This document discusses the importance of outspiration, or getting inspiration from outside one's normal environment and experiences, for creativity and innovation. It argues that traditional brainstorms are not usually outspiration because they don't encourage opening one's mind, exposure to new stimuli, and making new connections between ideas. The document provides examples of outspiration activities individuals, teams, and companies can engage in, such as interacting with people from different fields and cultures, volunteering, taking photos, learning new skills, and spending time observing others. The goal is to loosen mental patterns and see things from different perspectives in order to generate fresh ideas.
9. We believe that
OUTSPIRATION is the
spark that ignites
CREATIVITY AND
INNOVATION
10. What is Outspiration?
Getting OUTSIDE of yourself and your immediate environment
and experiences…
Forcing yourself outside of your norms and comfort modes
Seeing things through different lenses or fresh perspectives
Immersing yourself in real situations and experiences
Observing and learning from real human interaction
Doing something physical rather than just cerebral
Encouraging your
brain to become
‘lateral’, to see and
feel new things and
make new
connections
15. Seeking Outspiration reinforces the three core
behaviors
Constantly seek
inspiration from
the outside world
Use this inspiration
as creative stimulus
Allow your brain to
connect the dots
OPENNESS STIMULUS CONNECTION
28. Do different things
1. Buy a camera
2. Join a club
3. Learn a new skill
4. Grow something
5. Buy a notebook/sketchbook
6. Make a new friend
7. Move your furniture around
8. Volunteer
9. Eat something new
10. Take a break
29. Collect Stuff
Whether physical or virtual,
collect as much Outspiration
as you can.
You never know when it will be
useful.
30. Embrace Cultural Immersions
Design relevant cultural immersions for you and your team/clients. Spend
time being inspired by;
• Different cultural groups
• Different passion groups
• Different professions
• Different communities
31. Learn from the GPC Cultural Immersions
Each GPC session includes time with different communities and cultures investigating where their
inspiration, creativity and excellence comes from
CONTENT CREATORS
CHEFS/
RESTAURANTEURS
MUSICIANS ARTISTS LA LOW RIDER
COMMUNITY
32. Insist your people take Human Experience Days
As individuals or in groups - Do something you’ve always wanted to do - Keep a log and share it with others
VOLUNTEER FOR A
CHARITY
PRETEND TO BE
SOMEONE ELSE
SPEND A DAY WITH
A CLIENT
A DAY IN DIFFERENT
AREAS
A DAY WITH
DIFFERENT
CULTURAL GROUPS
GO VISIT THE MEDIA
– FILM/TV SET
SPEND THE DAY
OBSERVING PEOPLE YOU
NEED TO UNDERSTAND
BETTER
Great ideas and fresh thinking very rarely happen sitting at our desks. Our office space does not design human experiences. We do.
They are made in the wonderful, powerful computer that is the human brain. It’s what designs human experience.
It’s our environment. Our cities. Our world.
It’s real people - our interactions with those around us - that inspire meaningful human experience creation.
OUTSPIRATION is about leaving the safety and comfort of the vault (aka your desk) and looking for inspiration in the outside world.
A few examples…
Brainstorms were invented in the 1940s by Alex Osborne – the “O” in advertising agency BBDO.
It was a catchy term for what he considered the ideal form of group creativity.
It emphasized quantity over quality and above all, positivity - the fact that all ideas are good ideas, with no judgment.
We still pile into a dull, windowless conference room, yet hope that we’ll get a magical spark of creativity to come up with that “big idea.”
Be Open
Use Different Stimulus
Make New Connections
The more you open yourself up to, the more creative fuel you will give your brain.
We often invite speakers & experts from within the media & communications industry, but why not seek out people who are different than us or who can provide a new perspective to the challenges our businesses are facing.
Work on healthcare? Talk to a doctor or nurse.
Work on a beauty brand? Have your sales representative put you in contact with an editor.
Food? Talk to a chef.
Steve Jobs reimagined Pixar’s headquarters to accommodate this type of interaction.
The campus was originally intended to be three buildings with separate offices for the computer scientists, animators & management. Jobs scrapped the plans and reimagined a single vast space with an airy atrium at its center.
The philosophy is that it’s good to put the most important function at the heart of the building – in this case the interaction of employees. But, Jobs needed to force people to go there. He began with the mailboxes that moved to the lobby, then the meeting rooms, followed by a the cafeteria, coffee bar & gift shop. Finally, Jobs decided to relocate the only set of bathrooms to the atrium.
At first, employees found this ridiculous, Jobs said, “Everybody has to run into each other.” He really believed that the best meetings happened by accident, in the hallway or in the parking lot.
Eventually, they came around and have found that they get more outspired by running into each other than sitting at their desks.
http://books.google.com/books?id=X8ucIGZKR2gC&lpg=PA150&ots=CDHXp5zFes&dq=imagine%20pixar%20atrium&pg=PA149#v=onepage&q&f=false
“Form follows function” is a principle associated with modern architecture & industrial design in the 20th century. The principle is that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose.”
Think about the choices that were deliberately made in creation and why things are designed the way they are.
Yahoo’s Chris Moeller believes the future of technology lies in the gadgets of old sci-fi movies.“If you don’t watch sci-fi, you should,” he said to a crowd of about 60 students in the Fine Arts auditorium April 2. “Technology is catching up with imagination. When it comes to designing for what’s coming up, it’s really your imagination and what technology can support.”
There is a reason that experts often suggest going for a walk when we feel stuck – it works.
It frees your mind and lets your unconscious work. It also allows you to take in new stimulus.
Similarly, stay still. Observe. Notice. Take in new stimulus. Observe in the real world. Or observe in the virtual world – chat room/forums – the new Google Hangouts is a great way to observe people from all over the world when they are being ‘aircast’
You’ll get more Outspiration from reading about life & subjects that interest you vs. a Media Planning textbook.
You don’t have to go outside to the physical world to gain Outspiration. You don’t have to got to Ted to experience Ted.
Bring the outside to you via the Internet. Seek out sites that interest & inspire you. Use our very own Human Experience Portal and Yammer too!!
TRAINER: Adapt websites for your market as needed.
When was the last time you bought the brand you are working on? Have you ever shopped for the product or service? Visit the store or website to get inspired.
It’s proven that a drink can relax us and help us lose our inhibitions. As we said, sometimes, it’s just informal conversations that most inspire the exchange of ideas.
Have a chat with your colleagues over a pint or glass of wine. But not too many. Remember, “you might solve a problem while drunk, but you probably won’t notice the answer.”
Doing the things we enjoy – our hobbies & passions – or discovering & trying new things are great sources of Outspiration.
EXERCISE: Have participants create a quick list of 5 additional things they can do to get Outspired. Have the room share a few examples with each other.
Collect physical objects. Scrapbook. Pin.
The more we take in as Outspiration, the more potential we’ll have for Innovation.