Creative by Design: A Conversation on Creativity

Creativity is often misunderstood as an exclusive gift reserved only for painters, musicians, or visual designers. However, true creativity is a dynamic, trainable mindset that can transform how we solve everyday problems, build brands, and navigate our careers.

In this interview, we get to hear from someone I have always admired from afar, Dr. Akinlade Omogbolahan—a medical graduate, brand strategist, and graphic designer—as he shares deep insights into the world of creativity, practical methods for overcoming creative block, and why no one is truly “uncreative.”

Key Takeaways

• Creativity is Dynamic: It goes beyond painting, drawing, graphic design and content. It shows up in how we ask questions, our everyday lifestyle, and even how we format our text.
• Block Requires Rest and Clarity: When stuck, rest your brain, eliminate perfectionism, and ask better questions.
• Everyone Has Creative Capacity: You are not uncreative; you may just be unexplored. Start small and practice intentionality daily.

Part 1: Understanding Creativity

As a brand strategist, what is creativity to you?

Creativity is a dynamic concept. If you try to limit it to a single definition, you lose out on its full depth. From the perspective of a brand strategist, creativity unfolds in two distinct phases:

1. Understanding the core identity: Diving deep to comprehend what a brand truly stands for.
2. Effective communication: Expressing that brand identity visually and verbally through logos, colour palettes, typography, and brand voice.

Ultimately, creativity in brand strategy is about building an authentic bridge so people can relate to a product, interact with it, and help the brand achieve its ultimate goals.

But creativity can mean a lot of things—asking different questions, seeing things differently, or even having a particular type of lifestyle. And I think the trap for those who think they are not creatives is when they look at creativity and think it only means drawing, doing graphic design, singing, shooting videos, or photography; that’s not all there is to it.

What are the characteristics of a creative person?  Do you feel everybody is a creative, or do you feel particular characteristics make one a creative?

Whether everyone is a creative, I would say yes. From a biblical aspect, Genesis 1:1 says in the beginning God created, and verse 26 says He made us in His image and likeness. So if God is a creator, essentially everyone is a creator. The problem is that many people have not been intentional about creativity, or they don’t understand what it’s all about because they think it must be expressed through a peculiar set of skills—drawing, designing, or making movies. Maybe in school someone told them they couldn’t draw, so they concluded they aren’t creative—no!

Creativity is being inquisitive, asking questions like “Why can’t we do it this other way?” Another level is just observing. Creativity tends to favour people who are introverts because they tend to be a bit more reflective, observant, and patient with details, though extroverts can certainly be creative too.

• Curiosity: Constantly asking questions like, “Why can’t we do it this other way?”
• Observance: Paying close attention to subtle details. Creative thinking often favours reflective introverts, though extroverts can certainly cultivate it as well.
• Daring Exploration: Having the boldness to cross-pollinate and combine unrelated ideas from completely different fields.
• Humility and Patience with Feedback: Creativity is rarely a single “eureka” moment. A creative person must be humble enough to receive feedback and sit with a problem for days, iterating and refining until the concept matures.

Curiosity ➔ Observation ➔ Daring Exploration➔ Patient Iteration & Feedback  

Is creativity a talent or a skill?

It is a combination of both. Talent that is not worked on will just stay as talent. A skill is something developed over time through consistent practice, seeing loopholes, and refining yourself. Genetically, some people are more inclined to be creative—in secondary school, some students could draw very well without anyone teaching them. But you cannot confuse a lack of experience with a lack of ability. If you have no basis in graphic design and open Photoshop, you will be confused. But with training, consistency, and experience over time, you build that muscle. So talent developed becomes a skill.

What is the difference between creativity, imagination, and innovation?

While these terms are closely linked, they represent sequential stages in a creative pipeline:

Although closely linked, imagination, creativity, and innovation represent different stages in turning an idea into a solution. Imagination is forming the mental picture of what could solve a problem—for example, visualising coloured floor lines and signage to help patients navigate a hospital. Creativity is turning that mental picture into something tangible, such as designing the directional signage. Innovation is implementing that creative solution so it creates real-world value, such as installing the signage and making it easier for patients to find their way. In simple terms, imagination sees the possibility, creativity creates the solution, and innovation puts it to work.

“Innovation is essentially the reward or value you gain from applying creativity to solve a problem.”

Part 2: Developing Creativity

Can creativity be learned? What habits can help someone become more creative?

Absolutely. Because creativity functions like a muscle, anyone can learn it. It does not require complex formulas; it simply requires intentionality and active curiosity. Becoming more creative starts with changing how you interact with your environment:

• Observe with depth: When watching a movie, look beyond the plot—notice the cinematography, colour grading, and choreography. When listening to music, pay attention to how different instruments layer together.
• Leverage accessible tools: If you want to learn a specific art form like graphic design, use Google and YouTube tutorials to explore the field.
• Practice iteration: Improve on your creativity and try out new ways of doing things. There are multiple ways to arrive at 4 (\(2+2\), \(3+1\), \(5-1\), \(2^2\)).
• Practice intentionality in daily life: Bring intentionality into small, everyday tasks—how you arrange your bedroom, how you format your messages, or selecting a friend’s favourite colour when wrapping a birthday gift.

How can I overcome creative block? What is your go-to strategy when you have a creative block as a designer?

First, recognise that experiencing a block does not mean you have lost your creative ability. Creative blocks are usually driven by specific root causes:

1. Fatigue and Stress: Your brain is a human organ, not an AI engine or generator that runs continuously on fuel. When burned out, prioritise rest and sleep. Communicate openly with clients to adjust deadlines when necessary.
2. Perfectionism and Fear of Failure: Waiting for the “perfect” idea causes paralysis. It is better to create a rough draft first and refine it later through iteration.
3. Lack of Information: A block often stems from a lack of clarity. Go back to the client or project brief, ask deeper questions, gather more reference material, or consult a mentor.
4. Reframe the Problem: Shift your perspective by asking a different question. For instance, instead of asking “How can doctors clear long hospital waiting lines faster?”, ask “Do patients need to wait physically in the line in the first place?”—which opens the door to telemedicine solutions.

Part 3: Creativity and Success

Do you think creativity is necessary for success?

Success requires defining what matters to you, but in today’s digital age—where basic tasks can be automated with a single click—creativity and intentionality are what make you stand out. Stamping your foot to do things differently allows you to turn out higher-quality, distinctive work that commands value.

Part 4: Creative Experience & Personal Journey 

When would you say your creative journey started?

It wasn’t marked by a single calendar year; it was embedded in my childhood upbringing. My late father was a multi-talented artist—a sculptor, painter, and draftsman whose artwork littered our home. Growing up around his art books and watching him practice calligraphy sparked my appetite for visual expression. We had an old desktop computer sitting on our dining table, and I spent hours experimenting with CorelDraw and MS Paint. What felt like playing with colours back then was actually training my eyes to observe details and process feedback when he made subtle comments on what I could do differently.

What is the most creative project you have ever executed?

Two projects stand out in my journey:

1. The Africa Inclusion Awards Event Branding: Designing the full brand identity, event booklets, merchandise, and mockups. It was a project where I felt most empowered to explore, and the brand identity ultimately won an award.
2. Medical School Exam Countdown Flyers: Specifically, the flyer created for Obstetrics/Gynecology, Paediatrics, and Mental Health exams. Inspired by a concept from a horror film involving sacrifices, I designed three pillars featuring a floating baby and a brain. The initial drafts were rough, but through continuous iteration, the final piece resonated deeply with my peers.

What would you tell someone who believes they are not creative?

As a medical person, I would start with history-taking(lauhgs). But…yeah! I would definitely want to know: Why do you think you are not creative? Often, people believe they aren’t creative because a primary school teacher told them they couldn’t draw. But a lack of experience is not a lack of ability. If you feel “uncreative”, you maybe simply unexplored. Start exercising your creative muscle in small, intentional ways—in how you arrange your room, text, or present a gift—and continuously ask yourself: “What if I do it this other way?”  

 

 

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A Conversation on Loving People: An Interview on Authentic Connection, Networking, and Leadership  

Conclusion

Dr. Omogbolahan is far more than just someone I have admired from afar. Through our conversations and my study of his work, it is abundantly clear that he exudes excellence in every sense of the word and relentlessly strives for it in every project he executes. From uncovering the core identity of a brand to translating it into compelling visual designs and an authentic brand voice, his approach is defined by deep intentionality, strategic rigour, and creative mastery.

 

Whether you are looking to build a brand identity from scratch or elevate your existing vision to resonate with your audience, Dr. Omogbolahan brings a rare blend of insight and dedication to the table. I would recommend him a thousand times over as the strategist who can truly help you achieve your highest brand goals.