18. CONCLUSION!
Safe and Trusting Environments
Play promotes Creativity
Creativity promotes
innovation!
Editor's Notes
Creativity and Play, a TED TALKS video by Tom Brown
What is the importance of play and how does it affect creativity?
First, I want to have all of you do a little experiement.
-You will have 30 seconds to draw your neighbor.
-Go!
-(30 seconds)
-turn to your partner and show them your drawing
- Notice everyone’s reactions!
This experiment was used to provide evidence that we fear the judgment of our peers.
Adults tend to feel a sense of embarrassment or shame when engaging in play.
Adults tend to develop a conservative way of thinking.
This is turn will hinder our innovation and creative possibilites, or creative risks.
Kids however, When doing this experiment with kids, show no shame and will proudly show off their masterpieces!
Children have not developed conservative behaviors, and tend to have the most creative ideas.
They tend to develop creative risks in environments where they feel trust and security.
So Why is Playfulness Important in Adulthood?
Playfulness opens doors of possibilities, promotes creative thinking, allows for creative risks and innovation.
The key component in developing an atmosphere that encourages play is the environment.
How do we create environments where adults feel they can play?
People need environments that are safe and trusting.
Many large design firms have focused on creating environments that encourage play…
One of the most recognized companies for creating playful environments is the Google offices!
all over the world these offices have several components to play-
such as slides, bean bags and fire poles.
Fun Ball Pit
It obviously takes more than décor to build safe and trusting environment, but it’s a good start to encourage play and creative thinking!
Community building and team building are essential for creating safe and trusting environments with adults.
What are some of the types of play that we can start to encourage in our offices or classrooms?
Exploratory play is when people use there senses to explore items and discover various creative uses.
As adults we know this is aluminum foil, it belongs in a kitchen. We use it to preserve food.
However, as weve seen before in children, this simple kitchen accessory can lead to a world of future possibilities.
Learning is happening by doing in construction play.
Children build towers, knock them down, build another.
Thinking with your hands.
Making several low resolution prototypes quickly.
Construction Play is Quickly getting something into the real world and getting your thinking advanced while doing so.
For example: At apple, constructivists used many found objects. They started with a roll on deodorant and ended up creating Mac’s first Roll Mouse prototype.
Designers, offices, classrooms need construction kits to promote readiness for building mode of thinking. (play-doh)
This gives adults permission to think with their hands.
A prototype allows for designers to talk about their ideas in a more powerful way other than words.
The third type of play is Role Play,
Acting it out can help develop empathy for the services we are creating.
Here a design company is role playing customer service techniques.
With Role play, we can create authenticity in real life scenarios.
It is essential for adults to recognize we can be serious professionals who play.
We need safe and trusting environments
Through Exploratory, Construction and Role Play, adults can develop a new way of thinking.
