How To Go Further And Stay Truer To Your Vision

What I learned from a creative master

Don Pavey’s numerous achievements include being the co-founder of the National Art Education Archive and the co-founder of the Royal College of Art Colour Reference Library, and being awarded the Newton Medal of the Colour Group. But he was also my great friend, who mentored me for over a decade and a half.

Don had a spark about him, unlike anyone else. Instantly likable, with an infectious, positive mindset, Don inspired generations of artists and creatives for over six decades. He was an entrepreneur and founded the startup Micro Academy, with the lead product being ProMICAD — a tool to empower and motivate young people to find suitable careers.

I was fortunate to spend so much time with Don and thought it would be worthwhile to share some of the wisdom, lessons, and attitude I picked up from him, and what I have applied in my working life as a creative and entrepreneur.

Research

Don’s search for knowledge was exhaustive (he even exchanged letters with Jung — as shown above). For decades he accumulated newspaper clippings on anything that was of interest to his studies, art, technology, or cultural studies, as well as an incredible book collection, including rare antique books on color. People would come from all over the world to access Don’s archives.

Don’s program, ProMicad, could only have been created after decades of research into the psychology of color. He showed me that the more knowledge you have, the more you can start thinking more circularly. Don’t base decisions solely on a quick search on Google, or a Mailchimp questionnaire.

Play

In 1979, Don published a book entitled Art-based Games, which details the importance of play, gaming, and creativity in child development. But the fundamental idea of being playful never left him.

You’re not stuck, you’re just not playing enough, or experimenting.

With Don, you didn’t and couldn’t sit there and feel sorry for yourself. He’d encourage you to take a piece of paper, some pens or pencils, and start drawing. Not a paper guy? Try sculpting. Try card. Collage. Try video. Try Adobe Illustrator. Scan your drawing and work on top of it. Print your work and blow it up to poster size. It’s only by being playful with creativity that you can achieve unexpected and extraordinary results.

Laugh

“Since everything is but an apparition, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter.”

― Longchenpa

Don was the happy Buddha, always laughing. It was his mischievous sense of humor that made his studio so much fun. Creativity should be fun. Don was a firm believer that you should always make work fun, to enjoy it, even the worst parts. Even if you’re crawling on your knees up the hill like a Tibetan monk.

So, why so serious?

I have created my best work with that fun mindset. One particular agency project involved devising a late-night chat show to counter a typically dull business webinar. We laughed and came up with some fresh ideas, like having a naive presenter attempt to explain complicated techy products. My publishing company, aiurea press, is also all about having fun.

Respect

I lived through some very dark times in my teenage years, from my parents’ divorce to being a penniless refugee, so going to Don’s studio was sometimes my only escape. I would arrive, depressed, and defeated, but leave feeling inspired, more optimistic, and driven to create.

It felt like Don was a magician, but what he was doing was accepting and respecting everyone. Rarely did Don ever interrupt anyone, or appear in any way condescending by interjecting with his views or narrative. He had studied psychology and was also a practicing Buddhist.

Don’t be a bully. Respect everyone you come into contact with, accept their input, be open and human always, and you’ll be surprised by just how much you get back for your startup, or even for your soul.

Keep busy

As far as I’m aware, Don never retired. And by that, I mean his mentality was always to accomplish more. Even in his final years, when he was in his 90s, Don continued to write books, research, and collaborate on many projects.

Don inspired me to adopt the same mentality. From my teenage years, I was busy sending work out to literary magazines, to the point where I had more work published in my early twenties than most of my university lecturers. I have worked demanding full-time jobs and ran businesses at the same time (like Honest Publishing, where I was a founding member). The minute I stop creating and pushing myself is the moment I give up.

Aim high

In all the years that I was around Don, I never once heard him sigh, drop his head, and say, “that will do.” His mindset was to get the most out of every project. To use every project to help you grow as a creative, rather than merely an exercise to get something done.

“What can you get out of it?” he’d ask me.

It was that selfish, almost elitist mentality that made his studio an incredibly exciting place to be around. Everyone there, from artists to filmmakers to writers (like me), shared the same spirit and belief that only the best will do. It’s the difference between creating a great product or solution, and just slotting in along with everyone else.

Don’t compromise on your vision

Don refused to sell out, for anything and never made a creative decision based on whether it would make him money. I struggled to fully understand this at the time, but now I admire it.

Never compromise on vision.

I realize this is easier said than done with the economy collapsing around us. However, the importance of having a firm conviction in your creative vision cannot be underestimated. I have seen companies make rash decisions, creating new products, building new websites, or even opening new offices, only to find there was no substance or vision behind it, except the drive to make a quick buck.

Thank you, Don

I miss Don’s friendship, kindness, and bouncing ideas around for hours at a time while having a cup of tea and a biscuit. He was the only person I’ve ever met who would continually inspire me creatively. But he inspired many others as well.