Milton Tan Dreambook
Dreams: a dynamic realm of possibility and the nonsensical, fleetingly masquerading as reality. It is no wonder why Dr. Tan always kept a notebook by his bedside to write or sketch the ideas that would visit through dreams. Taking after its namesake and purpose, this blog shares our ideas, observations and experiences with design and creativity with the hopes that you, in turn, will share yours.
Don’t Mind If I Ask…
Don’t Mind If’s inaugural communications design community and industry survey report provides a much needed and overdue introspection into Singapore’s creative industry. If you’re part of this colourful community, considering a path in it or even just curious, grab a copy and peak at the consolidated perspectives on what makes it tick.
A Decorator Crab’s View on Creativity
Unlike specific octopi or cuttlefish, arguably the masters in the art of camouflage, decorator crabs do not have the natural ability to effortlessly replicate the colours and/ or textures of our environment. Instead, I must invest in my environment in order to pass off as nearly as masterful in this artform. My motives for survival are clearly different from yours as students of creativity. But I believe we share common ground in the pursuit of our respective artforms.
Mind Over Material
There is a little piece of Singapore’s history pocketed in the Changi Chapel & Museum, that zooms in on the artwork of some of the internees of the Changi Garrison. Despite malnutrition, disease and cramped, unsafe/unsanitary living conditions, the internees did their best to maintain their morale, another essential for survival.
The Changing Brief
We seem to have no problem accepting and propagating change, so long as we are not the ‘changee’ — the victim of change.
Rabbit-Duck Figure Revisited
The ability to label parts of an object and obtain a coherent whole is so powerful that we often do not need all the defining information to make and act on the incomplete.
Alternative Value Propositions
Designers are in a good position to propose alternative value propositions. But they need to be laterally creative and not be so naïve about how bureaucrats and bean-counters work. A creative win-win is often the only way.
Some things don’t change
Change can be extremely slow and surprisingly resilient. This of course can be a good or bad or indifferent thing.
Best Progress
It’s a different world when recognition goes to progress rather than achievements.