It is too easy to dismiss the work of creative business as only a reflection of the wishes of the patrons who hire them. If a designer is hired to transform a residence, what bearing does that have on society? Does the designer have not only an impact on the perspective of her clients, but a responsibility to impart her own statement? Does it matter?
Of course, you can choose who you are willing to work with as a statement of your perspective and you might even have to go all the way to the Supreme Court to honor that perspective (or not). That is not the topic of this post, although an evergreen when it comes to what really matters to you, your art and your creative business and who you choose to share it with.
No, this post is about the work you are, in fact, undertaking and your effort to influence your clients’ perspective. And here is my outrageous statement for the day: it is your responsibility to shake your clients’ worldview with your work. It can be as simple as introducing an unexpected element from an unexpected source that becomes accepted as integral to the design. Of course, you are a validator of who and what your client most believes themselves to be but you are oh so much more than that. You are a guide to a perspective they themselves do not fully inhabit and, as such, you are an educator.
Think about things that are mainstream in our culture today — everything from hip-hop to anime to tacos — all of them were introduced by creative businesses in the context of a project(s) that became influential to the rest of us.
Diversity, nationalism, bigotry, economic inequality (and inequality in general), global warming are huge issues today. For some, you live on the other side and do not see them as huge issues, which, of course, makes them huge issues to you too. Art might reinforce your world view but it can also move you to another place, even if only in a very narrow context. Mojito anyone?
So then what to do as a creative business owner first, artist second? Do you hide and stay in a safe place creatively or do you go further? Can you make a lingering statement that will move you and your client long after your work is done? What does it mean to be committed to the purpose of truly sharing your perspective? How do you incorporate it into your creative business? Best said, are you willing to contextualize your work to what matters to you? Can you stand there so that the art itself tells a story?
If you can go there, likely is, however subtly, you will demonstrate the hypocrisy present in the joy of celebration to that which it is opposed. Wear your politics on your sleeve or not, but let your art speak your essential truth always.
I come to this place because art is bigger than all of us, it is in the universal collective and born from the soup of inspiration. This “collective” notion might be woo woo to you and that is ok, but is also great business as you and your creative business are truly paid for this inspiration, from your connection to the collective, like it or not. In your willingness to dream for your clients as they never could themselves you can share a piece of yourself with them as an artist. It might be altruistic to consider, however I would like to think that even the most jaded of us can be touched by the moment. The glimpse you provide to other is what allows us all to go somewhere else. Moments become timeless in the blink of an eye.
