Characteristics
Creatives are unique in that they are a rare blend of all learning styles. They think outside the box, and color outside the lines. They have very active imaginations, and once their cognitive wheels start turning, they can spin out of orbit. As a result ideas proliferate. They are stimulating people, and can at times be exhausting. Many struggle to settle themselves down because the kaleidoscope never stops spinning. On the contrary, it can get out of control. This is a beautiful, brilliant, and lovely frustration. It takes no time at all to recognize that these are very gifted individuals.
Creatives inherently push boundaries — not because they are rebellious, but because they see beyond limitations so easily. Boundaries, which naturally impose limitations, frustrate them. “Boundary pushing” is their gift, making them inventive. They forge ahead where others lag behind. They frequently leave both their professors and peers eating their dust. Creatives often have extraordinarily high IQ levels, and can advance quickly if afforded the opportunity. Needless to say, it’s not hard to understand why these individuals bore easily in a traditional classroom.
If you hit the proverbial wall, you’ll definitely want a Creative at your side. They’ll see past it and push through it, and often do so with strident ease.
Assimilation
Creatives process and assimilate information through creating – either with others or by themselves. It matters not what they fancy. When their creative juices are flowing, beauty erupts, magic happens, and they breathe new life into the old, stale, sterile, and pale. Creatives are innately colorful people in that they offer something unique to the table via their artistry and ideas. Whether concrete or abstract; linear or multi-dimensional, their ability to process information requires an outlet for their creative juices to flow. If that outlet is not provided or opportune, they easily wither, and you’ll fail to see how far they can really go.
Motivation
Creatives are inspired. That is the key. They are driven by their own imagination and ideas. For them, this can very literally be an adrenaline rush. That stimulation can be very strong emotionally, mentally and even physically, which is why their drive is so tenacious. It comes in various forms through all five senses, as well as the unseen realms of the soul and spirit. Therefore, Creatives are equally intrinsically and extrinsically motivated by anything that will allow their ideas to manifest. With that said, they require an extraordinary dose of autonomy and opportunity, both in equal measure. When a creative gets bored, they may seek that same rush through other things when their creative flow is denied or snuffed out in the classroom. That alternative may or may not be healthy. Parents beware. Teachers and professors need to make room for their creative students to succeed.
Method
Creatives are visionaries and pioneers. Not only are they able to ‘dream’, but they are able to ‘do’. They put power to the process. They are able to offer abstract ideas that function when all logic fails. They are able to propel new ideas that are purely unique to them for which you’ll never find a replica. They are inventive by nature. Creatives have the spark, energy, drive, and tenacious willpower to make their vision happen. They are often forged by fire because their ways are not always logical, and therefore they are prone to opposition of various kinds, which they often handle beautifully. Once they come through, they may smell like smoke, but they will certainly shine.
Means
Creatives are both versatile and diverse in their abilities, which often manifests by the means of experimentation. They have an ability to transform what already exists as well as create something entirely new. They are adventuresome, excelling in all forms: the linear, concrete and abstract. They can handle it all. They’re gifted in ingenuity because they can work with just about anything handed to them. As pioneers they love to venture into uncharted territories and explore new horizons. Their worlds orbit on a different axis altogether, because they are not necessarily looking for what makes sense — rather, they are motivated by what doesn’t. Creatives require an outlet for their various expressions, and they perform best when they can be advanced appropriately within their educational system. Creatives require autonomy in order to reach their optimal level of performance. They often demonstrate a higher order of thinking which may or may not always be rational or logical. Whether their preference is independent or social, they learn best by creating, and therefore require projects that allow them the freedom to express themselves and demonstrate their skills.
Strengths
Creatives are truly brilliant people. They are anything but boring. In fact, they can be eccentric at times. When allowed and given opportunity, they contribute beautifully to the classroom. They are always seeking what is new, and they are intrigued by what is different. They are stimulated by a myriad of people, places, and things — all which birth a host of fresh ideas richly stimulating others. Because of their ripe ingenuity, Creatives can often aspire to a level that may not seem realistic to achieve. Their dreams, ideas and aspirations can appear very ‘out of reach’, which leads others to attempt a “landing” by bringing them out of the clouds. Yet doing so will pop their balloon, bringing a discouragement which few want to contend. More than any other learning style, Creatives require the encouragement, support, and affirmation of their professors and peers if they are going to succeed. They are very vulnerable to discouragement. Yet surprisingly, the Creative is precisely the one who knows how to make these unrealistic goals a reality, which is what makes them who they are — Creative. They are clever indeed. While such limitations may seem insurmountable to the average person, the Creative will show you how to lasso the moon and make elephants fly. They can be risk-takers in doing things and going places others have not. They make beautiful and successful forerunners. One of their most endearing learning traits is that they are very flexible due to their innate and diverse abilities. They can work well with just about any other learning style. Creatives make excellent leaders, but of a different kind in that they stimulate and motivate others, forging ahead when their peers lag behind. Many are free spirits and multi-talents, being artists of various kinds.
Weakness or Dysfunction
Creatives, who are often a ball of energy and ideas, can have many irons in the fire at once, unless they are also very disciplined individuals who know how to harness their creative juices and steward or channel them appropriately. With that said, they may well begin a project, yet never complete it. Because their creative juices flow upon a whim, they are subject to some measure of disorder. Once the adrenaline wears out and the bloom rubs off, they may progress to their next project, abandoning the former. In their adventure they love to try new things, but that doesn’t always equate to finishing them. Therefore, they require an ability to measure themselves appropriately and develop disciplined boundaries for their work. This is hard for a creative because moments of inspiration are whimsical, making them individuals who are easily given to impulse. This does not work well within a traditional classroom. They require a lot of stimulation, which is impossible to provide for them with the mundane and ordinary. This can drive them to seek stimulation elsewhere in unhealthy ways unless their creative outlet is afforded. Despite their intelligence, their boredom can be deceiving when their grades decline or drop off the cliff. Creatives are complex, often being misunderstood, and can deflate easily when denied the opportunity they seek or need to succeed. This misunderstanding and lack of opportunity is a detriment to their advancement, and therefore they commonly struggle with frustration or anxiety — more than any other learning style. However, when given the autonomy and opportunity they require, they soar and triumph, exceeding their own expectations as well as those of others.
Interactions
Reminder: Creatives are a blend of all learning styles, and are therefore very flexible and diverse people. Although other learning styles may not favor them, the inverse is not true of the Creative. They usually fall into two categories: Social or Independent with regard to their secondary learning style.
SOCIAL: For the Creative who is social, the world is a party and everyone is invited. Creatives are often very stimulating people who spur others onto greater heights. They respond to people much the same way they respond to art: everyone is a unique masterpiece. Creatives are fun, stimulating, and beautiful people to be around because their inspiration leads to the inspiration of others. Their ideas, when shared, may snowball out of control, taking many forms and directions which can become complicated to pin down. Although these brain storms can be fun, they can prove to be confusing as well. Choices, although they must be made, become nearly impossible. When the Creative is surrounded by others of like mind and heart, they are happiest. What they don’t respond favorably toward are those who hinder their creative flow, dumb-down their ideas, and disregard their ability. For the creative, this is insulting, and it can be like dying a slow painful death when that individual is a teacher or professor. Therefore, those who can’t see their vision are often at fierce odds with them. If you want to get on board with a Creative, they require the freedom of expression, and with it very gracious, nearly unlimited, boundaries.
INDEPENDENT: For the Creative who is an Independent, these are often very organized, meticulous, and disciplined individuals who require seclusion to forge their masterpiece. They work well alone and their manner of artistry truly requires an intense focus that can only be afforded by solitude. Their lives may be lonesome for this reason, even despite their love for people, and an otherwise healthy social life. An example would be those such as painters and writers, who require an uninterrupted and cerebral focus to complete their work. For the Independent who is met with ills from others, they do not suffer as much discouragement. Rather, they thwart it and press on. This trait is unique to Independents, who can be stalwart in their goals. They stop at nothing.
Suggestions
• Joining clubs and extracurricular programs may be helpful in giving a necessary outlet for ideas.
• Be creative with note-taking. Linear methods may not work best.
• When appropriate ask your instructor for alternate methods of demonstrating your work such as with projects instead of papers.
• Be willing to go the extra mile.
• Consider an advanced course or gifted program.
• Join a study group where you can freely offer your ideas to others and receive feedback.
• Verbalize any special needs or frustrations you may need with your instructors.
• Parents need to be supportive. Help them help you by remaining accountable.
Prominent Traits
• Inventive
• Ingenious
• Flexible
• Versatile
• Diverse
• Energetic
• Highly intelligent
• Excellent leaders
Required for Success
• Autonomy
• Opportunity
• Support
• Stimulation or Solitude
