Imitate, then Innovate: The Power of Learning from Others

Imitate, then Innovate: The Power of Learning from Others

In the world of creativity, there is a common fear known as the "Originality Disease." This plague instills a sense of fear in creators, making them hesitant to imitate the styles of others. However, what many fail to realize is that imitation and innovation go hand in hand.

Creators have a unique way of consuming art. They are intentional in what they consume, viewing it as productive work rather than mere entertainment. For example, directors watch movies not only for enjoyment but also to learn from the techniques used in the film. They consciously develop their own mental Pinterest board of ideas to borrow and build upon in their own work.

The misconception is that inspiration must strike out of thin air, like a bolt of lightning. However, some of the most valuable inspiration comes from admiring and even reverse-engineering the work of others. By tracing the steps of those we admire, we can better understand the significance of their work and apply similar principles to our own creations.

The fear of plagiarism is deeply ingrained in us from our school years, where we are taught to fear anything that resembles imitation. However, throughout history, most imitative learning happened through apprenticeships. The great Leonardo da Vinci, for example, observed and imitated the work of his master before producing his own masterpieces.

While the transmission of facts and ideas through textbooks has enabled the scaling of knowledge, it has also resulted in the loss of transmission of technique and tacit knowledge. Some skills are difficult to put into words, and they are best developed through imitative learning. This concept is reflected in Professor Nonaka's "Knowledge Creation" model, which emphasizes the importance of socializing, externalizing, combining, and internalizing knowledge.

In the realm of writing, reading extensively is one of the best ways to become a good writer. Although the principles of effective writing may be hard to communicate, reading hones our intuition for quality writing. The same principle applies to skills learned on platforms like YouTube. Skills acquired through YouTube tend to be more bodily than intellectual and are difficult to describe in words.

To improve creative education, we must retrieve the benefits of apprenticeships and encourage imitative learning. When we imitate someone's work, we are forced to analyze their decisions and think critically about the creative process. Through consumption and creation, we weave the threads of other people's work into a tapestry of our own.

Imitation also helps us discover our creative personalities by revealing our taste and natural inclinations in the creative process. By imitating others, we gain insights into our own abilities and preferences.

Learning to see as a painter is one of the best ways to become a more articulate writer. Both skills require a keen sense of observation and composition. Just as painters aim to illuminate the world with color and shadow, writers aim to illuminate it with words and metaphors. Both activities involve the selective withholding of information to create a desired effect.

The power of imitation extends beyond the realm of art. Many technological advancements originated from ideas presented in science fiction. Steve Jobs famously drew inspiration from Star Trek when designing the iPad, and early concepts for FaceTime appeared in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The ability to think beyond the present and imitate ideas from different industries is crucial for innovation.

However, if we want to be truly innovative, we must be selective in who we choose to imitate. Diversifying our inputs, escaping our industry, and reading more about history can improve the quality of our imitations. By broadening our perspectives, we gain new insights and can create innovative solutions to problems.

Originality for the sake of being original is not a virtue in itself. It is important to understand the problem deeply before attempting to solve it. In business, a lack of originality can indicate a lack of understanding of the problem at hand. Once we truly grasp the problem, the solution becomes clear.

In conclusion, imitation and innovation are not opposing forces but rather complementary partners. By imitating the work of others, we can discover our own unique style and contribute to the creative world. To harness the power of imitation, we must embrace apprenticeships, diversify our inputs, and prioritize understanding over originality.