The shape of ideation | Stefan Mumaw | TEDxLawrence

TEDx Talks
5 Jun 201517:39

Summary

TLDRIn this insightful talk, the speaker addresses the surprisingly low number of people who identify as creative, as revealed by a 2012 Adobe study. Through extensive research, the speaker discovers two key misconceptions about creativity: its association with artistry and the belief that it's an innate talent. The speaker argues that creativity is fundamentally problem-solving, requiring both relevance and novelty. They challenge the audience to rethink creativity as a skill that can be honed through practice, using a fun, interactive exercise to demonstrate how even a short amount of time can yield a wealth of creative ideas.

Takeaways

  • πŸ€” Only 39% of adults in a global study by Adobe in 2012 identified themselves as creative, raising the question of why the number is so low.
  • 🎨 The first misconception about creativity is that it is solely linked to Artistry, leading many to believe they lack creativity if they cannot draw, paint, or write.
  • πŸ’‘ Creativity is more accurately defined as problem-solving with relevance and novelty, rather than just a talent or innate ability.
  • πŸ‘Ά Children excel at novelty but struggle with relevance, while adults are the opposite, being good at solving problems but often lacking in novel solutions.
  • πŸš€ Creativity can be improved as a skill with practice, contrary to the common belief that it is a fixed talent.
  • 🀝 A creative exercise involving generating ideas for prizes in old west-themed breakfast cereal boxes demonstrated how groups can brainstorm effectively.
  • ⏰ The exercise showed that time is not the limiting factor in creativity; motivation and the willingness to engage in the process are more critical.
  • πŸ“ˆ The ideation process can be graphed, with quantity and quality of ideas on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal, illustrating a typical pattern of idea generation.
  • πŸ”„ The creative process involves moving from expected ideas to more novel ones, often sparked by an 'absurd' idea that opens the door to greater innovation.
  • 🌟 Embracing 'stupid' ideas is part of the creative process, as they can lead to breakthroughs and should not be dismissed in professional settings.

Q & A

  • What percentage of adults in the 2012 Adobe study identified themselves as creative?

    -In the 2012 Adobe study, only 39% of the 5,000 adults surveyed identified themselves as creative.

  • What is the first misconception about creativity mentioned in the script?

    -The first misconception about creativity mentioned is that it is attached to Artistry, leading people to believe they are not creative if they cannot draw, paint, or write.

  • What does the speaker propose as the core definition of creativity?

    -The speaker proposes that at its core, creativity is problem solving.

  • What are the two characteristics that the speaker adds to the definition of creativity?

    -The two characteristics added to the definition of creativity are relevance and novelty.

  • Why does the speaker believe that creativity is not just a talent but also a skill?

    -The speaker believes that creativity is not just a talent but also a skill because if creativity is problem solving, it implies that it can be improved with practice, like any other skill.

  • What is the main goal of the creative exercise involving breakfast cereal and the Wild West?

    -The main goal of the creative exercise is to demonstrate that creativity is a process of generating ideas with relevance and novelty, and to show that everyone can engage in the creative process.

  • How long were the participants given to come up with ideas for the creative exercise?

    -The participants were given three minutes to come up with ideas for the creative exercise.

  • What does the speaker suggest is the usual excuse for not generating more ideas?

    -The speaker suggests that the usual excuse for not generating more ideas is a lack of time.

  • What does the speaker identify as the shape of the ideation process?

    -The speaker identifies the shape of the ideation process as a graph with a vertical axis representing the quantity or quality of ideas and a horizontal axis representing time.

  • Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of 'stupid' or absurd ideas in the creative process?

    -The speaker emphasizes the importance of 'stupid' or absurd ideas because they often spark more creativity and can lead to more novel and innovative solutions.

  • How does the speaker suggest we can improve our creativity?

    -The speaker suggests that we can improve our creativity by practicing problem-solving with relevance and novelty, and by understanding and utilizing the creative process.

Outlines

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Related Tags
Creativity InsightsProblem SolvingMisconceptionsInnovation ProcessIdeation TechniquesCreative ThinkingArtistic MisconceptionSkill DevelopmentBrainstormingCreative Exercise