Shelly D. Farnham, Ph.D.
Waggle Labs
Ignite, April 29, 2009
Community Genius: Leveraging Community to Increase your Creative Powers
What is Community?
"I define "community" as networks of interpersonal ties that provide sociability, support, information, a sense of belonging, and social identity.”
Barry Wellman (2001).
Seattle Cupcake Society
Community is to Social Capital
as
Love is to Babies
http://www.how-to-draw-funny-cartoons.com/image-files/cartoon-babies-3.gif
Community Groups Enable Transitive Relationships
Hey I’m in The Cupcake Society too !
Can I borrow some sugar?
Sure!
And try my
special recipe!
Process of Creativity
novel ideasManifested into reality
Social!Remixed!
Tip 1: Seek Diversity
Tip 2. Seek High Rotation in Weak Ties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_tie
Tip 3: Develop Colleagues/Friends with Good “Flow”
Tip 4: Get a White Board
Tip 5: Play Different Roles
Passive observer Active participant Leader
Tip 6. Play Nice
Reputation spreads like wild-fire
http://www.judiciaryreport.com/images/universal-fire-6.jpg
Tip 7: Hang Out a Lot in Bars
Conversation drives creativity
Tip 8. Give Away Ideas and Knowledge Freely
The Love Cat Way
Be a Love Cat!!
Tip 9. Play the “Yeah, and“ Generative Idea Game
Dudes, lets do something
really geeky!
Yah like with LASERS
Yah and it plays music like a giant
harp!Yah and like
you’re inside a giant brain
playing laser neurons!!!
Yah like a Giant Robot
Brain!!!
Dudes this is going to be sooo cooool
Tip 10. Generate *Many* Ideas, but Pick Only a Few Ideas to Execute
Reality Checks: Skills? Passion? Time? Resources? Venue?
Steve the Robot H.E.Ai.D.
http://dbltht.com/ubergeek/
Tip 11. Have Place
Hangouts where you can do stuff as a group
Tip 12. Have Project Days
Saturday House Art Day Wednesday Night
Project Night
Tip 13. Give up Control
Suggested Groups and Events Dorkbot Seattle Tech Startup Seattle Robotics 911 Media Arts Center BCWA (Burning Man,
Ignition Northwest) Seattle Mind Camp BarCamp Seattle Hackerbot Ignite! Thingamajiggr Frayed Wire
Frayed Wire
July 11th One day event art , technology, community Presentations, workshops, discussions