Advancing the discipline

What’s the difference between creators and great creators?

Writers use words. They apply their vocabulary and their knowledge of grammar to tell stories. Great writers invent words. They invent language. They create new ways to use the language, that we haven’t seen before. They create new genres.

Cooks use knowledge of food and recipes to cook dishes. Great cooks expand our knowledge of food. They create new recipes, new combinations of ingredients, new flavours.

Painters use paint, technique and skill to create paintings. Great painters invent new ways to turn their imagination into art, with paint. They paint what has never been painted before.

Designers use knowledge of human centered design, design systems and creative processes to create designs that solve problems for their users and their clients. Great designers design things that haven’t been designed before, in ways that haven’t been tried before.

I believe this applies not only to creative professions, but other disciplines as well, like doctors.

Doctors use knowledge of the human body and medical science to treat their patients. Great doctors invent new ways to treat patients. They push the boundaries of their science further.

I guess it comes down to this: if you work in a certain discipline, whether it’s art, design or science — are you simply practicing your discipline? Or are you also advancing your discipline, to make it better for everyone else?