TJ Kelly

On Creativity

I’ve always considered myself a creative person. I used to draw a lot when I was a kid. I’ve written stories, songs, and poems. I’ve even tried my hand at screenwriting. But for as long as I can remember, I’ve had difficulty connecting each step of the creative process and I’ve never really been able to flow smoothly from beginning to end. Most often, I’ll decide that I want to create something. I usually have a vague, general idea of what that ‘something’ will ultimately become. But where to start, which direction to move in, and where to find inspiration often come rather slowly.

I believe that this creative hurdle is the one thing that stands between me and a huge amount of potential in the creative field. But I’ve also been rather successful at identifying and capitalizing on a niche that I’m uniquely qualified for. The world of developers (coders and programmers… the number-crunchers) and that of designers (photoshop and illustrator junkies… the pixel-pushers) often have very different priorities, standards, and practices. I have found that I have a unique ability to combine and reconcile these two worlds. I can bridge the gap between the nerds and the artists, bringing the two camps closer together overall.

Now, I realize that my skill doesn’t sound like much. Couldn’t anybody in this industry do a decent job applying styles to a functional framework? Probably, yes. But I’m good at it. Very good at it. I can do it quickly, efficiently, and intelligently, all while adhering to strict web standards and "web 2.0" best practices. I guess you could think of me as a… pixel-cruncher. Kind of sounds like an obscure comic book superhero…

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