Getting Creative: Should You Start From The Big Picture Or The Details?
Posted March 3, 2009 in Inspiration, Productivity
Creativity is a central part in almost every freelancer’s career. Whether you’re a writer, a designer, or even a programmer — mastering your creative side is just part of the job.
Every freelancer is different, though, and getting creative often requires a different approach for each person. In this post we take a look at one of the most fundamental choices when it comes to creativity: working from the big picture, or diving in and starting with the details.
Working From the Big Picture
Are you the type of person that has to have an outline before writing anything? Do you research and plan every detail before starting on the design of a website or logo?
If you answered yes to the above, then you’re probably someone who starts from the big picture and works down into the details. The benefits of using this approach include:
- Have a better idea of the overall project goals
- Constant knowledge of constraints and limits
- Always know how immediate work fits into the full project
- Can be a good way to force or jump-start your creativity
Starting from the big picture is often a great choice if you have a very analytical personality and need to know all of the details before you can begin to get creative. Conversely, if you are extremely creative, starting from the big picture can help keep your work in-line with the project goals and keep you from straying too far off track.
Starting With the Details
Do you find yourself feeling lost until you sit down with a sketchbook and pencil? Do you like to run with an idea just to see where it will take you?
If you answered yes to these questions, you’re probably the type of person who likes to start with the details and figure out the big picture later on. There are a lot of good reasons to use this approach, some of them are:
- Don’t limit your creativity with constraints or existing concepts
- Often can find great new ideas accidentally
- Is a great way to get started without having to analyze anything
- Great for fluid projects without a fixed goal or endpoint
Jumping right into the details can be a great strategy if you find that constraints or plans limit your ability to be creative. Diving in at the ground floor can help avoid over-analysis and will help you get started on the project immediately.
What’s Your Creative Process?
Managing creativity is a very personal thing for most freelancers. Each of us have our own methods and ideas, and every person is different. It requires a lot of self-exploration to determine what works best, and there is a lot we can learn by comparing notes.
Are you more of a “big picture” type, or do you prefer to jump right into the details? Why does that method work best for you?
Do you mix a little of both, or change it up based on the specific project? Why do you like doing it that way?
Let us know your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.
Related posts:
- 5 Creativity Killers And How To Get Your Creative Juices Flowing Again
- 4 Steps to Unleash Your Creative Genius
- Connect With Your Creative Writer
- StylishLabs – The Creative District
- The Creative Brief: Improve Your Project Workflow
About the author: Mason Hipp is a designer, entrepreneur, and writer. He is co-author of the Book The Unlimited Freelancer, and has just recently launched a collection of premium graphic resources for web designers called MediaLoot. Follow him on twitter @MasonHipp
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21 Comments
Nikhil
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:59 pmGood Post !!!
I think, I am of jump to detail type of guy. Many times when I don’t have much work, I try out with my creativities with results in some excellent idea. This becomes helpful when we have any project in hand and there is not much time for completion. Isn’t it?
Charlie
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:17 pmI am more of a Big Picture type. I like to do a lot of thumbnails, gray scale value studies, color sketching, etc of everything that will be part of my project, then put the pieces together. It works best this way for me because I generate my own references. I think you limit the full potential of an idea if you go right for the detail.
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:56 pmI write like I build software – I know what I want to produce but getting to the end result is often quite the interesting journey! Giving into your creativity and not letting “it’s never been done before” stop you….that’s how I tackle big projects.
Steve Atkinson
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:02 pmAs a single person, to be successful I think takes a lot of time because in reality the way to complete a job deals with both. There’s the Big Picture where you know what needs to be done and the time line on when it needs to be completed.
Once that is determined then it’s time to be creative and work out the details and go from there.
At all times there has to be a combination of the two.
Laura Spencer
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:06 pmCan I say both? (-:
My mode of operation is typically to start with a big picture and break it into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Colin Wright
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:46 pmI’m naturally more of a big picture person, but the details are usually what ends up being more fun, so I second a dual-approach with a solid amount of attention given to both!
Dalia
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:20 pmI usually have a general idea for the project. On the other hand, i let my pencil live it’s own live – I draw the first line and then I simply follow it till the very end.
Wendy
March 4th, 2009 at 2:02 amOften I’m inspired by a detail & incorporate it into the big picture, so I guess I use a combination approach. It does vary based on the project. Great topic – thanks for the post.
Craig Scott
March 4th, 2009 at 5:22 amI think I mainly like to work from the big picture, but it doesn’t always work that way! Sometimes I do get new ideas ‘accidentally’ but usually I need to know what I’m working towards.
Tom Lindstrom
March 4th, 2009 at 9:53 amGood post.In my opinion you should first know what you want to do (big picture) and then figure out in smallest detail exactly how you are going to achieve that goal.Also, writing down everything on paper helps to see it more clearly.
Kerrie
March 4th, 2009 at 11:01 amI think it depends on the project for me. When I am working on an article for a newspaper or newsletter or something like that, I have to have some kind of structure. I usually make a very rough outline. But, when I’m writing for me in my notebook or on my blog, I normally start with the details because typically it is some small thought or sentence or word that gets me going.
Nunya
March 4th, 2009 at 12:36 pmI’m naturally a big picture person. i first try to visualize what the project would look like and then transfer that onto paper just to act as a sort of mental guide.
once this process is done, the rest is all about adding detail bit by bit until finally, the project take shape
At times after getting to a “safe” point i let loose with the creativity and allow the ideas maximum freedom. I usually end up with something much better than what i had originally planned.
Rhoda Villegas
March 4th, 2009 at 2:58 pmI think I’m definitely more into the details. But then I definitely have thought of the bigger picture first too. I guess it just depends on the project at hand, it’s scale, and your familarity with it.
If it’s the kind of job I’m not familiar with, I will definitely ask a lot of questions and do research on the big picture first.
If it’s something I’ve done before, I may be more likely to go into details first.
Great post BTW! It’s funny how you don’t realise your own methods in doing things, until someone else points them out, heh.
Catherine Cantieri, Sorted
March 4th, 2009 at 10:55 pmI’ll usually start with a tiny scintilla of inspiration, one image or phrase or idea, and then I’ll try to follow it along to where it might lead, keeping in mind that the resulting work has to be internally consistent and at least somewhat plausible.
japanese words
March 5th, 2009 at 6:43 amI thin I tend to try and focus on the big picture first and then fill in the details later. If I do the other way around I get to caught up in making everything perfect.
Karen Vick
March 8th, 2009 at 9:42 amI find that starting with the big picture makes dealing with the details a whole lot easier. Knowing and understanding the client’s goals opens up the flood gates for creativity. It creates a sense of clarity.
I have had times when the client is unable to articulate their needs and doing my research, clarifying my findings with the client and polishing up with a creative brief enables me to move on.
I guess you could say I am the analytic type!
Preston Lee
March 20th, 2009 at 2:15 amIt could go both ways in my opinion. Thanks for the great article.
Nemanja Jovanovic
April 1st, 2009 at 8:48 amI always start from big picture always,it allows a lot more creativity and fluidness,after that the details just fit in easily.
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