The hottest Creativity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

America Should Not Become a Nation of Tiger Moms

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1321 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Life is about more than just chasing a high salary or getting into a prestigious college. People need to enjoy their lives and find happiness in other ways.
  2. Overly strict parenting, like the 'Tiger Mom' approach, can lead to anxiety and depression in children. It's important to let kids have fun and make friends instead of just focusing on grades and achievements.
  3. A society that values creativity and risk-taking is important. Not everyone needs to be competitive; we need people doing everyday jobs too, like fixing cars or caring for others.

We are immersed in a world of wetness

lifeboat • 825 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Creativity
  1. Water is an essential element that is present in all aspects of our world
  2. Rain is a primary source of fresh water and plays a crucial role in replenishing reservoirs and aquifers
  3. Creativity can serve as a connective tissue for the human spirit, fostering self-awareness and deeper connections with others

#145 Hidden colours

Design Lobster • 499 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🪑 Design Creativity
  1. The HSB color model provides an intuitive way to choose colors, focusing on hue, saturation, and brightness, which can help create cohesive color palettes.
  2. Disney uses colors like 'Go-Away Green' to de-emphasize necessary yet unsightly elements in their parks, demonstrating how color can direct attention and create specific atmospheres.
  3. Color in design is a powerful tool for communication, allowing designers to convey messages and emotions without using words.

Never stop never stopping

Austin Kleon • 1818 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Creativity thrives on routine; small consistent actions can lead to big results over time.
  2. Feeling overwhelmed can make you consider giving up, but finding a way to keep going can lead to surprising solutions.
  3. Sharing experiences and practices with others can reinforce the value of persistence in creative work.

The Changing Role of Design

The Intersection • 732 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🪑 Design Creativity
  1. The design industry is evolving, with a shift from traditional design agencies to transformation consultancies.
  2. Design thinking has democratized design, making it more accessible but may have overemphasized thinking over the act of making.
  3. The role of designers in digital products like Threads may not always be obvious, as factors like timing and innovation can play a key role in success.
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Inside my studio

Austin Kleon • 2378 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Having a neat workspace can be overwhelming. It's important to remember that creating in a clean space is not the ultimate goal.
  2. Sometimes, you need permission to get messy and be creative. It's okay to make a bit of a mess while working on your projects.
  3. A well-organized studio setup can make it easier to switch between tasks. Having both digital and analog spaces allows for more creativity.

All good things must begin (again)

Austin Kleon • 2178 implied HN points • 10 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Starting fresh can be tough, but it's okay to take your time. Sometimes it helps to focus on the little things that motivate you every day.
  2. Writing isn’t always about creating new ideas; it's also about rediscovering old ones and sharing them again. What you say can still be valuable even if others have said it before.
  3. Using notebook affirmations can uplift your spirit and give you the push you need to create. Remind yourself of your goals and why you love writing to stay inspired.

Framing things: a personal essay

Design Lobster • 439 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Approaching work with care and reverence, handling it as if it's a precious artifact, can enhance the creative process.
  2. Taking time to appreciate the beauty and significance of ordinary design elements can lead to unexpected moments of inspiration.
  3. Reflecting on and framing our own work, treating each step with importance, can help in navigating through the ups and downs of the design process.

Artisinal white noise

escape the algorithm • 199 implied HN points • 03 May 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Social media can turn personal identity into obligation, like with Spotify Wrapped.
  2. There was a period where white noise podcasts were popular due to an algorithmic trend.
  3. There are creative acts of algorithmic resistance, like music artists and extensions that subvert norms.

The importance of Nice Things

Design Lobster • 1278 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Collecting things can be a source of inspiration and help in the design process by providing a sense of unity and completeness.
  2. Finding inspiration laterally from various sources outside your direct field can lead to innovative designs.
  3. Nice things that inspire creativity and design don't necessarily have to be extravagant or expensive, they just need to evoke a feeling in you.

The Wit’s Guide to Shower Thoughts

Get Wit Quick • 491 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Shower thoughts are tiny revelations that highlight oddities in familiar things.
  2. To be a good shower thought, it must change how you see the world and follow specific guidelines.
  3. Shower thoughts can't be jokes, puns, or anything directly related to showers.

Liz and John Radcliffe

So Here’s a Thing • 865 implied HN points • 19 May 23
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. The story presented about Liz and John Radcliffe is a fictional creation written as an experiment by the author to explore the impact of storytelling with AI-generated images.
  2. The author discusses the implications of AI in the creative field, questioning the boundaries of creativity, ownership, and authenticity in art.
  3. AI presents both challenges and opportunities for creators, raising questions about control, skill acquisition, and the evolving landscape of artistic expression.

Reworlding art

Eucatastrophologist • 471 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Good art reveals reality hidden by our distractions and vanities.
  2. Teaching art should focus on harmony, integration, and revelation.
  3. Encourage creativity by emphasizing contemplation, embracing negativity, and not providing easy answers.

Uninflected Images

So Here’s a Thing • 845 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Audiences can fill in narrative gaps between images or scenes to create a more engaging story.
  2. Leaving space for interpretation and gaps in storytelling can lead to a deeper connection with the audience.
  3. Allowing readers or viewers to connect the dots on their own can lead to a richer and more personal experience.

Adventure Time and the Subversion of Whimsy, or How The Rightwing Lost Their Children

Trantor Publishing • 738 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Conservatives lost the ability to pass down their values to the youth, showing the importance of storytelling and children's entertainment in shaping culture.
  2. Children's stories should be taken seriously, as they can convey deep meanings in a way that is understandable and impactful to young minds.
  3. The show Adventure Time delves into complex themes and characters but also contains dark and subversive elements, reflecting a trend in modern storytelling where innocence is lost in pursuit of adult themes.

The Questioning Substack Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1387 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Substack has become popular, but not all new writers bring valuable content. Some just add noise instead of fresh ideas.
  2. Substack is shifting from being a platform for written words to focusing on creators and video content, which may dilute its original purpose.
  3. There's a need for better writing and opinions in newsletters that are not just about making money or following trends; writing should matter more than affiliate links.

Shedding Skin, Starting Anew

Seven Senses • 799 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. A new weekly series called 'Present Sense' will share various recommendations for engaging all five senses and mindfulness. It'll include suggestions for books, food, and nature activities.
  2. Meditation is emphasized as a key practice for improving focus and awareness. There will be guided sessions to help everyone try it out, no matter their experience level.
  3. Fresh experiences, like tasting fresh beans or visiting new places, can greatly enhance our enjoyment of life. Paying attention to these moments helps us appreciate the beauty around us.

#144 Design Déja Vu

Design Lobster • 479 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Corporate Memphis or Globohomo is an overused illustration style characterized by flat colors, geometric elements, and simplistic human figures, popular in Big Tech software.
  2. The Lobster typeface, designed by Pablo Impallari, became widely popular in the 2010s for its retro-contemporary appeal, but font choices should always align with the intended message.
  3. Designers should aim to bring a human touch to designs without relying on typical illustrations, considering alternatives to communicate warmth and humanity.

‘Looking Forward’: A Brief Film for Our Times.

Breaking the News • 1141 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. The film 'Looking Forward' combines AI and real-world footage to highlight the contradictions of our time. It's a unique mix that encourages viewers to think deeply about today's world.
  2. It has a hopeful message about how we face challenges, showing that optimism and pessimism can exist together. This balance is important for understanding our current situation.
  3. The film is not just informative but also visually impressive, making it enjoyable to watch. It features interesting moments that capture the audience's attention.

Five Weeks Writing on a Boat

The Fairest Writer • 139 implied HN points • 21 May 24
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Changing your writing space can really boost your creativity. Working in a cozy place like a boat helped focus on detailed work.
  2. Residencies like the Leighton Independent Residency provide a mix of independence and community. You can choose when to interact with others while still enjoying social moments.
  3. Being in a stunning natural environment, like Banff National Park, adds to the experience. Hiking and seeing wildlife adds a nice break from writing.

In Person > Online ⛲️

The Commonplace • 393 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Creativity
  1. Twin vocations can complement each other well, benefiting both the individual and their families.
  2. Building connections with others is crucial, especially in solitary work, as digital connections can't replace in-person friendships.
  3. Progress in work is made through daily consistency, even if the results may seem unimpressive at first.

Fast & Slow

Seven Senses • 439 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Finding a balance between speed and deliberation in creative work can lead to surprising results. Sometimes, working quickly helps your intuition shine through.
  2. Taking time to focus on quality and detail in creative projects is valuable, but it can also limit your potential. It's important to stay aware of when this focus becomes restrictive.
  3. Creativity often lies in the middle ground between slow and fast approaches. Embracing both can lead to a richer creative experience.

on tedium

visa's voltaic verses ⚡️ • 24 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Use simple scaffolding—like lists or checklists—to stop meandering and make your work predictable and easier to do when you're busy or tired.
  2. Tedium is thoughtless repetition caused by the wrong mental frame, so instead of waiting for inspiration or clinging to identity-based approaches, try changing your process and act differently now.
  3. Keep things playful by working within time‑bounded, flexible containers (rough plans plus open time), and deliberately press feel‑good buttons like reading and exercise by challenging beliefs that they don't work, are too hard, or are undeserved.

Lessons in persuasion from the Father of Advertising

A Bit Gamey • 13 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
💼 Business Creativity
  1. Big ideas are usually simple and come from a well‑informed mind, so play with ideas, aim high, and look for one clear, memorable insight.
  2. Write plainly to real people — use the language they think, address them as individuals, and favour clarity over cleverness so your words change behaviour.
  3. Be disciplined: test relentlessly, edit your drafts ruthlessly, tell the truth, and repeat what works until it stops selling.

Close reading the trees

escape the algorithm • 339 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Rainbolt's impressive skills in locating Google Street View images demonstrate the depth of human knowledge and expertise in navigating the world.
  2. Rainbolt's ability to identify locations in old photos and videos showcases a unique way of connecting with people and revealing the distinctiveness of the world.
  3. Rainbolt's adventures in using technology and human intelligence together present a hopeful perspective on how we can appreciate the diversity and texture of humanity despite the homogenizing effects of the internet.

Thank you--yes, you!

Disaffected Newsletter • 1298 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🎙 Podcasts Creativity
  1. The author appreciates readers and subscribers for their support of the writing project. It feels good to have people enjoy and value their work.
  2. Writing can be tough, especially financially, but the support from readers is helping the writer get by.
  3. The author enjoys the freedom to write about topics they care about, and it’s rewarding to know people are listening.

Creativity is Domain Independent

Insight Axis • 671 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Creativity is not limited to specific fields like art or music; it is a fundamental aspect of being human, manifested across various domains like science, art, writing, and programming.
  2. The creative process involves daring to create something, followed by refining and improving upon it - a cycle present in science, art, and literature.
  3. In programming and software engineering, creativity is not just about writing code but also about the iterative process of refining, debugging, and deleting code - highlighting the importance of continuous improvement and simplification.

#146 Questioning the question

Design Lobster • 319 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Frame-storming can lead to more creative solutions by reframing the problem.
  2. Curiosity about simple questions like 'Why do burrs stick?' led to groundbreaking inventions like Velcro.
  3. Leaving room for mysteries and the unknown can enhance design and creativity.

Invisible Threads

Seven Senses • 359 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Sometimes, we have the same ideas as others at the same time. This can feel frustrating when it comes to creative work, but maybe it's a sign that we're all connected.
  2. Many great ideas in history were discovered by different people independently. This shows that creativity often works the same way, where themes arise collectively rather than just from one person.
  3. If multiple people express the same idea, it doesn't mean it's less original. It might actually show the idea's strength and how it resonates with many, much like a chorus in a song.