Infrastructures for Inspiration: The Routine Construction of Creative Identity and Inspiration
Ellen Simpson, Bryan Semaan
TL;DR
The paper investigates how online platform infrastructures mediate the routine construction of creative identity and inspiration among visual artists. It employs 22 semi-structured life-history interviews and a Hymer-inspired analytical lens to reveal contradictions in inspiration (discipline vs. spontaneity, mindfulness vs. mindlessness, active searching vs. receptive waiting) and how sociotechnical infrastructures enable or constrain them. Key contributions include empirical evidence that small online communities and peer networks robustly support disciplined practice and spontaneous inspiration, along with design recommendations for platforms to better embed inspiration mechanisms and protect creative identities. The work highlights both the enabling potential of algorithmic mediation and its risks, offering practical guidance for platform designers and policy makers to foster healthier creative ecosystems.
Abstract
Online, visual artists have more places than ever to routinely share their creative work and connect with other artists. These interactions support the routine enactment of creative identity in artists and provide inspirational opportunities for artists. As creative work shifts online, interactions between artists and routines around how these artists get inspired to do creative work are mediated by and through the logics of the online platforms where they take place. In an interview study of 22 artists, this paper explores the interplay between the development of artists' creative identities and the, at times, contradictory practices they have around getting inspired. We find platforms which support the disciplined practice of creative work while supporting spontaneous moments of inspiration, play an increasing role in passive approaches to searching for inspiration, and foster numerous small community spaces for artists to negotiate their creative identities. We discuss how platforms can better support and embed mechanisms for inspiration into their infrastructures into their design and platform policy.