The old adage is true. There are no dumb questions. Except the ones you don't ask.
Growing up, I wanted to be an FBI agent because I was fascinated in finding out the who, what, when, where and why something happened. But since science, chemistry and math were not my strong subjects, I gravitated to art and design instead. Luckily, I came to find the creative world gave me a whole new exciting space where I could ask as many questions as I wanted. Today, whether I’m developing and designing a brand identity or solving a creative brief, I get to ask the “Five Ws” to formulate design solutions in an artistic way. What's even more exciting is that with the creative process, there will always be more than one right answer.
It’s not just creative directors and FBI agents who benefit from being curious.
According to the Harvard Business Review, “management thinker Peter Drucker placed knowing the right questions to ask at the core of his philosophy on strategic thinking. Many of today’s leaders have adopted Drucker’s ‘be intelligently curious’ philosophy as an approach to become more salient as the world increases in complexity.”
In fact, my clients are great examples of Drucker's philosophy. As many are funded startups and entrepreneurs, through their business ventures, they are all trying to solve a problem. They’re open, ask questions and are always eager to listen and learn.
For example, the last website I launched in collaboration with K.B. Taylor Marketing was for Creekside Recovery Residences. Its founders, Carter and Brad recognized the need for sober living residences in Atlanta created specifically for professionals and family members of professionals. Had they not been curious about finding a better way for sober living homes, Creekside would not have come into existence.
In order to design their new brand, I needed to ask questions, too.
Discovering that Creekside provides a safe space for recovery led to my decision to nestle the type inside the house for its logo. This design choice is also a nod to being “inside” the Perimeter and that guests have their own bedrooms.
Asking more questions, I learned of Creekside’s modern and fresh take on rehab facilities. So, I chose clean lines and the impactful font of Trade Gothic and Trade Gothic Condensed. Finally, to complete the sleek and contemporary feel, I chose a “Golden Lime” green color and a classic and calming navy-blue Pantone color, “Blue Depths” as well as a dark gray and black for the finished design.
Like everything else, design problems can be solved by trying something “tried and true.”
Still, as you become more curious about how to solve a problem, you’ll often find that creativity and innovation are the best way to uncover something new, different and inherent in a company and/or brand ethos.
So, how can you develop more curiosity to solve more problems and be creative? Lifehack has four tips: “Keep an open mind. Don’t take things for granted. Ask questions relentlessly and don’t label things as boring.” And to master an essential trait of being curious, heed these five words from Fast Company: “Be willing to be wrong.”
Follow this advice and who knows what you will invent or problem you will solve in 2020.