On your path to self-actualization lies a few personality tests that you might take in hopes of finding “answers”. While the psychological classification of each complex individual is questionable, the broad nature of it helps us see our similarities and differences from an unbiased common ground in a way that is relatable for most. On top of that, personality tests are also good conversation starters (you’re welcome).
We - María, Nella, Evelyn and Yu Ting - recently discovered our creative personalities by completing Adobe’s Creative Types test. To add to the thrill, we each did a round of guessing before the results were shared and oh boy it is safe to say that we are not good with guessing game
MARÍA’S CREATIVE TYPE
The Guess
The Producer
N: When I saw ‘productive and a natural organiser’, I thought it really described María because she is diligent at keeping her creative workspace really organised.
YT: There is always someone in the team who dives into the actionables and pushes for next steps. For me, that person is María.
The Adventurer
E: When it comes to design, María is very daring and unafraid to try new styles.
The Answer
María is actually The Dreamer.
The Debate
“Your greatest gift is your depth of sensitivity and empathy, which allows you to give voice to universal human emotions in a way that touches people on a profound level.”
M: I do feel that I have a good connection with people as I am often able to relate to them and make them feel heard. A big part of what I create is relative to the people I create for.
“You’re deeply emotional and intuitive, with a vivid imagination—the quintessential idealist and romantic."
M: I agree that I’m deeply emotional and intuitive. The part about imagination doesn’t feel like me; I have an imagination but it’s not the kind that is insanely out of this world.
“The inner world is always where you’ve felt most at home. You’re happy to roam your mental landscape of thoughts, emotions, and fantasies for hours on end.”
M: This is true! I’ve always been fond of mindfulness practices and looking inwards to evaluate my mental landscape. I feel it even more during this period because I now have more time and space to myself.
EVELYN'S CREATIVE TYPE
The Guess
The Thinker
YT: I think Evelyn has great foresight as she is always one step ahead of everyone, which makes sense because Thinkers are known for having an inquisitive mind.
The Artist
N: I chose the Artist because Evelyn is very good at executing ideas, a creative strength that can be found in an Artist as they bring ideas and concepts to life.
The Innovator
M: I feel that Evelyn is constantly experimenting on ways to improve ideas, which is very fitting because Innovators dream up new and improved ways of doing things.
The Answer
Evelyn is actually The Thinker
The Debate
E: I don’t know if I’m really like this. The person that they are describing feels like someone who ponders over philosophical ideals whereas I’m someone who thinks more about the present.
“Driven by an insatiable intellectual curiosity, the THINKER makes the quest for knowledge and truth a lifelong pursuit. With all those big questions and abstract thinking, you’ve got some serious electrical activity going on in that brain of yours!”
E: I feel that I am somewhat like this but not most of the time. I’m not the person in school who wonders what the world has to offer. My curiosity lies in the practical matters of life and not in the deep and abstract matters.
“Your biggest challenges? Getting out of your head and learning to balance theory with practice. Try not to get too caught up in concepts and abstractions, dear THINKER. Great ideas are meant to be brought to life.”
E: The person that they are describing sounds to me like they constantly have their head in the clouds. I’m not like that - I’m a do-er, someone who’s more grounded.
NELLA'S CREATIVE TYPE
The Guess
The Maker
E: I feel like Nella is the quiet problem-solver of the team. Though she doesn’t say much, you can see how driven and focused it is when it comes to creative work.
YT: Nella’s always interested in how other people make things. Through the way she makes time to learn more about design and illustration, it clearly shows that she is dedicated to her craft.
The Visionary
M: I think Nella is someone who sees the possibilities of the future the way a Visionary would. And that is highly reflected in her efforts to advocate for sustainability as she is always sharing innovative perspectives that inspire others to share the same ideals.
The Answer
Nella is actually The Dreamer
The Debate
N: I did the quiz based on my first instincts, not solely from a creative lens, but I feel that the results are pretty accurate.
“You’re naturally drawn to express your inner world through literary pursuits, music, and the visual arts. Think of yourself as the “magical realist” of the creative types: like the literary masters of that genre, you naturally infuse your everyday life with the beauty and wonder of the imagination.”
N: I feel that I’m interested in and have quite an understanding about the different aspects of art. But more often than not, I spend too much time thinking about creating art rather than actually creating them.
“Seek out opportunities to collaborate with INNOVATOR types, who combine your lofty idealism with a focus on pragmatic solutions. The grounding energy of the INNOVATOR can inspire you to apply your imagination to real-world change.”
N: This makes sense to me because I need to work with someone who would push me to create the things that I see or vision in my head.
YU TING'S CREATIVE TYPE
The Guess
The Producer
M: I picked the Producer because Yu Ting is insanely organised and highly creative. And that is seen in the way she creates and arranges her presentation decks.
N: I also think that Yu Ting, like Maria, is super organised and hence I picked the Producer.
The Innovator
E: I was going to pick the Producer because of Yu Ting’s role as a project manager, but that is her at work. Her creative side is the side that likes to solve problems as she is always trying to understand and improve the way we work. That is why I chose the Innovator.
The Answer
Yu Ting is actually The Dreamer
The Debate
“The world is a place of beauty and magic in the eyes of a DREAMER. Where others see facts and figures, you see symbols, metaphors, and hidden meanings.”
YT: Daydreaming is probably one of my favourite things to do. There’s a meaning and story behind everything and I like to spend time thinking about that.
“Let your mind roam free, DREAMER, but don’t forget to return to the here and now. Practicing mindfulness will go a long way in helping you turn your dreams into reality.”
YT: I can relate to Nella in that aspect. I can be very in my own head sometimes and it is difficult to get things done in that state of mind. That’s why it’s important to practice grounding myself.
At the end of the discussion, we did realise that the team is made up of three Dreamers and one Thinker and none of us have each other as ideal collaborators. It is both interesting and funny how we all had a different take on each other.
We came to a conclusion that the questions asked in the test were a little fuzzy and not strong indicators of each creative type. “Honestly, I struggled because I didn’t know how to answer some of the questions,” Evelyn said. However, hearing from each other did make us realise some things about ourselves that came as a surprise.
These personality tests were never meant to tell us who we are. What they do is make us question ourselves and dig deeper into our identities. You would come to realise that no one knows you better than you know yourself.
So, tell us - what’s your true creative type? Take a guess and do the test.
