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By Tal Fitzpatrick
Creative Practices
“Every child is an artist. The
problem is how to remain an artist
once he grows up.”
- Pablo Picasso
“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
- Pablo Picasso
So the next question is “How”? • How can we be more
creative? • How can we make
‘something’ out of so little? • How can we utilise creativity
in order to be more productive and innovative?
“I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”
- Pablo Picasso
Activity 1:
Individually, on the piece of paper in front of you, come up with and WRITE DOWN as many uses as you can think of for this mug.
You have 2min!
“The chief enemy of creativity is good sense.”
- Pablo Picasso
Activity 2
In a team with those on your table, use this cardboard to build something which you all
have in common.
You have 10 min!
Don’t tell anyone who isn’t on your team what
you’re are building
“Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not. ”
- Pablo Picasso
Collaboration
Divergent & Lateral Thinking
Creative Problem Solving
Some strategies which could help to increase creativity during collaborations are:
- Create a safe space: creative risk taking relies on a nonjudgmental
culture of trust where people feel safe to push boundaries and put forward ideas without being ridiculed
- Flexibility within boundaries: starting with a blank canvas doesn’t stimulate creativity, you need to consider what are the restrictions and limitations which your creative approach must comply with at the outset
- Allow for multiplicity: get into the habit of being inclusive and accepting of multiple/conflicting viewpoints; think and, and, and… instead of no, but…
- Mistakes and mess are necessary: mistakes≠ failure; develop a culture where smart risk taking, prototyping and piloting is accepted and encouraged - it may mean more set back, but it is also the way forward to a breakthrough
- Value judgment are OK: At the end of the day decisions need to be made, part of the creative process is the make value judgments, however it is necessary to have processes and transparent criteria around these to maintain a sense of fun and safety
Activities which promote divergent thinking include:
• creating lists of questions
• brainstorming • subject mapping /
"bubble mapping" • keeping a journal • creating artwork
• free writing • setting aside time for thinking and meditation
Lateral Thinking Edward de Bono defines 4 types of thinking tools: 1. Idea generating tools that are designed to break
current thinking patterns (routine patterns, the status quo)
2. Focus tools that are designed to broaden where to search for new ideas
3. Harvest tools that are designed to ensure more value is received from idea generating output
4. Treatment tools that are designed to consider real-world constraints, resources, and support
Practices for Creative Problem Solving • Inducing change of
perspective • Multiple idea
facilitation • Problem reframing • Mental state shift
Creative problem
solving technique categories
“It takes a very long time to become young.”
- Pablo Picasso
Further Reading: • Edward De Bono – “Lateral Thinking” • Austin Kleon “Steal Like An Artist” • Todd Henry “The Accidental Creative” • Dan Roam “The Back of the Napkin” • Allison Arden “The Book of Doing” • Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi “Creativity” • Chris Barez-Brown “How to have Kick-Ass Ideas” • Tom & David Kelley “Creative Confidence” • Twyla Tharp “The Creative Habit” • Roger Martin “The Opposable Mind”
Contact:
Tal Fitzpatrick Project Coordinator Education, Research & Policy | Volunteering Qld T (07) 3002 7600 F (07) 3229 2392 M 0410 606 864 E [email protected] W volunteeringqld.org.au | emergencyvolunteering.com.au | Twitter @VolunteeringQld Level 6, 333 Adelaide St, Brisbane Qld 4000 | GPO Box 623, Brisbane Qld 4001
