A crash course in creativity: Tina Seelig at TEDxStanford

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[lespion]

1/ reframe the problem
2/ use jokes for inspiration
3/ connect ideas
4/ challenge assumption
5/ knowledge (pay attention)
6/ attitude (drive and motivation)
7/ habitat
8/ resources
9/ culture

[Discovery_and_Change]

1:00 We look at creativity in much too narrow a way
1:05 We need to open the aperture and look at creativity in a different light
1:18 Things we need to unlock creativity -- the "innovation engine"
1:28 What comes from you: knowledge, imagination, attitude
1:35 The outside: resources, habitat, culture
1:51 We don't teach people (in school) how to increase their imagination
1:59 There really ARE ways to increase our ability to come up with interesting ideas
2:39 The way you ask questions determines the type of answers you'll get
2:45 The question you ask is the "frame" in which answers will fall
2:49 If you don't ask the question in a thoughtful way, you're not going to get interesting answers
3:39 Jokes almost always switch frames (making them funny)
3:46 Practice framing and re-framing problems (to increase imagination)
3:55 Connect and combine ideas (to increase imagination)
4:01 Most inventions come from putting things together that hadn't been put together before
4:10 Practice the Japanese art of chindogu (creating un-useless inventions [not useful nor useless])
4:28 Ideas might not be practical but they unlock other interesting ideas
5:10 Come up with creative ways to connect things in interesting and surprising ways
5:35 Challenge assumptions (to increase imagination)
5:48 Practice solving problems where there is not one right answer
7:40 Three things to increase imagination: framing and re-framing, connecting and combining ideas, challenging assumptions
7:48 But unfortunately, this isn't enough -- you need the other pieces of the "innovation engine"
7:58 Your 'knowledge' is your toolbox for your 'imagination'
8:10 You need a depth of 'knowledge' to bring ideas to life
8:24 One of the most powerful ways to learn and gain 'knowledge' is by paying attention
8:33 Pay attention to see problems you can solve and solutions which are in front of you
8:44 Go to places you've been many times but look at it with fresh eyes
8:58 The Stanford Safari study: asked for different points of view about Stanford (from groundskeepers to Presidents)
9:31 But, 'imagination' and 'knowledge' are not enough
9:35 You need the 'attitude', mindset, motivation, and drive to solve problems
9:52 Most people, unfortunately, view themselves as "puzzle builders"
9:58 They see themselves as having a very defined task, needing to get all the pieces together
10:08 But if you're a "puzzle builder" and you're missing 1 or 2 pieces, you can't reach your goal
10:16 True innovators and entrepreneurs see themselves as "quilt makers"
10:22 They take the 'resources' they have around them, leverage the materials available and create something surprising and fascinating
10:37 We have to view ourselves as able to leverage 'resources' to make amazing things happen
10:50 Our 'knowledge' is our toolbox for our creativity -- our 'imagination' is the catalyst for the transformation of the 'knowledge' to new ideas
10:58 Our 'attitude' is the spark that gets this going
11:02 But unfortunately, that's not enough
11:06 That's why there are so many creative people who aren't living up to their potential
11:12 They're not in environments that foster, stimulate, and encourage innovation
11:22 'Habitats' are people you work with, rules, rewards, constraints, incentives, and physical space
11:38 Kindergarten is a stimulating environment: colorful, manipulatives, room is flexible
12:20 These type of offices were designed to be like prisons
12:40 Every stage (environment) we're in tells us how we should act
13:15 Creative work environments are not frivolous -- they're saying innovation, creativity, and playfulness are valued here
13:25 But this is not enough
13:28 We have to think about the 'resources' we have in our 'environments'
13:47 'Resources' can be processes we put in place, cultures we build
14:21 Don't replicate resources of someone else -- use the resources you already have
14:30 'Culture' is important
14:36 'Culture' is like the background music of a community, organization, team, and family
15:05 Think about how you feel and if you'd want to be there
16:30 The inside and outside (elements of creativity) are woven together and can't be looked at in isolation
16:40 The 'habitats' we build are the external manifestations of our 'imaginations'
16:45 If you can't imagine it, you can't build it
16:49 Then, the 'habitats' we build affect our 'imagination' -- the way we think, feel, and act
16:57 The more we 'know', the more 'resources' we can unlock
17:00 The types of 'resources' we have determine what we 'know'
17:13 'Culture' is the collective 'attitudes' of the community
17:17 The 'culture' affects how we think
17:25 The "innovation engine" is so powerful that you can start anywhere
17:29 If you're a manager, you can set the 'culture' or build the 'habitat' to stimulate the imagination
17:38 If you're an individual, you can start by building your 'knowledge' or your passion and 'attitude'
17:47 You can start anywhere
17:51 Everyone has the key to their innovation engine, but it's up to them to turn (use) it

[syedsuhail]

One of the best TED Talk, I never believed that knowledge will be important for imagination and creativity, but when I started Creativity, I realised how important the knowledge is in creativity.

[AbzArt]

she is a brilliant speaker. i was drawn in from start to finish

[agremon]

I liked it! It increased my knowledge, boost my imagination, slightly vary my attitude, made that I see different my habitat, made me discover resources, made appreciate my culture, and i colud see all toghether embracing me and I embracing all toghether!

[sidpati]

A talk that deserves to be watched time and again. Quite a lot of nuggets on creativity and innovation filled into under 20 minutes.

[BayAreaPictures]

What I love about her Innovation Engine is that the components are accessible to all of us, she's just created a new frame about how they operate together. As a producer, I appreciated the nod to the power of a film or video soundtrack to evoke emotion. Great talk!

[joseph]

This woman is fantastic - I learned a lot from this talk and she is very inspirational - bravo.

[SanjivManifest]

Tina's energy is engagingly infectious ... great insights .. am in the Crash Course in Creativity and very grateful to Tina/Stanford as I need to clean my "rust" and reclaim my creativity !

[ozgekavas]

Most important thing is it: everyone has the key to the innovation engine. It is up to them to turn it!
So good final!

[webds]

Thanks Tina for reminding us to think with childlike wonder, curiosity, and playfulness when tapping into our creativity. Your concepts are profound in their simplicity. I'm so grateful to be participating in this course with everyone!

[toddsqui]

I really love this woman. She's amazing.

[smredwan]

Truly thoughtful and creative the idea she presented. I'm going to try this out at work and see how it goes. Thanks to Tina for sharing her wonderful knowledge with the world.

[miryanastancheva]

i was just looking at her books on amazon and thinking whether i should buy one ... after listening to this presentation i'll most certainly do that! She is amazing :)

[lecafedescolombes]

Insightful and inspiring talk. There is a very good reason for the endless uniform rows of desks in schools and cubicles in offices -- students and workers are expected to step in line and to produce the same pre-determined outcomes/results as there peers, nothing more, nothing less. Creativity is not part of the contract, it is disruptive, therefore not allowed. The plain and uniform environment are designed to enforce the expected results and behaviors. Creativity is an unapproved activity.

[Mojojazzonline]

Most important Tedx to date.  This was awesome.

[marlyatoudiallo]

This talk is very important when you are confused about creativity. Great work TINA SEELIG.

[mewwew]

This is an amazing talk! Really gives you a lot of food for thought.

[Tomasmsuw]

Tina Seelig you are amazing! I`m taking an innovation class and we watch a lot of your videos. Thanks from Chile!

[watawonderfulworld]

one of the few actually helpful TED talks