there's a looming idea that some of u have touched, it just sits there, like a dog that's not barking. i'll highlight it for u:

creativity is a process.

society nowadays are more interested/focused on results. creativity produces results, sure enough. but creativity itself is not treated as a result. it's just a means to get the final result. what are the other means? well, imitation is one.

imitating is easier, faster and requires less effort. for example, u instruct ur students to do a painting based on a particular topic. a purely instinctive creativity would draw from experience, inward looking, and depends on his own ability to interpret. others might just go over the internet and find things that they see fit to solve the problem. these are two extremes. there's always those in between, but lets ignore that for a minute.

both produces results. but imitation produces results faster and easier. the teacher (you, the school, or society etc) is only interested that the student delivers. u cant measure creativity empirically. meaning all u have to be judged is the end product. there u will assume what creative process that the students have been through. but u will never know for sure. u're just ASSUMING.

this is the problem right now. creativity is such a bizarre activity that even the world's best expert is still arguing between them.

the society is focused on products. are we losing creativity? collectively, maybe. but we still revere in those few that are able to harness their powers. just look at the designers. society looks up to them. but try and figure out their creative process? u'll find that whatever u do, u just cant imitate them...

cool eh?

exactly.

but interestingly, in school we were taught that the more beautiful a painting we produce, the "higher" our creativity is valued. that is inaccurate, as creativity should be valued on the process of making.

for example, the simplest sense of creativity is on problem solving. lets say ur teacher gives u a problem: how to throw an egg from the 3rd floor without breaking it? so u and ur friends start to conjure up solutions creatively. i'll show u some solutions people usually come up, from the simplest to the more complex and finally to the most elegant:

i. bundle the egg in a huge amount of bubble-wrap to cushion the fall.
ii. increase air drag by parachuting the egg down.
iii. suspend the egg in a collapsible frame to absorb impact.

(can u see that the solutions are becoming more elaborate and creative? and finally...)

iv. stand on the 3rd floor, throw the egg slowly up and catch it back.

does the no. iv solution makes sense to u?

glad somebody got it .

i teach 1st year architecture, one of the most creativity-dependent courses in the world. some might say fine-art is the most creative course, but architecture depends on creativity to solve problems. harnessing the ability for practical uses. since our society does pay much attention to creativity, breaking that mindset is one of the most challenging thing i've ever done.

that's not bcoz of lack of creativity.

it's bcoz u've grown and matured and have become more exposed to more things that u were before. the more things u see, the less impressed u become. go back 10 years ago, there are more things that impresses u on TV than today. and go forward 10 years, u'll see that there will be even lesser things impressing u than today.

that problem is not unique in malaysia. it's everywhere.

but even if everyone around u are into online gaming and the internet, doesnt mean that's the only thing that malaysians are only limited to. we're renowned for not having the best internet connection. at the same time, our broadband penetration is one of the lowest around. so what do those people not having good internet connection, if at all, do?

this problem is more prevalent in countries like korea and japan. but they still produce creative individuals. why?

unfortunately, aggressiveness is a characteristic of creativity.

we should clarify, being aggressive doesnt mean offensive. meaning, u can still be aggressive without having to step on another's toes. u can be strict, bold and strong, but not necessarily have to be arrogant, demanding and a prick.

individuality is one of the easiest motivation to drive creativity. the desire to be acknowledged as an individual drives people into establishing themselves in this world. the western world doesnt want to comply with the idea that we're only an insignificant speck in this universe. at the end of the day, they wanna go home and think "i've accomplished something today...".

in most asian countries, individualism is not that prevalent yet. but if u see in japan, u can easily look at the young culture. they have the same elements that influences us - pop cultures like manga, video games, fashion etc. but because of the massive conformist idealism that drives everyone to wanna be like their idol, a few of them bound to stand out by being different.

and this is the other drive for creativity - being different.

in the end, there's nothing wrong about being stuck with video games, tv or the internet. we just hadnt reached critical mass yet. we dont have enough people to follow one stream or the other. i mean, can u seriously get 10,000 people who're into cosplay in 1 place in malaysia? i've been to comic fiesta, u'll be lucky to get 100.

so at such small number, perhaps 1 or 2 might stand out. the bigger the pool, the more creative people get.

oh joy .

i'm a full time lecturer. but all lecturers in architecture are required to be involved in practice in one way or another. this is to keep us up to date with things out there. so yes, i still do design, but mostly interior. i have one multiplex project that just concluded the design phase, but i dont think the client is going to push the design forward.

we're now submitting the design into competitions and try to win some sustainability awards, so that the client will be interested again to go forward and initiate the construction phase. the design's more conventional on the outside. we poured our creativity to try and win GBI (green building index) platinum award.

oh cool.

factory? how much power could the solar panels supply?