Creativity Comes from Limitations

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There is an opinion said that creativity will arise when freedom is given for someone who works on creation.

I am the type of person who contradicts with this opinion. When working with freedom (in this case without any guidance, request, or limitation), I always end up with confusion about which idea that I will execute, because there are so many ideas that will be appeared when we work without any limitation.

In reality, I always give limitations for my works by asking the client if he/she has any special request such as don't use a specific application, must use specific color or rectangle as the basic element on the design, and so on.

The reason why I prefer to give limitation when I work on the project is to make my works more efficient, reduce the mistake, and give the result that matches with client expectations.

The simple example of creative stuff that was born from the limitations is this one:

In Indonesia, you will be familiar with the small bucket that has a little hole so it can be used as the water faucet for wudhu (the ritual ablution before praying in Islam).

In my opinion, that is the true example of creative stuff that comes from limitations.

Maybe, the limitations that must be faced by the first executor of this idea is: there is only one water faucet in the bathroom that directly falls down to the bathtub. If we use that only one water faucet, it will be hard to wash the foot as the last step of the wudhu.

After looking around, the executor found the unused small bucket. He decided to give it a little hole at the bottom of the bucket, then he filled it with the water from the bathtub, and the bucket becomes portable water faucet that can be used for wudhu.

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That is just one of many examples. I have just experienced something similar by myself: facing limitations when creating this blog.

Behind the scene story of this blog's creation is, I had to use WordPress before finally using Blogger.

Wordpress has really facilitated the user with many features that can make a great blog with some simple steps. Wordpress is easier to use to create a great blog.

The obstacle happened when I tried to install the custom domain on the blog. In Wordpress, to install the custom domain we must subscribe to their hosting service. In other words, it will need additional cost.

After considering a number of possibilities that will happen, I thought of "What if I move the blog to Blogger?"

The problem with Blogger is, if we want to customize the blog interface, it will be more difficult compared with Wordpress. I have experienced it on my old blog. And until now, the problem still there.

But, because I don't want to pay more, and with the consideration that it will be easier to integrate Google Adsense with Blogger, I decided to move the blog from Wordpress to Blogger.

After successfully move all of the content, I started to customize the interface to be simple and minimalist with the focus on the blog content.

Just as I thought, it will be difficult to do the customization on Blogger because of the lack of customization feature. Even the simple feature like adding social media link on the sidebar, I need to do the HTML by myself.

Eventually, I can say that my blog interface is good enough for now. And I am quite satisfied because, with many limitations, I still can create the blog interface that I want.

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Conclusion:
Limitations can be a good companion to produce good works. Don't run away from it.