Anna Barlog (Game Developer)

What is creativity to you?

I guess it is the ability to combine your experiences and your imagination to create something new, I think you can be creative in many ways.

I found working as a producer a lot more creative than I’d expected, especially since I was given a lot of freedom regarding how I wanted to manage things, For example I really enjoyed mixing different development processes to find the perfect match for my team (like Kanban, Scrum and Waterfall).

If you had the chance to live during a different artistic movement other than now, which one would you choose?

I wouldn’t like to go back in time to be honest, I do really enjoy technology and to experience what people create on different mediums.

Also as a woman I might not have had opportunities to do what I want if I lived in another era.

If you could interview a creative person (past or present), who would that person be?

That would be Lee Pace, I've had a bit of a crush on him since he was the pie maker (Pushing Daisies) and since then he's been in so many great things, and he's always a joy to watch. He also seems like a very interesting person.

What do you do to get into your creative zone?

I have ADHD so I have the superpower of hyper-focus if I’m really into something and can learn infinite amounts about things very quickly if motivated, haha.

Unfortunately this cannot be controlled completely but at work I’m highly motivated by time constraints (monthly goals/milestones was the norm for me at work and I liked it!) and wanting to do what’s best for my team.

At home if I feel stuck the best inspiration is to find other people who make amazing things (art work or clothes for example) as that usually gives me ideas that are fed off their style without copying, I don’t even like copying myself and hate to make the same thing more than once.

But even when it comes to hobbies I get motivated by time constraints and goals. I may not have sewn for a while and felt my sew-jo was gone but if an event is coming up shortly I can make a dress quicker than quick and get really into it.

Have you ever doubted your talent? If so, how did you work through your doubt?

Oh god yes, I used to draw a lot and when younger I always heard I was really talented, I remember drawing realistic horses for a magazine when I was 12 for example.

The biggest blow to that belief was starting to work in games and you have these amazingly talented artists around you, I really feel like the game industry has some of the most talented people around in their respective areas, and that was very humbling, and I really felt it was pointless for me to even draw for fun anymore, as my doodles were embarrassing in comparison.

And I was quite stuck in that for a while.

But I’ve realized that it isn’t fair to compare myself to others that way, especially not people who often have years of training in their trade, and have spent a lot of time honing their skills, while my highest level of education in art is high school art-class.

Most of these people have lots of raw talent as well, that can’t be denied, but there are also those who’ve had to work really hard to get as good as they are (and it is a mix of talent and hard work I believe).

So I should learn to be better, be inspired instead of discouraged. It took me having a kid and trying to teach him this to really see it myself.