Possibilities Infinite

Denise R. Jacobs HOW Interactive Conferecne | San Francisco, CA 20 September 2015

@denisejacobs #HIDC @HOWbrand #infinitepossible

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Photo by Derek Kearney

From Front-end Dev à Creativity Evangelist

à Founder + CEO/Chief Creativity Evangelist http://TheCreativeDose.com/

1,1,2,3… https://www.flickr.com/photos/bdunnette/143567420

It’s the new Black http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4771136128/

IBM CEO Study, 2010 https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/31670.wss

Time Magazine Creativity Poll, 2013

http://business.time.com/2013/04/26/the-time-creativity-poll/

Survey of 684 Developers https://www.flickr.com/photos/ter-burg/8812567121

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/3135103537/

We have it, then we lose it.

This is Water. https://www.flickr.com/photos/seotaro/2101165162

You are powerfully creative http://www.designyourway.net/diverse/4/ux/brainy.jpg?e8a293

Curiousity Problem-solvers (experiential & visual)

Critical Thinkers Empathic, Humanizers

Collaborative Masters of strategic simplification

Some of the many gifts of UX Designers

“User experience is an art form of its own.” – Carrie Cousins, “Why Does User Experience Matter?”

http://designshack.net/articles/why-does-user-experience-matter/

Science and Art meet in Wonder

https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/Uploads/cafesci/images/Toronto-14-04-09-artscience%20cafe%20osc%20crop%20small.jpg

“…A fantastic UX creates an emotional bond, causing users and customers to become advocates.” – Jennifer Smith, "Why UX is important"

Can even elicit devotion

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bohman/174718774/

“I just LOVE (insert device/app/site)!” https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/7348035690/

Now is the time to value yourself

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mcgraths/3277839203

“The new scarcity: the time, energy, and brainpower of bright, creative people.” - Mary Poppendieck, “Think For Yourself”

How to move forward?

The Dark or the Light

It starts with One http://www.flickr.com/photos/33498942@N04/6009639079/

The pattern of nature

We are part of this pattern

https://www.flickr.com/photos/124263610@N08/14201837570/

The Golden Ratio https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdvan/14910785913

Everything comes from this divine unfolding

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rammorrison/2718543921

What direction should you go?

Making one solid choice is the beginning

The paradox of choice

http://www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/2279939232/

CHOOSE https://www.flickr.com/photos/buttersponge/4955768144

Non-Creative or Creative?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/barretthall/3036598475/ & http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/3135103537/

Who here is creative?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kosmotesto/3794445313/

“Creativity is all about making connections and seeing patterns.” Bruce Nussbaum, Creative Intelligence

Child, please. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mahalie/276780530/

My response:

Internal fears = Inner Critic Photo: Denise Jacobs

In Tibetan, creative = natural

https://www.flickr.com/photos/norte_it/2340805781

Creativity ≠ Trying to be Creative http://www.theprofessionalcreative.com/take-the-first-step-to-become-creative/

Trying ≠ Practicing

http://www.wallpaper4me.com/images/wallpapers/do_or_do_not_w1.jpeg

“Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda

“If I try to be creative, rather than just accepting that I am creative, I fail.” Andrew J. Epstein

Not about effort

More like breathing http://www.flickr.com/photos/guiniveretoo/1573049301/

Like breathing, you can build http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguel77/2728104156/

Get in tune with the process https://www.flickr.com/photos/flavijus/566174947

What’s your creative frequency? http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sine_waves_different_frequencies.svg

Listen/tune in

Filter out the background noise Photo: Denise Jacobs

Frequency: Occurrence https://www.flickr.com/photos/joelanman/367425390

Frequency: Practice https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/275200051/

Become an idea machine

Challenge/Homework: Ten Ideas a day https://www.flickr.com/photos/evaekeblad/15294401442

“Deciding for creativity does not guarantee that creativity will emerge, but without the decision, it certainly will not.” – Robert Sternberg

Decide upon Creativity. Choose it.

Then, amplify your creative frequency.

Fixed or Growth Mindset?

Mindset, by Carol Dweck

http://mindsetonline.com

Which looks more familiar?

Fixed mindset https://www.flickr.com/photos/bethscupham/7328405210

Perfection Talent Ability

Accomplishment Comparison

Fixed Mindset focused on

“Maybe I don’t have enough talent.” “What if I fail?” “If I don’t try, I can protect my dignity.” “It’s not my fault. It’s something/someone else’s.”

(Sounds an awful lot like the Inner Critic, no?)

Perfectionist?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/7648792510/

Growth Mindset

Learning Willingness to fail

Curiosity Expansion

Being self-referential

Growth Mindset focused on

Embrace and enjoy learning

How do you change from Fixed to Growth? http://www.flickr.com/photos/f-oxymoron/5005673112/

1) Listen for your Fixed Mindset voice http://www.flickr.com/photos/theory/3193684632/

2) Recognize that you have a choice https://www.flickr.com/photos/cjsmithphotography/6804513809

3) Talk back to it with a growth mindset voice

“I can learn to do this with time & effort.” “Most successful people have had failure along the way.” “If I don’t try, I automatically fail.” “If I don’t take responsibility, I can’t fix it.”

4) Take growth mindset action

Growth Mindset actions http://www.flickr.com/photos/onegiantleap/4124211492/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959867550/ &http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959864706/

Adopt a beginner’s mind

Release the Tyranny of the Expert

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64540855@N07/5878418781

Rediscover the familiar

https://www.flickr.com/photos/77654185@N07/8428225936

Re-learn something from a friend https://www.flickr.com/photos/ribbitvoice/2339351666

Learn something entirely new http://www.flickr.com/photos/13723940@N04/2648317554/

In my own life: learning Improv Photo: Denise Jacobs

Learning from experience is key

“I don’t divide the world into the weak and the strong, or the successes and the failures…I divide the world into the learners and nonlearners.” – Benjamin Barber, Sociologist

Approach everything with openness and eagerness.

Increase your knowledge and

expand yourself.

Blocked or in Flow?

Creative blocks?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99301367@N00/8497106802/

Fears https://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3193080175/

Creative Flow http://www.flickr.com/photos/7730492@N03/4958540694/

Is @ the Sweet Spot

Enjoy + Good at + Feeling Empowered http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/3310336516/

= Empowered Play http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8216666102/

Aka

Your brain on Flow https://www.flickr.com/photos/arselectronica/13994747444

Flow banishes the Inner Critic!

The Flow “Afterglow” http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzzylittlemanpeach/4633972431/

How do you reach Flow?

1) Get in touch with your brilliance http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_hamner/3386076488/

2) Have clear goals

3) Uninterrupted, focused time

“How to ruin (developer) productivity”

My Father built airplanes in his spare time

Photo: Deloria Jacobs

(Instill the Headphones Rule) https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/9824922293

Helps create space for ideas

https://www.flickr.com/photos/creativedc/2939649520

4) Balance of risk & challenge http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarianavengers/2495352933/

The Flow Channel exits between the two

5) Immediate feedback http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8124124586/

Find your Flow to dispel fears and experience

continuous creative growth.

Taker or Maker?

…Has little regard for their potential to

shape the future or ability to take action

on issues that truly motivate them.

A Taker…

…A maker’s work is characterized by morality, creativity, craftsmanship, and purposed problem solving. They view their work through the lens of service.

A Maker…

“….Makers choose their work based on impact and happiness.” Jason Cavnar, "Why developers should start choosing conscience over profit"

http://venturebeat.com/2013/02/18/developers-choosing-conscience-over-profit/

Up-level your Makership-ness

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragmented/2734290118/

1) Stay a passionate problem-solver

http://www.flickr.com/photos/argonne/4435608143/

2) Make “Bug” Lists https://www.flickr.com/photos/acerriteno/3484407240/

3) Cultivate a healthy disregard for the impossible

4) Be clear on your “Why” http://www.flickr.com/photos/zlz212/198759134/

Infuse meaning https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/5932362950

Whom are you helping? http://www.codefevermiami.com/

5) Choose bigger, more creative problems to solve

6) Spur creative thinking at scale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters,_Inc.

By using this:

Like folks at Pixar

Make things that matter – to both you and others.

PROGRESS

http://www.flickr.com/photos/harryharris/381154280/

What do you get? http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlaughland/3475448568/

Life is complex and so are decisions

Two tracks

CREATIVITY GROWTH MIND

FIND FLOW BE A MAKER

Guidelines; stars to navigate by http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/9255191990/

“Clarity brings about purpose, purpose brings about action, action brings about change.” – Joel Yeo

CREATE LEARN

FLOW CONTRIBUTE

Mobilize a dormant creative confidence

http://www.flickr.com/photos/badastronomy/4179773749/

While we can’t predict the future http://fusible.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/crystal-ball.jpg

Because of the unknown

http://hub.salford.ac.uk/energymonitoring/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/01/known-knowns1.jpg

THIS

“We are the creators of the future.” Umair Haque, “How to Have a Year That Matters”

“Everyone is a designer.”

Photo: Denise Jacobs

You are Master Creators

Making them should be easier

http://www.cdmdirect.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Choices.jpg

Critical

Not creative Fixed mindset

Blocked Taking what you can get

All too familiar with this

CREATIVITY GROWTH MIND

FIND FLOW BE A MAKER

This is your compass

Creativity is your True North

All of space-time started with a singularity

1,1,2,3…

Just as the Universe is expanding, so are we

An reiterative process

Photo: Denise Jacobs

Now you have more tools

“If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect

wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the

endless immensity of the sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

https://www.flickr.com/photos/masma06/11337154704/

Remember how powerful you are https://www.flickr.com/photos/dingatx/4794442002/

You design, shape, & guide experiences http://www.flickr.com/photos/spyndle/474122586/

For one person https://www.flickr.com/photos/modrak/120786239/

Or for many

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bayhaus/4417211851/

Harness emotion and create connection

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schipulites/5407946699/

“Joy is but the sign that creative emotion is fulfilling its purpose.” Charles Du Bos

The choice is clear https://www.flickr.com/photos/matias3000/253871344/

Choose

http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4771136128/

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THE CREATIVE DOSE A Creativity + Innovation Collective

Work Better. Create More. Create Betterness.

Creative Thinking & Problem-solving Applying an Innovation Mindset

Creative Collaboration Team Communication & Cohesion

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My upcoming book!

Banish Your Inner Critic

DeniseJacobs.com/InnerCritic

26 Effective Techniques for Unleashing Productive Creativity

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Photo used with permission: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aarronwalter/4629078087/

And finally…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27620885@N02/2609974180/