A recipe for success: creative thinking combined with business acumen-The Creative Entrepreneur
- Nicola Dietmann
- Jan 2, 2017
- 2 min read
Design and Business are not only joining forces but also colliding in a truly remarkable ways.
It is becoming increasingly evident that today creative minds need business acumen and an entrepreneurial spirit to thrive. The concept of the chaotic artist/designer who is ‘managed’ by a sponsor, guardian or patron is being smashed apart –by both ends of the scale.
The modern creative designer is engaging with business ideas and strategies to create their own brands and companies. Creatives are often organised, focused and strategic, analysing and also setting the trends of our society; this richly diverse and competitive sector is learning the importance of a core understanding of running their business, for never has there been such an plethora of ready available resources that allow us to develop important skills such as:
Business fundamentals
Core marketing tactics
Key accounting skills
Effective sales strategies
The business entrepreneur is increasingly engaging with creative thinkers to continue to grow their business; there is not only greater insight into understanding how design can engage with consumers but how innovation and creative thought has revolutionised business. The past 50 years has seen numerous examples of innovative design that has totally changed the way we live – from the smart phone to ocean sea bins cleaning our polluted water. Today’s commerce is getting to grips with a core understanding of the creative processes and the challenges designers face, such as
The creative process
Inspirations
Materials and creative tools
Design effects on the individual
The next key question is how to effectively encourage this progress, and better blend these two seemingly opposing skill sets, enabling them to work more harmoniously and successfully together, thus providing enormous opportunities for both the creative designer and the business entrepreneur. Can these two elements form the same person?
It seems that this idea is starting to emerge and it is further education that is leading the way.
Central St Martins is now the first art school offering a Creative MBA;
“From September 2017, the course will combine the design ethos of studio teaching at Central Saint Martins, part of University of the Arts London, with seminars and online learning led by Birkbeck.
“In an ever changing and ever more complex world, business leaders and entrepreneurs are going to need new ways of thinking and doing,” ……
“We have designed the course to combine core business skills with the creativity and experimentation of an art and design school.”
The ambition is to train a new kind of business graduate, able to combine creative thinking with core financial and strategic management skills…….
There is a gap in the market for MBA graduates who can think creatively about strategic issues”
See full article here:
This is surely a giant step in the right direction? I think that the benefits of understanding both creative thinking and business can be huge….
Not only will this aid the development of creative companies and help engage business brands but perhaps begin to develop a new style of thinking.
My own design company being a testament to creative thinking blending with brand commerce but also itself being developed by having a clear business strategy
Click below to see just how we did it.
Comments