When I visited my sister Nancy in Rome several years ago, I had only one request: to see the Rare Books Library at the American Academy. I'd seen pictures in a magazine of this exquisite space designed by post-modernist architect Michael Graves and I wanted to see it for myself. The real thing did not disappoint.

That was my first encounter with the work of Graves, but it piqued my interest and I began learning more about his designs. Two short years later, he became one of the few architects to become a household name when Target stores launched a product line designed by him. 

That unusual alliance came about when Graves mentioned to a Target executive that he believed good design didn't have to be expensive.

So what kinds of things does a world-class architect do for my favorite retailer? There's a lovely gazebo and some outdoor furniture, but most of the products are small items which we use every day like kitchen utensils, clocks, picture frames and even a toilet brush.

A Philosophical Ancestor

Michael Graves attitude echoes another prolific designer who believed that ordinary life deserved to be as beautiful as possible. “Beauty, which is what is meant by art, is, I contend, no mere accident to human life, which people can take or leave as they choose, but a positive necessity of life,” wrote William Morris. 

Morris spent his considerable energies making certain that even those of modest means had access to well-designed furnishings.

More than a century after his death, Morris's wallpaper designs remain in production and his admonition to “have nothing in your home you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful” is frequently quoted. 

Like Graves, Morris surrounded himself with a devoted band of creative folks and encouraged them to put their creative selves into their work. When he was on his deathbed, his doctor diagnosed his cause of death as “simply being William Morris and having done more work than ten men.”

Abundantly Creative

For the past several days, I have been spellbound listening to Stephen King's audiobook On Writing. King, one of the big names in popular fiction, weaves his advice to would-be writers in between autobiographical tales. A voracious reader and fan of sci-fi movies as a kid, King fell in love with the writing life in childhood and has never put down his pen since.

Married right out of college, King supported his family by working at several horrendous jobs and then as a high school English teacher. Even with two young children squeezed into cramped quarters, he always managed to find room for a writing corner and practiced his craft daily. 

The result is a mind-boggling body of work that includes short stories, novels, movies and television productions.

King knows more than a little about the writing life and at one point mentions a number of writers-Harper Lee comes to mind-who only produced a single book. “Why,” King wonders, “if God gives you a gift, wouldn't you use it?”

What Stephen King, Michael Graves and William Morris knew was that creativity begets creativity. The creative spirit that resides within all of us is prolific, abundant, and flagrantly generous. It's only when we ignore our own creative impulses that they appear to go away.

The Prolific Misconception

What does it take to live a life of extraordinary creative output? The answer is not slavish workaholism-as many people think. Creators all work in their own unique ways, of course, but if you just take a look at the three men mentioned here, there are several obvious characteristics that they share.

Besides a high level of commitment and discipline, the prolific creators among us are enormously curious about many things. They don't dabble. They immerse.The creative thinker is always gathering ideas and inspiration from far-flung places and people. 

For instance, one of Graves first products for Target was a wooden picture frame with a three-legged cast iron base, inspired by an ancient Pompeiian artifact. Morris was fascinated by Iceland. And King frequently asks himself questions beginning with, “What if” to form new connections between seemingly unrelated ideas.

They look, they listen, they're fully alive.

“The idea flow from the human spirit is absolutely unlimited,” says Jack Welch. “All you have to do is tap into that well.” And then go to market.

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If you'd like to learn more about Michael Graves or Stephen King, visit their Web sites. You'll be astonished.

Barbara J. Winter

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Article provided courtesy of the author - 

See her site www.barbarawinter.com - "living the Joyfully Jobless Life"

She also has workshops / programs at Changing Course.

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> Related books:

Michael Graves : Buildings and Projects 1995-2003 -- by Francisco Sasin

On Writing : A Memoir Of The Craft (Audio CD) - by Stephen King

 

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