Core77

Over at Coroflot's Creative Seeds Carl Alviani has compiled another inspiring list: Eight Real Ways to Build Your Creative Skill Set. To sum it up, knowledge is key, what you don't know, or don't try, can't help you. Here's a snippet:

Start a side project. Whether you're between jobs, fresh out of school, on break or just underemployed, there's no better time to get started on your dream project. If you've always wanted to design posters, but have been stuck doing brochures for the past year, now's your chance. Ditto for wannabe shoe designers, children's book illustrators, or whatever. Picking something that truly engages and inspires you makes for superior creative output, and real passion tends to shine through quite brightly in a portfolio piece.

Keep a sketchbook and/or notebook.
It's hard to think of a creative discipline that wouldn't benefit from regular sketching, brainstorming, or observational note-taking; and for certain skills--like sketching--it's hard to think of a more effective exercise.

Read.
One easy first step is to look closely at the leaders in your field, and find out if they've written anything, or, barring that, what they're reading. Another is to pay attention in conversation. If someone in your profession does good work and keeps referencing a book or a blog, make a note and check it out. At worst, you'll at least have something to discuss the next time you chat, or when sitting for an interview. At best, you'll learn something that makes you better at your job; it's not all hand skills, after all.

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photo: thevoicewithin