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Innovation has had a good run in the past few years. But it’s looking like creativity is becoming a hot topic in both creative and non creative forums...
...here’s a little experiment. Search for the word “Innovation” on BusinessWeek. You’ll get 4,708 results. Now Search for the word “Creativity.” You’ll get back 1,173 results. Innovation has had a good run in the past few years. But it’s looking like creativity is becoming a hot topic in both creative and non-creative forums.
If you have 20 minutes to spare, I highly recommend watching this video of Sir Ken Robinson:
“Sir Ken Robinson is senior advisor to the J. Paul Getty Trust in Los Angeles, and an influential advocate for the importance of creativity in education. He makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for overhauling our education system. (Recorded February, 2006 in Monterey, CA.)”
What I find most compelling about this little gem is how halfway into his monologue, he taps into some extremely profound thoughts that all of us can relate to—not just us creative types.
He describes us when we were children. Our vivid imaginations and curiosity. Our inclination to take risk and not fear mistakes. Then he makes the case for how education has the tendency to domesticate our creative urges (my interpretation here). He uses the example of the individual with “ADD” who can’t sit still. Maybe that person was designed to be a dancer? He makes some very colorful jokes about academics “living in their heads” while seeing their bodies as merely vehicles to “transport their heads”.
It’s a really interesting and thought-provoking talk. I think Sir Ken Robinson is asking a bigger question here:
Are we in danger of educating ourselves out of creativity?
Sure, places of academia are also places of great thought exchange and ideas—but what if everyone has the same thoughts and ideas? Or more importantly, do existing educational programs foster creative thinking?
I’ll make this personal. Growing up and going through the public school system—I was always a little different. Maybe not on the outside—but within. I had teachers who thought I was “lazy” and at age 5, I can even remember my Grandmother trying to make me use my right hand instead of my left. (I said my right hand was "broken.") I’ve always had a vivid imagination and saw things a little differently. And I can remember feeling pressure to do what everyone else did.
Though I received a decent education, what most of my teachers prized was good behavior and following rules. What does this do for creativity?
It wasn’t until D-school that I “found myself.” An environment that encouraged and challenged creativity and the fruits of it. Pratt’s mantra still rings true in my soul: “Be True To Your Work and Your Work Will Be True To You”.
Back to Sir Ken. At the end of his monologue he leaves us with several key thoughts:
That we have an obligation to use the “gift of human imagination” wisely, and a responsibility to the “education of the whole being” for our children. Not just their heads.
In my estimation—creativity is being re-defined, re-evaluated and re-prioritized as a critical component of the human condition. And I think that’s a good thing for all of us.
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Comments
David - thanks for flagging this presentation along with your observations about the role of creativity! Much needed - deeply appreciated.
This is THE "good word" to end the week with - I hope many ruminate on this.
Keep creating, Mike
Posted by: Michael Wagner | 06.30.06
Mike,
I'm glad you watched the video. 20 minutes of time is a lot to ask of someone these days—but this is worth it.
I'm a little surprised that people didn't feel motivated to discuss this. I think it may have to do with a misconception of what creativity really is.
Many people think all creative individuals are "artists" of some kind. I think an engineer or project manager can be creative. Or even a marketing professional!
;)
Posted by: David Armano | 06.30.06
I was a Whack kid in school.
Yes they tried to kill my creativity. but it's creativity that kept me creative.
creativity however benifits from a harness and some dicipline.
and excells in constricted places.
I think on the contrary to your post, that creativity needs to be challenged, not left on it's own.
WHat can help creativity grow.
Is Optimism, faith, confidence- mixed with a bit of rebellion.
so there needs to be something to rebel againts.
thus:school!
from,
and artist/carsalesman
Posted by: MING | 06.30.06
Ming: "I think on the contrary to your post, that creativity needs to be challenged, not left on it's own."
David: "An environment that encouraged and challenged creativity and the fruits of it."
Ming, I did mention challenge. And I am not proposing to ditch discipline. One the contrary, in D-school we stayed up all night working on projects while my other college friends partied hard :)
Creativity is not about being a bohemian—or even an artist. But it is about sometimes being unconventional, curious, empathetic and not being afraid to make mistakes. These things require a certain brand of discipline, but that's different from rigid structure that focuses on rules, group thought and academics (grades).
BTW, engineers can also be creative—just like car salesmen:
http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2006/06/creative_engine.html
Posted by: David Armano | 07.01.06
Wow- I finally got the time to sit down and watch the speech. Just brilliant.
His dancer story at the end just perfectly summed it up.
P
Posted by: Paul McEnany | 07.01.06
David, I especially like it when an engineer re-discovers their creative spirit.
I have been fortunate to have facilitated meetings where people start off firmly stating, "I'm not creative!" Only to discover that indeed they are.
It can be a very emotional experience for some when they realize they have been telling themselves a lie for a very long time.
Keep creating, Mike
Posted by: Michael Wagner | 07.02.06
Paul: aren't you glad you watched it? It's just one of those things that will stick with you.
Mike: Sounds like you've had some very cool experiences with coaching individuals. I couldn't agree with you more—many people are creative but have allowed that part of them to lie dormant. Or they find creative outlets outside of work (which is great).
But with the right kind of strategy—you can be creative in many lines of work, even if it's as subtle as organizing files in a way that no-one has thought of before.
But as marketers, can we afford NOT to be creative?
Posted by: David Armano | 07.03.06
This article make me think about The Little Prince written by Antoine de Saint Exupéry : I invite you to read the following link :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Prince
We should never forget the child who sleep deep inside our heart when we become grown up!!
Marketers should involve children more often in the process of customer driven innovation and creativity!!
To end, I propose you to see what it could gives as result when school opten his door to creativity : http://visionary.wordpress.com/2006/05/05/cdi-un-jeu-denfant/
Posted by: Christelle | 07.03.06
Christelle,
That was inspirational. I love it. Words to live by:
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye"
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed"
Thanks for the additional thoughts.
Posted by: David Armano | 07.03.06