Portfolio Creativity Blog Post 2

This week, I did a creative exercise found in the book:

"CAFFEINE FOR THE CREATIVE MIND" by Stefan Mumaw and Wendy Lee Oldfield.

The exercise can be found on page 101.

---

Instructions: Magic 8-Ball

In 1946, a man in Cincinnati, Ohio, invented a timeless piece of Americana, the Magic 8-Ball. The fortune telling phenomenon has withstood the test of time and even still today, fortunes are won and lost on the serendipitous outcome of the answers that appear from the mysterious blue water. The answers are meant to be responses to various "yes" or "no" questions. Your task today is to customize the responses to fit various creative questions you might have throughout your day. They can be client responses, boss responses, or even design choices made easy. Come up with eight new answers to your creative questions!

---

Research:The original Magic 8-Ball can display 20 possible answers. These answers are printed on a 20-sided die (an icosahedron) that floats inside the ball. The responses are categorized into three types:

• 10 Positive (Affirmative) Answers:
  • It is certain.
  • It is decidedly so.
  • Without a doubt.
  • Yes definitely.
  • You may rely on it.
  • As I see it, yes.
  • Most likely.
  • Outlook good.
  • Yes.
  • Signs point to yes.
• 5 Negative (Negative) Answers:
  • Don't count on it.
  • My reply is no.
  • My sources say no.
  • Outlook not so good.
  • Very doubtful.
• 5 Ambiguous (Non-committal) Answers:
  • Reply hazy, try again.
  • Ask again later.
  • Better not tell you now.
  • Cannot predict now.
  • Concentrate and ask again.

---

I decided to come up with 8 answers for: Graphic Design Client Responses, with the same percentages: 50% Positive, 25% Negative, and 25% Ambiguous.

4 Positive (Affirmative) Answers:

• Looks great, let's proceed.
• That works perfectly.
• Absolutely, start the project.
• Approved as is.

2 Negative Answers:

• No, rework the design.
• The client is dissatisfied.

2 Ambiguous (Non-committal) Answers:

• Client said maybe.
• Ask again tomorrow.

I remember the Magic 8-Ball, I know I had one in the past. Out of curiosity, I looked up all of the original answers. I had forgotten some of the responses and had no idea of the percentages of the positive, negative and ambiguous answers.

This exercise required me to choose one of the three categories the instructions suggested and then decide on answers for each type of response category.

I enjoy doing research and applying an old, established set of ideas to a new project will help me in the future.

---