Creativity is about a process, a process that involves the use of a person's imagination. Today, in this instant gratification, cyber plummelled world, imagination is so often neglected and overlooked. We can't imagine because it is already done for us. We watch the videos, the movies, YouTube and rarely dabble in that pastime our parents once knew so well – using our imagination, or what we used as children before the advent of the Internet.
The facility to use our imagination is one of the keystone's of creative thinking. And creative thinking in the career counselling context is not about running off to a workshop to learn how to be creative, but using our imagination to gain insight and understanding to what presents itself in our life journey. What choices do we have? What options could we possibly take? These answers are in our imagination. It is the imagination that will steer our course for us, if we let it.
This one is done in a visual diary and combines a collection of images relating to scenes that the owner identifies with: topiary hedges, lap swimming pool, books, romance, water features, historical places, beautiful homes, characters out of story books – Alice in Wonderland, chandeliers, gazebos garden features, travel destinations, etc.Visual Vision Statements: The Collage as a Process and Metaphor
One exercise I do with my clients to help them in developing their imagination in relation to their career choices, is to create a collage. Using this technique is also a creative process. The collage approach works as a catalyst, and when used as a metaphor for a capusle summary of their life, the synthesis of these images can trigger ideas, strategies and processes that they may have previously been unaware of.
Their collage is to be reflection on what they think about themselves as a person, and what they wish their desired future to be.
- What objects they like?
- What places they like to visit?
- What hobbies interest them?
- Who are their role models (if they have one)?
- What words do they like?
- What is important to them?
- What are their favourite colours?
- Designs?
- Animals?
My clients are either supplied with images to help them with this, or they do it at home, downloading images and words, printing them off, cutting out pictures from magazines, brochures, flyers, newspapers, etc.
From here they then arrange them as a collage onto an A3 sized page or within their visual diary. They may use words to define special moments, words to describe how they feel, what is important to them, what they value. They may use destination photographs to places they would like to travel to. The ideas are countless, and it just involves them using their imagination along with pictures of images that they can download or cut out.
This collage depicts scenes of books, computer programs, words featuring affirmations such as success, risk, enterprise; and a photo of a child, meetings, people; things the owner of this collage felt were substantial in her life, or what she valued.Once they have created their collage, they can add additional features, such as design swirls (if they decide it adds to the complete picture of themselves), or they can add special colour highlights, even mixed media elements (including 2D items). These combine to create a snapshot of themselves. They are insights into their past, present and their desired future state.
Once they have completed their collage they can look at it, see patterns, view it as a visual vision statement for themselves as recognition to the journey they wish to plan ahead. Participants come away with skills to engage their imaginations more readily, and to approach their life journey with increased confidence, determination, commitment and insight.
The visual vision statement can also be used in:
- strategy development and exploration;
- innovation and product development; and
- branding development.
