Creating Through Logic
Isabel Harry is a passionate writer currently studying STEAM subjects. She is keen to share her experiences to educate others and empower them to follow their passions.
5 minute read
There is no fine line between logic and creativity. However, we tend to place our personalities and traits into mutually exclusive boxes, leading us to believe we are a certain type of thinker. It isn’t uncommon to view logical and creative thinkers as polar opposites, destined to view the world in different ways and possess different skill sets. Many do not understand the way logic and creativity are intertwined. But the truth is, developing logic can feed into one’s creativity and vice versa, strengthening both traits without detracting from either of them.
When we believe that an individual has a ‘logical brain’, we inadvertently associate other characteristics with that label. Logical thinkers can be thought of as rigid or nerdy, while creative thinkers are traditionally freer of mind. Logic can sometimes even be perceived to be paired with dispassion or introversion. These contrived personality confines speak to a lack of understanding of logic and its role in our lives.
Logic is integrated into our daily experiences and in every decision we make.
No matter who you are, you will apply logical thinking every time you make a choice. Strengthening the logical side of your mind allows you to better evaluate the decisions you may face and thus gain greater control over your own life. A strong sense of logic fosters confidence, empowering you to take charge of a situation with knowledge brought to you by reason. Logic can bolster communication skills and enhance your capacity to overcome obstacles in your life. In this way, logical thinking can help improve your self-esteem by increasing your confidence, and therefore provide benefits to your mental health. Yet the largest benefit of developing logic surrounds the effect it can have on your creativity. Creativity does not come from freedom of logic, it comes from embracing it.
How Coding Empowered My Creativity
The first thing I learned to code was a game of hangman. While straightforward, I cannot describe the pride I felt in having done it. My friends and family could play a game that I had coded. They could engage with something I had created, smiling when they won or grumbling when they lost. I wasn’t just coding for the sake of it; I was creating something others could enjoy—something I could be proud of and show off.
My first large project was the making of a theatre booking system. I undertook the project with the purpose of broadening my skill set, but I still managed to make it creative. I took great excitement from designing a user interface and adding any extra function I could think of to the system. Having developed my coding skills and fundamental logical thinking, I moved on to coding a game of chess. The contrast between the theatre booking system and the game of chess reinforced to me the versatile nature of programming. You truly can create anything.
Photo submitted by Isabel Harry
Realizing that played an important role in reframing my perception of coding. Many link coding with the making of something functional, but coding can be used to build something expressive, too, such as games, art, or interactive experiences.
Throughout my coding journey, the creative side of my personality was nurtured as I used logic to enable my ideas to become a reality.
Even beyond the realm of coding, creating requires logic and understanding. Some of my greatest passions are creative—such as writing and art—and approaching these conventional creative outlets with logic only served to improve my skills and deepen my passion. Consider the example of creating an art piece. Drawing a picture requires employing a process; it requires understanding what you want to create and designing a way to put it on the page. It requires logic. But by no means does that undermine the creativity involved in bringing that drawing into being. The fundamental way these parts of ourselves are linked can allow us to thrive in activities we may have never thought we were suited for.
How Can Someone Develop Logic?
You might be unsurprised to hear that one of the best ways to develop logic is through coding. Coding is beautiful in the way that everything makes sense, and a grander whole can be broken down into a series of smaller steps. Coding requires thought; it requires you to engage your brain in pursuit of creation. There is a deep satisfaction in knowing that every line of code performs a function, and there is nothing more gratifying than creating from building blocks.
Photo submitted by Isabel Harry
This is the key aspect of coding that people often forget: you are creating through logic. Coding doesn’t bind you to the rigid black-and-white viewpoint of a computer. With a few choice lines of code, you can create anything. Take my examples! The limitless possibilities inspire a creative mindset while reinforcing the idea that a creative goal cannot be reached without the logical steps required. Coding is often associated with problem-solving, and rightfully so, as a coder must be adept at identifying and resolving mistakes. To fix these mistakes, you may find yourself in need of a “creative solution”.
Logical solutions will not always come to you, and so you must be creative in the pursuit of them.
The finding of these solutions is a great example of how the skills of creativity and logic coincide. In these cases, a coder must practice perseverance, as mistakes are a part of the process. But a coder’s skill development is never idle. Learning to code is progressive in its nature. Each skill builds upon the last, strengthening one’s ability and logical thinking.
Coding is a process of continued learning, and with each skill learned, the creative possibilities multiply.
Why Should You Code?
Coding not only brings the logical part of your brain to the forefront, but it strengthens your personality as a whole. Diving into coding will not diminish your creative side but will enhance your creative ability. There is no clear-cut logical thinker or creative thinker within us, and as such, we are not defined by the characteristics associated with a certain type of thinking.
Many shy away from coding due to the perceptions of it being dull or rigid, but it is none of those things. The world of programming provides endless opportunities to both create and develop your logical skills. Using a computer does not make you a computer.
You do not need to be a specific type of person to be able to code.
There is no prerequisite for logic or personality. Many don’t consider learning to code because they are blinded by their preconceptions of who a coder should be. I certainly do not fit the stereotype. I am creative, with a passion for writing and art, yet I find joy in coding.
Photo submitted by Isabel Harry
Let me be an example to prove that creative passions can coexist with coding. We should not let our interests be dictated by what we think our personality types should be. There truly is nothing more gratifying than creating through logic.
Do you have an experience or story you'd like to share? We are always looking for blog writers and content creators. Email engagement@thecodeinitiative.ca if interested!
Isabel Harry is a passionate writer currently studying STEAM subjects. She is keen to share her experiences to educate others and empower them to follow their passions.
