SUNDAY REWIND: Creativity by Scott Berkun

This week’s Sunday Rewind is a 2017 #mtpcon talk from author and UX leader Scott Berkun on creativity.

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Scott starts his talk by looking to the past and at some of the cutting-edge technology of the late 19th century, the construction of the tallest building in the world – which would become the Eiffel Tower – in iron and steel by engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier. Smart people, says Scott, always relate their idea back to something that already exists. Koechlin and Nougier did this, comparing their design to existing buildings.

Using the Eiffel Tower and other examples, Scott shows how:

All ideas are made of other ideas

Eiffel didn’t invent the arch but he did completely re-imagine it through the use of wrought iron, which allowed it to be transparent.

Great ideas often look weird (to begin with)

Eiffel faced tremendous backlash during the build of the tower, many people protested about its construction.

Our minds are naturally creative

You can improve your creativity by improving your mental state and self awareness, working towards an environment that is conducive to creativity.

Watch the original talk here: Creativity by Scott Berkun