InGenius

Creativity is not a talent you are born with; it’s a skill you develop through practice and perspective.

Creativity Can Be Learned and Cultivated

Creativity is often seen as an innate gift, yet it is, in reality, a skill that anyone can develop with the right habits and mindset. Many people dismiss their own creative potential because they have not had the opportunity or encouragement to explore it. Creativity thrives when individuals step out of their usual thinking patterns and dive into new perspectives.

One way to nurture creativity is by blending unrelated ideas to produce something novel. For example, combining an alarm clock with educational tools could result in a clock that only turns off when you answer trivia questions correctly—perfect for reluctant learners. This method of juxtaposing unrelated concepts often births innovative solutions to unique challenges.

Another effective approach is to reframe the problems at hand. Seeing an issue from a different angle can lead to groundbreaking outcomes. Bespoke Innovations, a company producing artificial limbs, reframed prostheses not just as functional tools but as fashionable accessories. This new perspective led to designs that were both aesthetically appealing and personally empowering for users.

Examples

• Constructing a trivia-based alarm clock by merging concepts of learning and waking up.
• Bespoke Innovations transformed prosthetics into personal style statements by reframing their purpose.
• Creative thinkers combine ideas from unlikely sources, like merging art with engineering to invent new solutions.

First Solutions Are Rarely the Best

Settling on the first idea is tempting, but the best solutions usually come after deeper exploration and repeated attempts. Initial answers often emerge from familiar ideas, while breakthrough moments come through iteration and persistence.

For instance, students in a problem-solving exercise struggled to innovate beyond using hand signals for a silent lining-up task. Few considered the simpler and faster solution of using written communication—a creative leap that came to light only after deeper inquiry. Like these students, many of us don’t dig past surface-level ideas to uncover better alternatives.

Brainstorming is an excellent way to drive results, but it must be done strategically. Start by providing an environment conducive to creativity – a large room with writable surfaces and sticky notes for easy idea capturing. Ensure the group is small but diverse, involving stakeholders of various perspectives so that richer ideas can take shape.

Examples

• Design students' problem-solving improved only when they moved beyond basic ideas.
• Elon Musk’s continuous revisions led to Tesla’s most efficient battery design.
• Group brainstorming thrives with collaborative spaces and diverse participants.

Great Ideas Stem from Observation

Creativity flourishes when you constantly observe the world around you. Fresh ideas often come from identifying patterns or details others might overlook. Being attuned to your surroundings increases your ability to draw upon them creatively.

Consider David Friedberg, who noticed that a bike rental shop he passed was often closed due to rain. This small observation inspired the idea of creating weather insurance for businesses. This attention to detail is a skill we can practice and refine, making creativity a conscious effort rather than a fleeting chance.

Sharpening observational abilities can be as simple as stepping into new environments or switching up routines. Even taking a different route to work or eating lunch at an unfamiliar place can help. By breaking out of traditional patterns, you open yourself up to fresh ideas and perspectives.

Examples

• Friedberg’s weather-related insurance came from noticing closed shops on rainy days.
• Sherlock Holmes’ deductive skills stem from intense observation of his environment.
• Regularly exploring new places or environments fosters creative thinking.

Failure is a Vital Step Toward Growth

Failure is a necessary part of any creative process. Mistakes push us to rethink, adapt, and improve our approaches. Embracing failure not only builds resilience but brings new opportunities for experimentation.

Thomas Edison’s work on creating the light bulb involved thousands of failed trials, each one bringing him closer to success. Similarly, Instagram wasn't originally a photo-sharing app but pivoted after recognizing feedback on its photo feature. Early missteps can provide surprising clarity on what works best and what needs adjustment.

Creating a culture where failure is accepted—and even encouraged—leads to more experimentation. For instance, 1185 Design assigns multiple designers to independently work on the same tasks, fostering a space where failures are stepping stones to better collective outcomes.

Examples

• Edison’s thousands of failed attempts led to the perfect filament for the light bulb.
• Instagram’s original failure as a location-sharing app birthed a billion-dollar photo platform.
• 1185 Design thrives on team collaboration and analysis of failed experiments.

Believing in Success Inspires Success

Your attitude determines how far your creativity will take you. Perseverance through self-doubt and setbacks hinges on believing in your ability to find solutions. The mental commitment to succeed becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

John Adler, a neurosurgeon, is a prime example. He spent years grappling with setbacks while creating a robotic radiation therapy device. Adler’s belief allowed him to persist until his innovation transformed cancer treatment. Belief isn’t just motivational—it actively creates momentum for problem-solving.

Tweaking one’s language and mindset can spark surprising changes. For instance, when Facebook renamed its marketing team "Creative Marketing," team members subconsciously embraced their role as innovators, raising performance simply because of the name change.

Examples

• Adler revolutionized cancer therapies by staying committed to his vision.
• Facebook's marketing team excelled after redefining themselves as "creative."
• Perseverance underpins success stories across industries, from tech startups to space exploration.

Environments Shape Creativity

The space we inhabit deeply influences our creative potential. Environments designed for playfulness and collaboration often spark innovative ideas much faster than traditional, rigid settings.

Innovative companies often include playful elements like foosball tables to encourage fresh thinking. On a more practical level, providing flexible seating arrangements where teams freely interact has been proven to improve problem-solving abilities. As shown in a puzzle-solving experiment, groups without tables worked better as they collaborated more closely due to their physical setup.

Rearranging your workspace or introducing subtle differences can inspire creativity. Open spaces that inspire movement, discussion, and flexibility can make a standard office into a hub of innovation.

Examples

• Offices with foosball tables improve morale and creativity through playful disconnection.
• Teams forced to collaborate closely in flexible spaces solved puzzles faster.
• Rearranging furniture helped transform dull office settings into collaborative workspaces.

Competition and Constraints Boost Creativity

Imposing constraints on time, resources, or methods can challenge your brain to think outside the box. Gamification also serves as an excellent motivator, making creative tasks feel like engaging challenges rather than tiresome chores.

Proteus Biomedical incentivizes employees with small, playful rewards like rubber brains for filing patents. These fun, social incentives encourage creativity while also building recognition for individual efforts. Similarly, students perform better when faced with deadline pressure, as seen when semester-long projects were replaced by shorter, more frequent deadlines.

On a larger scale, resource limitations have given birth to famous innovations. For instance, budget constraints on "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" forced them to use coconut halves instead of horses, resulting in an iconic moment of humor.

Examples

• Proteus Biomedical’s use of rubber brains recognizes creative achievements playfully.
• Deadline-focused projects drive higher output in classrooms and workplaces.
• Limited film budgets inspired Monty Python’s signature creative solutions.

Routine Breaks Open New Perspectives

Breaking routines and stepping out of your comfort zone enhances your brain's ability to adapt and create. Daily routines, while comforting, often lock us into repetitive thinking patterns. Disrupting these cycles can inspire fresh concepts.

Changing surroundings, even in small ways, forces us to pay attention and engage with new information. Travel, exploration, or even trying new foods can stir dormant creative instincts. By exposing ourselves to novelty, we expand the repository our minds draw upon when creating ideas.

Examples

• Daily changes like taking a new route help stimulate creative zones in the brain.
• Innovators like Steve Jobs often sought inspiration by engaging in unrelated activities, like Zen meditation.
• Immersion in new surroundings triggers fresh thinking and problem-solving approaches.

Creative Play Strengthens Thinking Skills

Play is inherently creative because it encourages exploration without fear of judgment. Activities like games or playful competitions naturally draw out creative problem-solving abilities. Structured play enables you to think abstractly and craft ingenious solutions.

For instance, introducing constraints as a game-like rule increases engagement and outcomes. The rubber brain incentive mentioned earlier works as playful recognition. Similarly, timed challenges mimic games, pushing individuals to rise to the occasion.

Structured creative games also allow for easy progress tracking. Teams engaged in competitions naturally think more creatively as they innovate around obstacles and collaborate towards shared goals.

Examples

• Rubber brain trophies at Proteus Biomedical inspire playful invention.
• Timed assignments lead to sharper, faster creative work in classrooms.
• Competitive team games encourage collaborative problem-solving effectively.

Takeaways

1. Combine unrelated ideas and reframe problems from fresh perspectives to spark creativity.
2. Design your environment with flexibility and collaboration in mind for inspired workflows.
3. Embrace failure as an essential and productive step toward finding the best solution.