What is Creativity? (“Thinking Outside the Box”)

What is Creativity? o Creative people don’t just think outside the box—they live outside the box. According to Robert E. Franklin in Human Motivation, creative people tend to have “flexibility, tolerance of ambiguity or unpredictability, and enjoyment of things heretofore unknown” (394). o According to Franklin, creativity is “the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others” (396). o Creativity tests evaluate the number of alternatives that people can generate and the uniqueness of each alternative. o Experts generally agree that you can be born with creativity, it can be learned, or it can situational. For learning creativity, it’s key to brainstorm and associate ideas that are not normally apparent (example: muffinfilms.com, okaydave.com). o Vertical vs. horizontal thinking (Bulleted info on this slide is arranged vertically under a heading—there is a hierarchy. Horizontal thinking associates ideas laterally—I.e., the examples). o Businesses that rely on creativity as their most valued asset tend to value horizontal organization rather than hierarchical / authoritative, and tend to value ideas, brainstorming time, creative play.

Play: Muffinfilms.com (1, 2, 8) o By Amy Winfrey

Portfolio: Okaydave.com o By Dave Werner

o In Aleart.net, Orlandi wanted to develop new kinds of sensory experiences on the Internet that combined text, sound loops, images, and interactivity.

o Many people who rely on creativity as a business have backgrounds in creative writing and fine art, which encourage experimentation and the ability to think far outside the box. Award-winning Italian Creative Director Alessandro Orlandi developed his talent in an experimental web site called aleart.net, and then channeled it into a business a Fishouse.net.

Why Creativity is Critical Our Economy Relies on It Entrepreneurship Scientific Research Written & Visual Communication Entertainment College Application Essays The Arts Much More Formulas only get you so far

How to “Get Creative” oGet outside of your normal environment. oGive yourself space to free your mind (play, do other things) oSeek inspiration (creative work of others) – listen to music, go to a museum, peruse books and magazines, etc. oTurn off your critical mind – let all ideas flow oBrainstorm – free association, lists