CONSTRAINTS BREED CREATIVITY

Renowned French painter Oscar-Claude Monet used to force himself to repeatedly paint the way light broke on, between and around his subjects. Recognized as a key precursor to modernism, Monet would contrast color instead of light and dark, softening the edges in the process. His creative constraints helped transform the art world from representational to impressionist art.

In her groundbreaking book, “Creativity from Constraints: The Psychology of Breakthrough,” psychologist and artist Patricia Stokes, PsyD., took a deep dive into the minds of famous creative artists like Monet to uncover the tenets behind their creative breakthroughs. What Stokes discovered was it is not boundless creative freedom that inspires new ideas, but self-imposed, well-considered constraints.

Constraints really become a focus on optimization— a way for you to use your limited resources to your best competitive advantage.”

– Ted Ford, CEO, Knepper Press

Constraints, as Stokes and other thought leaders contend, help to provide focus and a creative challenge—a mindset that motivates people to search for and connect information from different sources. It is in these revelations that groundbreaking ideas for new products, services or business processes are found.

Located in New Berlin, Wisconsin, Push Solutions provides digital and offset printing, variable data, direct mail and finishing to a diverse client list. With years of knowledge and experience, Push’s emphasis is on providing the ultimate experience for its clients and partners—a promise that at any time can come with its share of limits and boundaries.

For example, when a client sought a custom printed and vac-formed tennis ball tube as a giveaway to promote its brand at a major tennis event, the Push team knew they were coming up against a compressed production timeline and lingering overseas scheduling issues, especially with the holidays looming. By asking questions and discussing alternative options, Push found a stock item it could custom brand in the timeline requested. The solution was eight times more cost-effective than a custom vacuum-formed product and hit the requested delivery need.

The deadline and supply chain situation is one that Push Senior Account Executive Chris Abraham says comes with the territory—a practicality that can turn up on any project, at any time. It is in these moments of constraint that creativity arises.

“I approach opportunities—such as problems or projects—with first a sense of gratefulness,” Abraham says. “I am trusted to provide my input or knowledge. Then, ask as many questions as possible to create the most targeted path toward