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.
The Wooden Elephant Story
A traveller comes across a local craftsman carving ornate elephants out of wood. Fascinated by the craftsman’s skill and the beauty of each and every wooden elephant, the traveller asks the craftsman, “How do you make such beautiful elephants?”. The craftsman responds, “First, I take my block of wood. Then, I take my trusty carving knife. And I carve away everything that is not an elephant.”
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.
Supporting Local Creatives
What does it mean to “support local”?
Life at the Edge of Creativity
Life at the edge is tough but never a dull moment. You are constantly positioned for change and uncertainty; nothing seems to be ever good enough.
50 Most Influential in Singapore Design 2015: Beacons of Inspiration
Instrumental in developing international design relationships, Tan recognised the importance of highlighting Singapore design on a global scale.
One of my favourite accounts on creativity
Creative people alter the way we see the world. They introduce the surprising, even shocking, alternative to the things we take for-granted as permanent and unchanging.
Can Creativity be Taught?
We do not need to be formally taught creativity, thinking or language, but it helps if we want to take it to a higher level.
Where Do Ideas Come From?
In fact, ideas are all around us, but its is like saying knowledge is all around us. But why is it that some people have somehow greater access and see more ideas than others?
Devoting Money to Culture and Creativity
The implied case of Singapore’s lack of culture and creativity is a different matter, let alone if they can be improved by “devoting” more money.
‘Offside’ Rules Stifle Creativity
This ‘rule’ is becoming increasingly ridiculous in our multi-disciplinary world where creativity is best found in intersections of disciplines.
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.
Intermediate Places in Urban Life
Their tentative and re-configurable nature resonates better with creative activities. More of such places are needed, especially at the personal and institutional level
Many Ways of Seeing
Much of what we presume as the “real world” is made up in our minds through a complex process of perception, postulations and concept formations; the world as we know it is not ready-made or to be taken as given.
Talent is not Creativity
It is of concern that many — especially those in education — do not make a distinction between talent and creativity.
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.
Creative Peloton
Leading designers in our community, like the lead peloton cyclists, generate the creative slipstreams that help to carry the other designers forward.
Emergent Sub-shapes
Visual perception is a key to creative thinking. If there is a ‘correct’ way to see every thing, our world will be uninteresting.
The False Hard-Soft Dichotomy in Education
Is it too much to expect students to acquire the blended “hard skills” and the “soft skills” when such an exemplary quality is a rarity in teachers who are usually from the hard or soft side?
When Productivity is Nonsense
The concept of “productivity” is a hangover from the industrial economy.