Episode description

Self-evidently, design and creativity are everywhere -- literally in every man-made thing we make, use, or celebrate.  According to today’s guest, the act of design and creativity can benefit everyone, whether they see themselves as creative or not.

Sarah Stein Greenberg is Executive Director of the d.school at Stanford (aka the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design), which explores what great design can bring to global industries.  She’s the author of the book Creative Acts for Curious People: How to Think, Create and Lead in Unconventional Ways.

Sarah cites the freedom of Lego construction, and her father’s carpentry, as twin inspirations for her own creativity.  We talked about design as a language and creativity extending beyond the narrow realms of “art”.

Among the highlights:

• How navigating uncertainty requires an open attitude to creativity.
• The importance of “meta-learning.”
• The value of recognizing one’s own bias.
• Strategies for exploring serendipitous discovery.
• The difference between divergent and convergent ideation.
• How to solicit and use constructive criticism.
• Struggle as a sign that productive learning is occurring.
• How to overcome creative blockages.

Enjoy!

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