The assignment was to create an interesting image with two elements: a vase and a hammer. I did what most people would do in that scenario and I drew an obvious image of a hammer nearly hitting the vase.
The assignment was part of the admission test we had to take in university when I wanted to start studying design. Afterwards I learned it had two goals:
- Can you go beyond the obvious?
- Can you get over the fear of a blank canvas?
I miserably failed the first goal but had successfully completed the second. Little did I know that my journey of getting over the blank canvas would just begin. The ensuing years were effectively a relentless endurance marathon of effectively getting over myself and increase creative output. Something people still underestimate to this day when I talk with them about any creative effort.
All creative endeavours effectively begin with murder. Unless you have the cojones to kill the perfect idea that exists in your head and start by putting something in the messy, real world, you will never get on a path to create anything worth existing.