How can you adapt to new technology in Creative Strategy?

I taught Digital Storytelling at Emerson College's Graduate School of Communications for several years before and during the pandemic. In my classroom, we embraced the latest technologies. You'd be amazed at what you can do, for instance, with just an iPhone if you know what you're doing and have a great subject or story. My brilliant international students were adept at using it all and taught me (the "old dog") some new tricks, too. The bottom line for me is that it's not about the technology but the essence of the story and the message. You can use any means, devices, or platforms available to reach your audience with a message that will resonate with them.

If you were around at that time, AI is the next Macintosh. Once Quark Xpress was introduced, suddenly what took 6-8 people to complete, could be done by 1-2. Typesetters went of business in 10 months. Retouching photo prints, what prints? With AI, those that embrace it will be more productive and more valuable. AI doesn’t conjure solutions out of thin air, it collects information and executes your idea. Also, AI doesn’t know what to do when the client says “I know this is what I asked for, but I don’t like it.”

I think it starts at the purpose and audience for your creativity strategy - what are you looking to accomplish and for whom? New technology can help deliver and shape the strategy in fresh and exciting ways, of course, with a big dollop of "Oh, wow!" But in the end, technology should work in tandem and in service to what creatives (humans) are looking to make happen.

Change is the only Constant and in a world where there’s more tech change daily than ever before, being in touch with what’s happening today and making that work in some way even with one’s creative thinking is the trick It’s one thing to think smartly using tech, but trying to ensure that it’s a good balance of the right technology thinking and at the same time you’re not taking away from the simplicity of creative thought process or then just the ease of your one word brief made into some action, it’s good to balance on both sides

What I find helpful pitching innovative platforms and solutions is to understand what problem you are going to solve and which stage gates should be in place to guarantee success or reduce project failure. NASA has something like the Technology Readiness Levels, which is a great way to mitigate risk. A big part of new technology needs to have a practical part where you can showcase success on the short term for big stock exchange companies or have the silicon banking support / angel investor money behind it. Any solution that can deliver your thoughts and drives the conversation to success either in a team or as individual will help - you will never fail and never learn if you don't try to adapt new technology!

In my experience, mixing new technologies with the creative strategies process is always “a plus”. To be creative is to be bold, open minded and willing to take risks to achieve something new, something different from what the rest of the flock is doing. So, any new tool/media/input or perspective u can bring to table is something that will make you stand out and been seeing. If that’s a good thing or if that’s the right moment is something you should be able to analyze strategically.

Arthur Clarke says " Any sufficient advance technology is simply undistinguishable from magic". New technologies lead us to redefine work and creativity. It leads us to identify our uniqueness as humans and leave machines and algorithms to produce and execute the vision. Improved creativity and consciousness help adopt innovation as new age technologies take over artistic capabilities as we knew it earlier.

Along with being curious, I have found that stating the problem as accurately as possible will often lead to applying new techniques and mediums to find the most successful solution. Visualize the outcome; then find the right tools to achieve your goal.

I think the most important part is not to be afraid. When AI came out, I don’t mean when it was invented, I mean when it became accessible to everyone people started freaking out about what it would mean. However some people recognize that it is extremely difficult to try to stop a new technology and most likely not going to happen. So they accepted it and planned for the future. Look at Grimes and her approach to AI in the music industry. in comparison to musicians who are fighting against copyright infringement, she set up a website where people could use her music and her voice to create new songs and share the profits 50-50. It is a perfect example of someone who is accepting of new technologies and adapting correctly.

Don't be afraid to throw pasta and see if it sticks. It might be off the brand path to try a new tool, so try to take a beat and really think through how your brand wants to speak through this technology. For example, when video lengths increased on Facebook one brand I worked for released a full episode of a show - another used it to have repetitive footage for an entire hour - both were effective because one was an audience reward and the other was humorous. Both were in the first week of the rollout but were thought through to consider what their voice could say and what their audience would want.

Recognize that technology itself isn't a strategy, instead its something that can empower it. You still have to understand how you'd like to utilize it and build from there. Using something new is only novel and interesting to consumers once. Instead, understanding what your message is and how new technology can capture disproportionate attention and engagement for it is key. This requires being flexible, because technology and how it is received by the market or user is going to change.

Working with new platforms requires you to be open to new outputs, roadblocks, and required learnings. Like everything else in the world, there are always ups and downs - but try to stay focused on the ups.

Adapting to new technology in creative strategy is essential for businesses looking to thrive in today's digital age. : Mindset of embracing change : Staying informed : Staying flexible : Fostering collaboration : Innovative solutions

In 2012 I earned a price for the finance blog of the year in Germany. In 2011 I had no Idea what a blog is all about. These days I have the opportunity to play with beats and KI voices who are rapping KI created texts. Heaven!

In my mind this is the most critical one across any way of being creative and having a way forward for say your client/ your strategy The key to thinking, executing and putting out something good is the ability to collaborate, to think together, to build together, to co-create Best work most often comes from people working together and as people we’re all different so putting our energies together most times brings out best thoughts and this also creates a sense of bonding among people to do things together, a sense of co-ownership in fact COLLABORATE : CO-CREATE

More and more often, collaborative canvases and sharing options are built directly into the software we all use. Don't shy away from these tools—especially when working with other disciplines or departments. Using a shared space like Miro or Figjam can have unexpectedly positive results, just from interacting in the save virtual space.

There are two ways to strategically approach technological evolution in your work. First is sticking to what you're already doing and introducing new tools. You're making images? Instead of drawing, try using generative AI. This allows you to change your process from a place of comfort. You need to understand you current process very well and break it down. Second is experimenting with new technologies. Generative AI can make images, but it makes them in a completely new way. Can we use that to our advantage? Can the audience participate in a prompt creation event to create content? Explore the functions of technology and experiment to find new processes.

Strategy is key for new tech. Carefully consider where and how you plan to introduce a new tool to your team's workflow. When you do, be specific about how you plan to use it, how often, and most importantly: how you plan to review the results. Create a basic plan (can be as simple as a Slack message) that explains these critical points. Now that generative AI is popping up everywhere, this is more important than ever.

Generative AI and fast-paced communication tools often lead to a misrepresentation of where—or who, an idea came from. Be honest and upfront about idea generation. If someone else has a great idea, raise it to a larger group on their behalf and explain why you like the idea. This will show you're initiative and strategic understanding of its use case and potential impact. The same idea applies to generative AI. If you used ChatGPT or MidJourney to create a set of documents or images... be the one to explain how and why instead of passing it off as you're own. It's still you're initiative and thought process, just a different way of creating.

You know AI is everywhere and it does have the power to serve you almost everything on the platter. But please keep this in mind that AI is your nemesis, as much as it can help you with your creative tasks it can also alter your thought process because of its utility. Use it wisely and you'll do good

Technology is a game-changer in creative strategy, altering its very DNA. It introduces new players, reshaping the purpose of the game. It unveils fresh information, changing the rules and transforming decisions. It automates, altering the pace, revolutionizing actions and also causing unintended impacts. Adapting isn’t just about staying in the game; it’s about mastering it. It calls for a deep dive into the heart of your creative strategy, questioning its intent and audience. It’s about exploring how technology can be your secret weapon to achieve your goals while reducing the risk of unintended consequences. It is about leading and steering your creative strategy towards a future that exceeds expectations in ways you never imagined.