Graphic Designer Paula Scher on Serious Play and Not Becoming Solemn
Paula Scher is one of the great graphic designers of our time. Being a master of typography, many of the memes we see in graphic design today could be attributed to her popular work. Even if you're not interested in design, but you are interested in creativity and innovation, you should check out Scher's TED talk below.
"In my youth, passion drove me into very serious play; a kind of play I could never do now because I'm too well educated. There's something wonderful about that form of youth. Where you can let yourself grow and play and be really a brat" Paula Scher
Like many creative people, Sher recognizes that often the best work comes from serious play. The unfortunate thing is that when we create good work from serious play and it becomes successful, then we tend to try and recreate moments of authentic spontaneity so that we can continue creating great work. Well, trying to recreate a moment of spontaneous, uninhibited play that yields great results quickly causes us to become stiff, stale and as Scher says, solemn.
SOL·EMN
[sol-uhm] adjective
1. grave, sober, or mirthless, as a person, the face, speech, tone, or mood: solemn remarks.
2. gravely or somberly impressive; causing serious thoughts or a grave mood
3. characterized by dignified or serious formality
So what can we do about this very human situation that creative leaders in any field face? Scher, has some interesting insights from her 35+ years balancing this tension between serious play and solemnity.
"This funny thing happened, I found I was no longer at play, but in this solemn landscape of fulfilling an expectation, which was not where I started...That's a terrifiying factor because it means that all that's left for you is to go back and find out what the next thing is that you can push, that you can invent, that you can be ignorant about, that you can fail with, because in the end that's how you grow and that's all that matters." Paula Scher
Key takeaways
Start Embracing play and the unexpected
Take on jobs that are a little beyond your abilities
Don't be afraid to be a fool and experiment
Don't be afraid to start over
Don't Cling to success
Helvetica isn't as great as people think...
"Play prepares us for the unexpected" Marc Bekoff -Contemporary Biologist
