Creativity– the ability to use the imagination to develop new and original ideas or things, especially in an artistic context.

“An idea is more than a single thing. On the most elemental level an idea is a network. Inside your brain a network of neurons form as ideas develop.” (Steven Johnson: Where Good Ideas come from.  Below is a paraphrase of his TED Talk.)

How do you get your brain into environments in order to enhance or make this new network pattern? Breakthrough ideas more often than not are cobbled from what we have available—from the road signs we pass, to the kitchen catch-all drawer, to the people we overhear in the coffee shop and from the people standing next to us with whom we can brainstorm.  We look and see what we have around us in order to form new ideas. What does innovation and deep thinking really look like? –A chaotic environment of conversation and reflection, a discussion of mistakes and successes and a pulling together of threads from multiple sources.

This week our holiday party will be a ‘chaotic environment’ where collaborative creativity will ensue.  The subject will be the following quote:

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson  In groups, you will develop a 2-dimensional image to express Emerson’s quote.