Game Design Process

A key takeaway from these three readings is that both Art and Design, which go hand and hand arguably impact us daily. Both are used uniquely to challenge and critique our everyday lives. What I have learned is that being an artist or a designer is not a calling only for a special few who are just "born" with these gifts. Everyone has the ability to create, to do art, to design.

I think something to keep in mind as a designer and an artist there are social responsibilities in addressing societal and environmental issues. Working actively to influence positive change and the importance of understanding the needs of the world is key.

As I was reading, I reflected back on the videos I also watched this week. We are in an artificial world now. Amazing, and It makes me think about design, whether by an architect, artist, or technologist, which carries immense social responsibility. Considering the artificial worlds we now live in, largely shaped by design decisions, it intensifies the ethical questions surrounding nowadays emerging tech.

We are in an unknown era; truly, any design can be brought to life. But with no policies or restrictions, emerging tech like Artificial Intelligence could do harm as well. I question how to combat this, even though we are taught through these readings that we are not powerless; how can we influence the direction of technology? I often feel powerless, although I engage in responsible innovation and participate in policy discussions, how can I shape and remind others in higher power of moral design efforts?

The idea that everyone can be creative really resonates with me, especially the point that there are no natural geniuses, just routine and habit that build creative ability. I find that some poeple, however, are naturalsally better at things than other people. That is the baseline. To combat this, you can also work extra hard to get good at something. On the other end, if you are naturally good, you aren't great either until you work hard. I find the definition of creativity lost on me. I haven’t invented something or made a product; everyone can have ideas, so what makes someone Great at Creativity? Furthermore, I find it's often intimidating to get started on a blank canvas, and it's even more intimidating when you're unfamiliar with the medium you're working in. This is where preparation becomes crucial. You have to know how to prepare to be creative, both in terms of materials and practices. For me I use other mediums to help spark my creativity, like listening to music that matches the theme of what I'm drawing.

The concept of creativity coming from habit is really interesting to me. I definitely agree that hard work trumps natural talent and that preparation is essential. But here's the catch: I find myself struggling with things I'm too intimidated to practice. How do we break that spiral? It's like my doodling habits. I only became comfortable doodling when there was a routine behind it. I didn't start doodling humans until I took figure drawing. Before that, I only doodled flowers, and even that felt intimidating at first. The reading around The Miseducation of the Doodle claims that doodling increases focus during dull or complex material, but I'd say the opposite is true for me. I get too focused on what I'm doodling and often zone out completely. When I try to sketch visuals during a lecture to help me understand the content, I actually fall behind because I'm so absorbed in the drawing process. How can I make doodling more productive? Regarding Sketching: the Visual Thinking Power Tool,I love to sketch, but I find it incredibly hard to do UI mockups and structural stuff. I adore sketching figures but absolutely loathe sketching shapes. How do I make myself enjoy the technical sketching so I can get better at it? For me, sketching feels most valuable when it's spontaneous: pen and paper, between classes, in a time crunch. There's something about that immediacy that makes it work better than forced practice.

What makes someone great at being creative? Is it subjective? I've been called creative my whole life when I was younger because of decent artistic ability, but I feel like really I stick to what I like. I find myself struggling with ideas in places I am unfamiliar with. How do you get better at being creative? What defines that progress?