At age four, I asked my father if girls could be pilots. Without a breath in between I then asked if girls can be hairdressers. My dad responded, “Of course, girls can be anything they want to be”. So, I took that literally. Turning to my three-year-old sister, who was more interested in twirling her hair and sucking her thumb than our conversation “Hear that Cait, Dad says girls can do anything, what do you want to be? Pilot? Hairdresser? or both?”. At that point I decided if I couldn’t pick, why not be both. A hairdresser-pilot.

As an Army brat, travel was a norm from an early age. The idea of getting a haircut mid-flight seemed perfectly logical to me. After all, it was clear that maintaining a polished appearance in business class was paramount.

This idea, to most adults would seem ridiculous, but I truly believed it was as simple as whipping out my scissors and putting the plane on autopilot. I was a child, and my dad wanted me to dream. I didn’t question it. I didn’t think through the practicalities of the idea. Children have the benefit of not knowing what is possible, and this is why at five years old I was fearlessly creative and didn’t fret over the potential risks and mishaps of this big idea.

Of course, a hairdresser-pilot combination is not a viable career. The logistics of cutting hair during a flight are both impractical and hazardous. However, at five, I probably would have argued that it was neither.

As I matured, the aspiration of becoming a hairdresser-pilot gradually receded into the recesses of my mind—the corner where our wildest and most imaginative ideas are consigned to remain unexplored. You're familiar with that corner, right? I found myself leaning towards more realistic and pragmatic thoughts, and the allure of being a hairdresser-pilot diminished.

Staring out the window of the 15th floor (with purpose of course), I often think back to that little girl and wonder what on earth was she thinking. As a designer, I am eager to tap back into that corner of my brain. I am not after the extravagance of a hairdresser-pilot, but it makes me wonder what happens to creativity when we age?

Overall, research suggests that we do become less creative as we grow older, but the narrative seems to be a much more complex reality.

The creative process is multifaceted and just like a painting, it can have many layers. It’s important to note that creativity is not the same as imagination. Imagination is often referred to ‘make believe’, the ability to create something in one’s mind that does not exist. Imagination comes first and is key for creativity. It is often the concept, thoughts or mental images at the beginning of the process. Creativity is the ability to generate, transform and execute those concepts into something real and valuable.

The idea that children are perceived as more creative than adults appears to be a common misunderstanding. Numerous psychological studies support the notion that children can be more creative than adults but in fact is practicality and risk that limits our full potential as adults. Is it children’s cognitive flexibility – the willingness and ability to change their mind when they are given new information – that makes them more creative or the fact that they do not feel constrained by the ‘rules’ dictated by society?

Research specialist in creativity and learning Elisabeth McClure Ph.D shares an anecdote in her Ted Talk ‘Are children really more creative than adults?’ reminiscent of her own childhood dreams. McClure describes her dream tree house featuring a pool inside that could transform into an ice-skating rink according to the seasons. Despite her elaborate plans, she never got around to building her tree house. She reflects it was probably a good thing, like the idea of bringing scissors onto a plane, due to safety concerns.

Much like McClure's experience, my childhood aspiration of becoming a hairdresser-pilot, while imaginative, might not actually be considered truly creative in a technical sense. At five years old, I had no concept of what it would entail to bring that dream alive (realistic or not). Now, as a junior designer, establishing my design identity and the type of designer I aspire to be is crucial and something I frequently contemplate. Do I wish to be a designer who is closed off to criticism, unable to listen to clients, convinced that my ideas are always superior, and resistant to improvement? Or the type of designer who can sustain bold ideas, embraces wild creativity, and maintains an open mind?

At Spinifex, we are all about helping you reach your full potential, as long as it’s for the good. We are delivering Big Ideas. As a designer on the Spin team, I seek the exhilaration of generating these ideas, reminiscent of the excitement I felt imagining the dual role of hairdresser-pilot. I want to channel my five-year-old self imagination and be a designer who does not limit their creativeness. A designer who wears a cape exploring every possibility for my clients, and above all, executes and delivers results.