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.
The Decennial of the Milton Tan Memorial Fund
We celebrate the MTMF’s contributions to the design community over the last decade, the Fund’s donors, managers and beneficiaries as well as the people and institutions preparing our next generation of creatives.
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?
Choosing to be Painfully Generous
Generosity is critical to enhance unlimited human potential. There is no excuse for principals, teachers and parents to doubt this.
‘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.
Another Example of Visual Thinking
There are many exciting possibilities of being able to think visually. They are divergent, exploratory and do not attempt to be ‘correct’