by Alan L Smith

Graphic design holds great position of importance along with website designing although both processes are different from each other. Graphics is more associated with the creative part whereas website design with the coding side. Their combination leads to a site that is good looking and appealing. Those who fail to recognize the importance of application of graphic design in websites, fail to generate the sites that are attractive. Adding visual appeal to a site goes a long way in deciding their success level.

From visual aspect, graphics are of paramount importance on a site. A picture can convey many messages or information that sometimes words fail to tell. It is easy for people viewing a site to connect better to graphical designs. Sometimes these designs establishes strong emotional bonding with the customers. It is obvious that visitors like to see images that are good looking and attractive and comeback to such sites for regular viewing. Adding and updating the pictures on regular basis is an extra benefit for the website owners. This goal can be very well achieved with the help of graphic designing.

Graphics provide a sense of professionalism to a website. Therefore it is important for site designers to have its knowledge. Many times a site might be coded very well with advanced javascript functions and fail to get visual appeal. So if you want to give that polished and professional look to your site, don’t ignore the element of graphic designing.

Apart from looking good, a website should be high on usability quotient also. Visitors should be able to use it in the manner it was meant to be. Keep it easy on navigation and also the visitors should be able to locate the desirable content in it. Try to avoid going overboard with graphics and keep it moderate and within a specific range so that there is maximum website usability.

In other words you can make your web design user-friendly with graphic design elements,  and give a professional overall look. Online competition to grab the target customer base is highly competitive, therefore to present your company in different yet attractive way is essential.

You can view graphic design portfolio of the designing company, which would give the gist of their work quality and standard. It also gives an idea whether their designing team would be able to do justice to your designing project or not.

Copyright©2009

SPINX – Best web design company offers services like Website Design Los Angeles, Website Design Bay Area, Website Design Beverly Hills & also across the globe.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Benefits-of-Graphic-Designing-Combination-with-Website-Design/682052

About the Author

SEORank use all the latest and most established technology to create a website design that is visually lip-smacking and just perfect for your needs. Also provide an ongoing web consulting process that will clearly identify your requirements in web design Sydney.

Because video game development has become so popular in recent years, many colleges and universities now offer various degrees and training programs. In fact, some community colleges offer entry-level courses in video game design. While these are general game design courses, the training, education, and degrees received are just as valid as one you would get from completing a game design schools’ degree program.

Some game design schools’ training can even be done online.  There are several advantages to these online programs. Obviously, you will have the ability to attend class from virtually anywhere in the world which opens up the number of game design schools that are actually available to you. Moreover, you will be allowed to complete game design schools’ degree programs in your own free time.  This means you will not have to quit your day job while pursuing a degree at any one of the online game design schools that can be found throughout the entire world.

Of course, there are several different aspects of game design that you can learn from one of these game design schools. Game design schools’ degree programs include computer programming, graphic design, audio engineering, as well as a host of other skills that can even be applied to other jobs in the IT sector. These are solid technical skills that are sure to be in demand well into the 21st century – whether you spend your entire career designing video games or not.

As you can see by now, there are a tremendous amount of opportunities available within the field of video game design.  There are also plenty of game design schools’ training programs that can be found almost anywhere around the globe. Video game design is a fun, challenging line of work and thanks to rapidly advancing computer technology, is a job that is changing and evolving nearly every single day. Perhaps the most important aspect of game design is job stability as it is quite obvious that video games are going to be a part of our culture for years to come.

With this in mind, you should not wait any longer.  If you are thinking about attending one of the game design schools, either online or at a campus near you, do not hesitate to contact them for more information immediately. After all, this is your future at stake here.  It will benefit you to get started in your career as soon as possible by finding the right game design schools’ training program for you.

A variety of traits are important to those considering a career in fashion design. They should be interested in and knowledgeable about trends in fashion, fabric, and color. A sense of balance and proportion is critical; an ability to sketch is advantageous. Creative flair is essential. Fashion design schools can help the individual learn how to express that creativity on paper via sketches or via computer-aided design. Fashion design schools also help the student learn how to use current trend research to create designs that have the best possible chance of success in the marketplace, helping the designer secure a better salary and achieve greater success in their chosen career path. As fashion design is not just art, but also commerce, fashion design degree programs can help merge talent with knowledge and experience to create a graduate that is in demand.

Though careers in fashion design conjure up images of runway models at haute couture shows, this realistically represents only a small aspect of potential fashion design careers. Behind every piece of clothing is the work of a fashion designer. Fashion design degree programs can also provide training that will apply to numerous related careers, such as fashion marketing, fashion buying, or fashion merchandising, as well as, fashion styling, photography, or even graphic design.

More than one fourth of fashion designers eventually run their own businesses or enjoy freelance careers. Though this generally necessitates more flexibility, more work hours, and more risk, it also carries the satisfaction of the designer creating his or her own label. This label becomes a symbol of the designer’s style and becomes sought after by consumers that identify with the designer’s work, which increases demand.

Fashion designers and related career choices will always be in demand because style will always be in demand. Consumers know that clothing is not just articles created to cover the body; it is a vehicle of self expression. Clothing can not only express a mood, it can also create it. Clothing can project an image of who a person is or who they wish to be, which transcends the mundane and helps people to have self confidence in who they are and what they are capable of accomplishing.

This is why, according to Harper’s Index, the average American spends over $1500 each year on clothing. Where image is of paramount importance, such as celebrity attendance at a popular event, it is not uncommon for an outfit to be specially commissioned to assure a one of a kind look, and the budget runs in the tens of thousands. Even during a recession, spending on fashion continues because most consider it a necessity. Most consumers have neither the time nor the talent to design their own clothing. Therefore, there will always be assured opportunities for fashion designers.

What to do to reinforce your brand

Even in good years, a unique and clearly developed personality is important for businesses selling goods and services. With money tighter than ever and customers everywhere taking extra time to make sure they really need to spend anything, a good brand strategy is more important than ever. Your company must be uniquely focused and on-target so that customers will choose to spend their more limited resources on you. Here are some tips about how to make your brand recession resistant, without breaking your own budget.

- Set clear goals and know your audience. Learn who buys your products or services and target your marketing strategies to this audience. Once you have identified your focus, your brand awareness strategies can follow. Understand their changing needs as time passes – and focus on changing along with these needs so that you don’t lose consumer interest.

• Live your brand at all times. You never know when the person you are talking to will become a potential customer – or even an investor. If you want your product or service to be seen as professional and modern, you have to be professional and modern. Looking for funky and modern? Don’t bee seen as stodgy and old-fashioned. Always remember your employees as well – they are a walking, talking public relations and advertising department. Make sure they stand behind you!
• Use every low-cost (or even sometimes free!) “cheat” available to you. External branding and marketing are perhaps the most important place you can spend your dollars – stretch this money as far as you can!

Most paper manufacturers will offer free samples – take these samples and test your materials on them! Seeing something in real life instead of on a computer screen can make a world of difference during the design process.

Look into “open source” Internet management platforms. This refers to platforms formerly used by bloggers and private individuals for free; they are simple to figure out and can be used by companies to run news magazine sites, photo galleries, portfolios, e-commerce sites, and almost anything else you can dream up as useful for getting your business “out there” and noticed first among your competition. These platforms don’t need web design experts, either – most run on “what you see is what you get” layout programs, so anyone with a head for your product can work on them.

Ask about stock subscription services. Many design companies (including ours) subscribe to several and can pass the savings on to clients. Stock refers to a standard set of photos and graphics that are online and available for purchase – subscribing to a service that collects these images allows you to use them in your own documents. Compelling visuals are important – images stick with a customer much longer than words alone.

Get the most out of your printing contractor. Check the prices on your paper size options, and see if the printer charges extra for custom cuts or per fold. A good designer can create a stand-out design on a common sized piece of media that doesn’t need any extra cutouts to make an impact. Check your proof carefully for errors and then maximize each print run by paying for a bulk quantity – it will save you more than you think in time and liquid assets.