Thousands of different sounds are absorbed by our ears every single day shaping our experience and memory of that day forever. Obviously some sounds are more important than others, for example speech is more important than the sound of a flushing toilet, however, they all play a part in designing our experiences of that particular day. But what about music; is this sound important and can it really fuel creativity?
Music plays a huge part in my daily life. Whether I am being creative selecting mixes whilst djing in a packed club in Manchester or Ibiza or simply jogging with my dog through the fields of sunny Lancashire listening to my iPod shuffle, I seem to always have an urge to listen to music, however it is my profession that is fuelled by music the greatest.
As a creative designer at Unit36 Creative Agency Manchester, there are times when creative block smacks me in the face and it feels like I have plummeted into a bleak empty black hole. My mind goes blank and negativity inevitably kicks in! “What now?” I ask myself. Well over the years of developing as a designer, I have escaped this impending doom by turning to my trusty old friend ‘music’. I browse my iTunes library, turn on the radio or even pick up my guitar and listen to the sound of music.
Music helps fuel creativity. It stimulates the mind and allows ones thoughts to escape the narrow bleak channels of silence. It stimulates memories, thoughts and feelings and allows those vital creative juices to flow. Not only that, research has shown that music; makes tasks seem easier, improves motivation, increases confidence, heightens self-trust and even sharpens personal discipline. Music helps improve your memory as the silence in between two musical notes can trigger the brain cells and neurones which are required for sharp memory. Music with stronger beats causes brain waves to resonate in sync with the music which causes higher levels of alertness and concentration. But most of all music affects the brain’s center which is responsible for developing creativity and will help you solve that design problem.
So whether you are laying out a wire frame for a web design project or looking for that unique design for that big brand client, whether it be; Country and western, Classical, Hip Hop or Deep House, turn up the music and fuel your creativity!
Hunter S. Thompson once said –
“Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.”
