Start with Curiosity

Using Your Superpower (aka Curiosity) in a new Creative Landscape

The future of our industry may not come from the top down. It may come from those brave enough to lean into the unknown, to question process, to experiment and progress. And to explore cross-disciplinary to seek new solutions.

And that’s why this particular moment is so special.

We are living in a time where your curiosity, your openness to explore, might be the most valuable creative asset you have.

Today, creative leadership is shifting. The edge is no longer held by the biggest budgets or the most established firms. It's held by those willing to adapt, to think differently, to lead with curiosity. Small studios and solopreneurs now have the tools and opportunities to create and compete on a level playing field.

Let's understand Psychological Resistance first

Resistance to AI isn’t ignorance. It is instinct.

For many experienced designers, AI appears to challenge years of honed creative skill, I get that, but let's see it from a neuroscience perspective, where research shows that the brain interprets uncertainty as a threat, activating the amygdala (our fear center) and releasing stress hormones like cortisol. No wonder the mere thought of integrating AI can cause anxiety, hesitation, even creative paralysis. Even for seasoned AI integrators, this might still happen.

Psychologist William Bridges explains in his Transition Model that people don’t resist change itself; they resist the loss they associate with it: loss of identity, confidence, or relevance. Almost a nostalgic loss of "how we used to do ____".

According to a 2023 McKinsey report, 62% of creative professionals voiced concerns about integrating AI into their workflow. The number one reason? Fear of losing creative control.

Apply Curiosity as a Catalyst

Designers, by nature, are iterative thinkers. We’re trained to ask "what if?" We prototype, we test, we learn in loops. That’s why creative professionals are uniquely equipped to adapt.

Not because we know everything. But because we are fluent in curiosity. This alone opens the door to something powerful.

I am not an architect, but I love exploring different creative worlds. I've been exploring a parametric series with the help of coding with AI. Again, I am not a programmer, but it gives me tremendous independence being driven by my curiosity to try.

Beware of the Frustration Curve!

There’s a familiar pattern I see in conversations with fellow creatives who’ve tried working with AI on their own: curiosity sparks an initial attempt, followed by a narrow window of trial.

Many give themselves just 15 minutes to learn something with AI. “If it doesn’t solve my problem by then,” they say, “I’ll go back to doing it my usual way.”

But this mindset leads them to turn away at the precise moment when progress is possible: Right at the frustration high point. When the tool feels clunky. When the output isn’t aligned. When the process feels unclear. Isn't learning a language similarly frustrating and yet, it requires personal breakthrough to become fluent?

This moment isn’t failure. It’s friction. And it’s where growth happens and excitement starts. And curiosity continues to lead the way. It rewards creativity, not the shortcuts you think will solve it for you.

Giving up too soon means walking away from the very turning point that could move you forward. So beware of the frustration curve and let curiosity drive your process.

Courage Through Curiosity

Curiosity is positional. So you can place your curiosity where you need it most in this AI-supported design era, where versatility is my personal new currency. Creative control is no longer bound to large agency headcounts. Now, small teams and individuals can ideate, visualize, and pitch with tools once exclusive to enterprise budgets.

This changes everything. It opens up leadership to new voices. It gives emerging talent room to rise. It rewards those who explore what others fear. Courage through curiosity is how we step into that opportunity.

My encouragement to you:

If you feel uncertain about AI, that doesn’t make you outdated. It makes you human. But if there's a flicker of thought saying, "Maybe I should try anyway", that's curiosity speaking.

Follow it. It knows the way forward and pushes your personal growth right after the highest point of frustration. :)
All the best,
Marlene

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