A discussion about our collective abilities, and how to channel them.

1. ABILITY + IDEAS
WHAT CAN WE DO?
HOW CAN WE DO IT?
A discussion about our collective abilities, and
how to channel innovation.
Thurs March 30 / Lunchtime / Grande Salle

2. Ideas come from
unexpected places
Ability comes from
practice and
understanding
The two
work in
tandem

3. The act of creation
The act of creation is not a symphony. It is a disjointed mess, a journey
paved with failure, disappointment, wrong turns, and finally success. If it
were easy, everyone would be doing it.
This is why there are so many books on the subject. The goal of most of
these books is to achieve a technical understanding of how to be creative.
Before creating, we try to optimize our ability to create.
When it comes to product development, creation happens in teams. Many
books have been written on this topic. The goal of most of these books is
how to manage the creative process (creativity by committee requires
structure).
There is merit to exploring approaches, but the noblest of all advice
continue to be: Just do it. No fear.

4. 创意
chuàng yì
cang 仓
dao刂
yin 音
xin 心
Definition: start (doing
smthg), achieve (sth. for
first time)
Definition: meaning;
idea; thought
Creativity

5. What is just outside the box?

6. What are the next skills you would like to work on?
- An open question for programmers: What would you like to learn next?
- An open question for designers: What would you like to work on next?
Is there a way of offering this to clients?
- Is there a way to accomplish our skill development goals together?
What products seem to be in demand from companies. Could we offer these
things?
- There are always trends in software and design. What is the current trend? What is the current
package of widgets that’s being sold?

7. Some funny things about creation:
If an idea falls in the woods, and no one’s around to hear it, does it really
exist?
- The conception of an idea is satisfying enough to stop us from actually
seeing it through.
- The people closest to us will often fail to understand how to offer proper
support.
- At every turn: new questions and concerns.
- It is uncomfortable, and victories are short-lived.
- It it scary.

8. Necessity is the mother of invention?
- Sure, but it’s always backed by technology and culture.
- It doesn’t make amazing leaps, but instead always happens just outside
of our “box,” in the realm that we all know is possible, and where our
best ideas lie dormant, waiting to be activated.

9. A meta product I would like to learn how to
create:

11. Activate