What do you do if you're a creative professional torn between new technology and traditional methods?

1. Goals First: Know what you're aiming for. 2. Pros & Cons: Weigh the advantages of each. 3. Experiment: Blend both worlds for unique results. 4. Stay Informed: Keep up with trends. 5. Trust Yourself: Follow your instincts.

As a scientist, we are required to deliver publication-quality data that are clearly labeled and with the proper statistical analysis that goes with it. Although excel can give you a quick look at your graphs, opting to present/publish high quality data through other tools and softwares (e.g. GraphPad Prism or Adobe Illustrator) can dramatically improve the look of the data and make it esthetically appealing to a trained scientific eye. What are your thoughts on this?

Experiment without expectation, work with those who don’t think like you, and put in the hours to get the foundational skills to which you add ‘the new’. Then you have the conditions for ‘magic’. This is at the heart of my work as a scientist and artist. As change can be frightening and now accelerant, we need a balance between the familiar & the new. When that happens we have a Renaissance. Embrace change by. basing it on the application of the new tool around an established practice. Impressionism & later Cubism which no one could have predicted arose when paint in tubes meant no longer grinding your pigments all day. But the artists had rigorous lengthy practices before hand. Like AI. Not a replacement for ideas, but an adjunct.

Change is the only constant. However, before embracing it, you need to understand it. New technology can offer a lot, but with any new technology comes not just with new benefits, but a lack of references. We often try to fit old ways of thinking into new technologies leading to work based on this misunderstanding. Dialogue, for example, is the primary driver of plot in a stage play, but in film, it took a few generations of filmmakers to realize the highly visual nature of the medium and dialogue took a smaller more complementary role. Similarly, game makers are still shoving film conceits into games without considering that interactivity is the defining characteristic of the medium. Before you 'embrace change', understand it.

New technologies are an investment which must fit to future planned strategies. If a new technology can speed up a planned trajectory or provide novel opportunities, then this value should be estimated and balanced against upfront cost and temporary disruption. If you have teams with a talent for seeing this potential, then making use of a suppliers evaluation and testing facilities can be relatively painless and maintains innovation.

Learning is the ability to change behaviour rather than repeatedly doing the same thing. A talented creative knows how to assess what change is worth pursuing and what is not. The importance is always the output. If the output is significantly improved using a different method, it's worth pursuing a change. If it's a trend, new software, or a well-marketed solution that keeps the output the same, it's simply not worth changing behaviours.

Evaluate your specific needs, objectives, and the requirements of your projects to determine whether new technology or traditional methods are better suited to achieve your goals. Consider factors such as project scope, client preferences, timeline, and budget constraints.

Think before you start. And remember things and processes from other branches and methods. My favourite Story for this is about the ballpen, which was invented by/for Nasa, as they had the need for the astronauts to write in no gravity. This did cost several million dollars and yes - there was a commercial product in the end. But - what did the Russians do for their Cosmonauts? They used Pencils ! Now think about it: are you Nasa -or the Ballpen producer ?

We are immersed in a context where technology and innovative approaches change exponentially. Being selective is determinant. We don’t need to use or try to use all of what innovation offers. We need to choose and be able to adapt innovative tools to simple, basic needs.

First of all, understand where you are starting from and where you want to go. Assessing the current situation by identifying those gaps allows us to be aware and be able to employ technological methods to address it, taking into account the impact - effort to provide the solution and for that result to be effective and efficient over time.

What I recomend the most, is to constantly be learning in nor formal ways. Wayching videos, reading and listening podcasts on a subject you want to get deep in is really, really usefull. Take an specific subject wich you want to learn, and watch videos, read or listen everything you find about for one or two months. You will be surprised how much you can learn by being focus on one subject por a couple of weeks.

Life is continuous learning in the creative universe. Yes to new technologies so long as we always keep in mind that technology is a tool like any other, and that we should master a tool and not let it dictate us. In my profession , nothing great is created without a hand drawn sketch to start the process. Machines can do the production.

Try everything once! Experiment on something you’re working on or interested in that’s low stakes. See what works for you, what you like. Try to assess different things through a lens of curiosity. You don’t have to bet the farm.

Learn something new every day. You don’t necessarily have to use it, but learn something. Traditional methods in the creative process are the foundation. You can build up from that foundation with tradition or with new methods or technology. There will always be a purpose and a reason for both.

The learning curve is different for each person. Some people may have an easier time interacting with and learning about new technologies and others may not. That is why it is necessary to train, learn, listen to experts in the field and not consider something impossible without trying it first. In the end, life is a constant learning process and a constant evolution. This is a great opportunity to try to be ambitious and never stop studying.

When creatives know how to use a particular method by heart, they can allocate time to learn something new, which might improve their creative output. Balancing time for research on these new and traditional approaches (which have become almost automated practices) to get things done is critical to keeping the overall creative approach innovating.

Everyone has a unique creative background and this should not be forgotten with the introduction of new fancy technology. However, a little technology can help instil seeds for future ideas. Your creativity will have no boundaries by taking minor assistance from AI

Combine the two and leverage the best of both. Challenge traditional methodology and experiment with new ways. New approaches may achieve different results with diverse perspectives bringing to light new opportunities.

As a seasoned writer, when AI first became popular in 2023, I was a little perturbed that my skills in crafting content were no longer needed or their value was diminishing. But, as I've traversed the AI landscape, I now appreciate that these tools can add value to my work and save me time in the process. That's why I like to balance my own creativity with the use of AI tools to streamline my workflow and give me a little inspiration when my thoughts hit a blank space. For example, I can use a specific tool to create an outline for an article or give me alternative titles and meta descriptions. I can then refine what I get by using my own skills to make them better and ensure that they resonate with the tone that I'm using.

One crucial point to note is that there isn’t necessary a battle between new technology and traditional methods. Both can work hand-in-gloves for better productivity in a creative environment. There are a number of questions that I can ask to help me identify how best to maximise both systems: What is my ultimate goal as a Creative Professional and for this specific task? In what ways have the traditional methods helped here in time past? What are the lacunae that remain to be addressed by those methods? How do I leverage the new technology to address the lacunae and improve productivity? The ultimate goal is to promote a complementary relationship between the old and new, not a competitive environment.

Don't be afraid to question your peers on their thoughts on new technologies. Ask them 'why and 'how' they think the way they do. You'll learn a lot more listening to those answers, than the surface-level insights everyone else is getting.

Seek insights and perspectives from peers, mentors, and industry experts to gain a deeper understanding of the advantages and challenges associated with both new and traditional methods. Engage in discussions, attend workshops, and participate in online forums to exchange ideas and experiences.

Listen, read, attend fairs, meet colleagues and talk about their approach - and listen even more. I try to crossreference neighbouring areas of expertise, sometimes you´ll find solutions there, which do exist for quite a time, but nobody thought about transforming them into another theme or task. People who really break barriers are like Leonardo da Vinci, Newton, Goethe, absorbing knowledge about anything they were interested in - and that was A LOT. Stay curious- always.

Networking, collaborating with colleagues, attending events and learning about different and unfamiliar points of view... it all adds up to learning, iterating, evolving and being the best version of yourself. You never know who will be able to give you a different view of a problem or help you attack a task from a different perspective. Professional networks have a lot of value to contribute, especially if the quality of the people you meet is high and they participate with you to go far.

Creative people are avid networkers..they tap into the talents and knowledge of the people around them. The idea of an innovator being a solo individual locked in a workshop like a hermit is completely false. All artists, musicians, entrepreneurs thrive in social situations collaborating, partnering and sharing ideas. Remember to seek out diverse people especially any one who will challenge your perceptions and offer you a fresh perspective.

Focus on developing transferable skills and competencies that are essential across different methodologies and technologies. Cultivate skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability to future-proof your career in a rapidly changing landscape.

For ages a well known fact is "survival of the fittest" many giant brands for example in mobile industry got obsolete for being in self proclaimed monopoly. The one who is not developing with the time is bound to witness the success of his/her opponents.

To be a consultant means to be an early adopter. maybe even build something yourself if it is not available, even if this is a failure or no big success, the process of problem solving can only be learned by practising. This will come at a cost, you will have the first gadget of "anything", very often stuff that breaks down or is pretty useless - but expensive and rare. Take a look at Kickstarter, invent or recognize inventions and integrate them into something bigger. And if you cannot do it alone, search for partners - make them customers first and then as crazy as you are for a vision and a plan. Burn for it.

I’ve discovered to thrive as a creative in the evolving tech landscape, staying ahead of technological advancements is crucial. Just as with any industry, ignorance of the latest technological trends can make your skills obsolete. This is especially vital for Black and Brown creatives, who are often underpaid and underemployed compared to their counterparts. Being equipped for today’s technology and preparing for tomorrow’s innovations is essential to safeguard not only our talents but also our future careers.

In today’s rapid creative landscape, future-proofing your skills is non-negotiable. It’s about blending curiosity for new trends with a solid grounding in traditional methods. Focus on building transferable skills that span different platforms and mediums. Being multidisciplinary isn’t just advantageous; it’s essential. Adaptability to new technologies means understanding how they can streamline your workflow and enhance efficiency. Equally, honing communication skills is critical—it’s how your creative voice is heard and understood. This balanced skill set ensures you’re always ahead, ready to navigate the future of creativity.

Well, I would ask myself the following questions: What does my soul want? What makes me feel light & joyful? What aligns with my personal moral & ethical standards? Maybe its different tools for different projects? What is it that I MYSELF feel drawn to, independent of everyone on earth? Do I need to follow all trends? Or just some? Why? Why not? And how does it make me feel inside. If the feeling is heavy, dreadful, you feel disgust & hate, maybe its not the time to switch to something you feel that towards. Maybe its time to investigate Why you feel it & only then afterwards decide which tool to pick, after that sticky, negative clump of mud has been cleared :)

Consider the preferences and expectations of your clients or stakeholders when deciding between new technology and traditional methods. Communicate openly with clients to understand their needs and educate them on the benefits of different approaches.

As a creative professional, it's important to blend the best of both worlds according to your specific needs and projects. Choosing between new technology and traditional methods isn't always about one versus the other; it's more about finding a balance that works for you. Experiment with both and be open to the learning process. Give yourself time to adapt and explore without pressure. Most importantly, enjoy the journey of discovery and creativity. This approach not only broadens your skill set but also keeps your work fresh and exciting.

Basically, when we consider technology the important aspect that I did not find here is viability. The geography of the location and the investment to be made related to the geography in bringing the technology.