On May 26, enter the world of d.studio where students think and create using whiteboards, colourful Post-it notes, play dough and crayons all complemented by cutting edge technology. Experience the creative energy of this space and the potential it unleashes in everyone.

The kids can come up with their own business ideas and create their own “business plans” based on what they love the most, with guidance from d.studio lead, professor Moura Quayle.

Who knows? One day, you might be the proud parent of the next Warren Buffet.

Register HERE. Registration closes Tuesday, May 22.

This was Morten’s second session on the Creative Brain.  He summarized the key messages so far — priming, remove associations, inhibition, incubation and fixation.   This week focused on the Neurobiology of Creativity touching on neurotransmitters, arousal & hypnagogia, drugs, the brain areas involved, resting state and mind wandering, insight problem-solving and sleeping and dreaming.

Morten took us through the biology of the brain – the function of neurotransmitters, an overview of the research on what happens in the state of arousal or “being awake”.  It is complex.  We have four major systems originating in the brain stem — and when these systems are in action the receiving neural areas become sensitive and responsive to incoming signals.  Interesting work on the effects of marijauna — no correlation to increased creativity.

Morten’s PhD research uses neuro-imaging — to see what parts of the brain are active during what kinds of mental activity.  The take-home messages for this session are:

• Eat fewer sweets and more bananas.
• Always REM-sleep with a problem — but don’t forget that ‘chance favours only the prepared mind’.
• Don’t do drugs.
• Don’t get too aroused — and don’t work too long on the same problem.  Take a break, go for a run, take a shower, or power nap.

This session ended with the introduction of the business for this module:  Coloplast.  The problem assigned to the students is:  How can Coloplast grow its Chronic Care business?  More in Week 3.

Here are students at play.

Balder and Morten have arrived!  Hurrah.  The idea to invite two creative and talented PhD fellows from the Copenhagen Business School (CBS) to teach at Sauder emerged last spring during my 2month stay at CBS.  Balder Onarheim (a industrial designer on the left below) and Morten de Friis-Olivarius (a neuroscientist on the right below) seemed to me to be a wonderful combination to offer up to the Sauder MBAs interested in pursuing creative business thinking.  As a result, we have a class of 21 MBAs filled up the little d.studio.  Photo below of Balder wearing the yellow positive thinking hat and and Morten sporting the green creative thinking hat.

So began a 5-week adventure into creative business thinking.  Morten could only stay 2 weeks so the first two sessions focussed on the brain and creativity.  But before they launched into the brain, Balder gave a great introduction to the Nordic approach to life and design and creativity.  For example: the Scandinavian approaches to Participatory design include (1) deep commitments to democracy and democratization; (2) discussions of values in design and imagined futures; and (3) how conflict and contradictions are regarded as resources in design. (from Gregory, 2003)

Morten’s message is all about the creative brain:  the concept of creativity and how it is tested, basics on how the brain works, cognitive inhibition and fixation, and creativity and psycho-pathology.  He talked about the 4P model of creativity (Rhodes, 1961; Mooney, 1963) which has process, person, press and product intersecting.  Morten and Balder define creativity as something both “original” and “useful”.

Morten’s session went on to unfold various theories of creativity and research work that has unfolded over the past decades including Mednick’s “associative model” and the Remote Associates Test, e.g.  What word is related to these three words?  PAINT. DOLL. CAT.  Solution is “house”.  There is also an Alternative Uses Test.

One of the many interesting and useful points that Morten made was around the idea:  ”It’s when we forget, that we remember”.  The concept of incubation (remembering or good ideas can occur whenever inhibition decreases — and clearly inhibition is an automatic process in our brains to prevent info overload)  Which may explain why original and useful ideas are hard to come by when we are all overloaded by too much information.   Morten finished off the session with some discussion about creativity and psychopathology.

Stay tuned for Week 2.

To borrow a delightful phrase from Soren Hansen and Henning Sejer-Jakobsen, one of the chief benefits of change labs for social innovation is that they allow us to lift our change process –

“away from the swamp of everyday activities — routine, fear of failure, prejudice, bureaucracy and rules.”

Instead, change labs offer us environments that nurture and celebrate novel ideas, collaboration and experimentation.  Sound a bit fanciful, like life on Mars?  Well it is, sort of.

I just spent the last 24 hours in MaRS (yes - in MaRS, not on it) exploring the emerging world of change labs.  The MaRS Discovery District is a collection of entities in downtown Toronto that share facilities and a passion for innovation.  This morning, it was also the site of a “fishbowl” dialogue among 20 change lab and innovation leaders, who gathered to explore the potential of and challenges to developing change labs for social innovation.

Change labs have been bubbling up across the country in the last couple of years, and have demonstrated promise in tacking complex social problems.  Now, thanks in part to the work of several organizations like MaRs, SiG and the BC Advisory Council for Social Innovation, interest in labs has piqued – and no where is it higher than in the public service.  Offering public servants a chance to escape the “swamp” in which they’re mired to explore ways to co-create new solutions to social problems with a variety of partners has the same effect as offering a Winnipeger an all-inclusive trip to Mexico in February.  Their faces split with a grin and they launch out of their chairs like a ski jumper going for gold.

This is all great for us at the Sauder Studio, as it confirms that we’re on the right track with our work  - teaching business students design processes and tools for solving wicked problems, in an attempt to change the way they think (and ultimately act).  Recently, we’ve expanded our programs to include external organizations, such as the BC Ministry of Health.  Still, when the theme of design education surfaced in the fishbowl today, I was keen to discover how these change-makers saw organizations like ours fitting into the lab movement.  It turned out that, leading the development and adoption of effective lab methodologies emerged as an obvious role for us to play.  Specifically, the group articulated a need to help folks in other countries learn to start and run change labs.

“What a great opportunity for us!”, I thought.  As I pictured this growing network of change labs around the world lighting little lamps of innovation everywhere, I realized that, at a certain point, the lamps will reach critical mass, eventually bathing the whole planet with their glow.  And it dawned on me – that’s what we’re working for.  That is the time when change becomes the norm.

So yes, change labs can and will play a key role in shifting our culture of innovation, by teaching those who use them to think and act differently.  But we may wish to consider them as a transitional tactic only.  Why limit the development of knowledge and skills in fostering social innovation to those working  within the lab community? Shouldn’t our ultimate goal be to increase our innovation capacity across all sectors, all industries, all disciplines?

Rather than looking for ways to just vacation from the swamp in the lab, why not re-invent life in the swamp instead, and re-plant it with something other than weeds?  Why not use change labs as seeds to sow a new culture; use them to help everyone learn to lead change?  Why not create a culture of innovation that is pervasive and desirable, that is normal – not an anomaly?

Lofty? Sure.  But a girl can’t just sit around!

Throughout the year, I always looked forward to a good three hours on every Wednesday of creativity, group work, and learning at the Sauder D. Studio. In retrospect, the journey through this course was absolutely amazing. The course allowed us to explore through 95% hands-on work. I would recommend this class to anyone and everyone, I believe I’ve become a true advocate of design thinking and the D. Studio!

This class got me engaged in work I would’ve never done outside of the D. Studio.

Here only a few examples:

Experience

• Discuss entrepreneurship with over six CEOs in a single class time in real life or over Skype
• Engage with a real business to solve their sustainability or marketing problems
• Use exactly what I’ve learnt in the class and apply it to a professional setting at Van Houtte Coffee
• Interview one-on-one with the CEO of ClinicBook
• Not only create the business canvas, but use it to find insights and problems

I learned how to…

• effectively doodle, (no joke).
• create artistic PowerPoints
• Lead an effective brainstorming session
• Free write
• Participate in a discussion with all different thinking-hats
• Present design thinking to another student or colleague
• Design and prototype my ideas with my own toolkit of Lego, clay, pipe cleaners, Popsicle sticks, and magnets
• use word press and edit videos
• Prototype

-Abriel

I’d expand on everything I’ve learnt and experience but that would simply bore any reader. So I’ll touch on what I think was my most memorable moment in the course, which was working with my team to host a design thinking/ sustainability workshop with Van Houtte (coffee services). It was just an awesome experience to work with so many professionals on a real life case. The feedback we received was extremely positive, and it gave me confidence that I can definitely improve if I ever host another workshop. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learnt in my future assignments and projects.

-Abriel

Design thinking is a growing trend in the business world. I feel that this topic is ready to be incorporated into Comm101, as design thinking skills can essentially be transferred into every subject. Design thinking is not something for students to simply learn and regurgitate – it changes the way a student learns altogether.

Design thinking has proven to produce remarkable results in the market and is extremely cost effective as well. Proctor and Gamble is an excellent example of a global company that facilitates design-thinking workshops across all of its offices around the world. By bringing personnel from a variety of departments they gain a wider prospective and diverse opinions to the workshop. Their workshops are not “educational programs”, but rather problem- solving machines.

In order to encourage employees to engage in design thinking, P & G rewards them for not only what they’ve achieved but “how”.  Things like imagination, inclusiveness, and clear thinking are traits that they award employees by.

As design thinking is progressively becoming more important, it is essential for business school curriculums to adapt to this. Roger Martin, the dean of Rotman, says that business schools are “out of position in the emerging design- based economy.”

“We’re telling students that the big bucks are made by administering linear improvements — getting better and better at doing essentially the same thing,” he says. “But the real challenge lies in getting better and better at a different thing: devising clever solutions to wickedly difficult problems.” –Roger Martin

Companies are also looking for individuals that add value- by providing a new dimension to their multidisciplinary team. Problems in companies nowadays are simply too complicated to handle, for employees who are not well rounded in their creativity and ability to adapt their skills to different situations. Fast-food restaurants are promoting health and wellness, car companies are attempting to forecast new trends in technology, and clothing companies need to be aware of the sustainability of their products and supply chain. Taking all these issues into perspective there is never one solution and companies need to bring together teams that are from diverse disciplines to solve it.

A design-friendly workplace

I believe that in the near future, we can expect to see many more undergraduate or graduate programs that cater to the concept of design thinking – I believe the Sauder D. Studio is just the first step; an essential step.

-Abriel 

Nigel Marsh, CEO of Leo Burnett

Ted Talks

Nigel Marsh: How to make work life balance work.

Just before we venture into the real world in search for our dream jobs and embark on a journey of the “working life” I want to contribute a few tips on balancing work and life. It is imperative that you set guidelines for yourself at these preliminary steps of your career before you get caught in the cycle of attempting to juggle work and other aspects of life.

Nigel Marsh is currently the CEO of Leo Burnett, a leading communications company, after being fired from D’Arcy. He is a classic corporate warrior,  and speaks about work life balance and how he has found success.

A prominent issue is that some jobs do not make it possible for employees, especially those in new families, to succeed. “Thousands of people work long hard hours to buy things they don’t need and to impress people they don’t even like.“ So how do we solve this issue? It is in YOUR hands to arrange your daily schedule and life within and outside of a commercial corporation.

It is in every interest of a corporation to take the best of your energy, time, and focus. Before making a decision to embark on a career journey, set up and carefully judge your boundaries. Think about the work environment, time requirements and all the aspects that affect your life on a professional and personal basis, taking into consideration YOUR idea of a balanced work and personal life.

Step #1: Think, what is your ideal balanced day? Write it down.

Example:
1. Wake up from at least 7 hours of sleep.
2.  Cook breakfast and read the paper
3.  Walk the dog
4.  Commute to work
5……

Step #2: Examine the job requirements. Does this allow for enough time in all your categories of life?

Examples:

1. Working hours: 9-5, weekends undisturbed?
2. Would you be required to “take your work home”?
3. Categories to consider : Spiritual, Intellectual, Emotional, Social
4. Would you be required to travel often? (taking family into consideration)

Step #3: Make the right choice! What does your life look like with each job? Is this what you want? Don’t settle easily.

Tip: A balanced life is about presence. Presence of the mind. Focus on the tasks at hand and live in the moment.

-Abriel

Kelli Anderson speaking at Tedx

Ted Talks
Kelli Anderson: Design to challenge reality

No battery, musical invitation card

Filmed 2011 Posted 2012

This video is a speech made by Kelli Anderson about her experience, work, and goals as a modern designer.  She believes that people often confine the regular but do not explore other possibilities. She believes that the world is full of order, logic, and justice, which may at times do not deserve our attention. In fact, these things actually impede us from being creative.

Kelli has spent her last couple of years innovating different uses of everyday objects. She designs things that challenge reality. Recently, she created a wedding invitational card out of paper, to mimic the functions of an old record player. The user simply has to spin the paper wheel and the audio sound can easily be heard.

Kelli works as a consultant to different companies to revamp their color scheme, visuals, and packaging. Her talent in translating color into emotions has helped a lot of companies maximize their marketing strategies.

I really enjoyed this video because it persuaded me want to “try and do” and inspired me to design and innovate. It encouraged me to think creatively, to be able to simply look at a household object and question, “What does going beyond this item’s limits look like?”

When one thinks of innovative design, their thoughts tend to focus on the big picture, perhaps a complicated whirlwind of technology. Apple’s innovation, for example, has transformed the “cell phone” – its function is no longer for the sole purpose of making calls. Appropriately termed “super phones”, Iphones have now taken over numerous platforms, including and not limited to a virtual access to novels, magazines, credit cards, and trading. Indeed, this stems from innovative technology advancement.

However, it is important to remember that innovation and design exists in our everyday lives, where inspirational ideas can be birthed from the simplest objects and observations– this is the point Kelli makes in the video, a simple idea of “new design” – introducing a new feature, a new aspect to instruments, materials and objects that transform them completely.

Here are a few examples of how to get started… (Some don’t make sense.. but is it suppose to?)

1. Household utensils are silent – can they speak?
2. Walls are still and have stationary colors- can they change (without being painted)?
3. Binders hold paper- can they hold other things…like 4 GB of memory?

Comment with some of your own ideas!

-Abriel

Marketing guru Seth Godin tackles how to make your product stand out in one of his most famous Ted talks.  Based on his book The Purple Cow, Godin delves into what makes a product extraordinarily successful and why even those products who appear useful or appealing often fail.

Godin argues that in order for a product to be successful, it must be remarkable.  The thing about remarkable products, however, is that they often don’t appeal to the majority of consumers.  For decades, businesses have focused on developing and marketing products to the most consumers possible.  Since the advent of televised ads, consumers have been bombarded with bright commercials for food, toys, household cleaning products, and basically every other good imaginable.  However, Godin states that this method of advertising is now defunct.  Consumers have learned to ignore the constant stream of stimuli coming at them from their TVs.  In fact, he argues that businesses who play it safe by targeting the general population through mass media are actually taking the riskiest route to success.

The Product Adaption Curve: Aim for the first two segments, the "Otaku"

Instead, Godin argues for targeting promotions and design to the “otaku” of a product.  Otaku is a Japanese word that, loosely translated, refers to the group of consumers who are the early adaptors and innovators of a specific product segment.  In other words, businesses should target solely those consumers who have an invested interest in the product category or type.

Apple and former CEO Steve Jobs perfectly captured the Otaku

As an example, Godin talks about Steve Job’s keynotes for Apple.  An average of 50,000 tuned in to watch what was essentially two-hour commercials promoting the next new Apple product.  These consumers, the otaku of Apple, care enough about the product to sit through a detail presentation on the features of the product.  Apple knew this, and consequentially designed their products to fulfill the needs of these consumers.  They learned the essential model for success: if the otaku are satisfied, then they will spread the word about a product to others.  Since the otaku are often consider reliable sources by many of their friends, family, and acquaintances, a positive word from an otaku about an Apple product would essentially cause a chain reaction of purchases, resulting in skyrocketing profits.

Godin’s talk brings to light an often overlooked fact about product development and marketing.  Even in courses taught at Sauder, some professor still advocate for marketing to the masses, while companies like Proctor and Gamble or Unilever complete this loop by their generalized, appealing products.  However, companies looking to break into the market should follow Godin’s advice.  If there is an otaku for a product, market to them.  The rest of the consumers will follow.

And, who knows? We could create the next purple cow with some good old fashioned d-Studio brainstorming techniques!

True enough, these reviews can turn into celebrations (or love fests as someone commented), but I am okay with this.  Partly because the studio learning process is incremental with constant feedback, questions and comments.  This is not the first time that students get feedback.  And, actually, not the last.  Florin and I are meeting next week to assign grades to the projects and provide written feedback:  what they did well and where improvements can be found.

I am not from the school of “let’s really grind them during the review” — I just don’t think it is productive, especially if there are clients in the room who have worked hard along side the students and are excited by the results.  Which these clients were.  There were lots of business insights and ideas for these clients to take forward.  Some of the groups are continuing some work with the clients because of their interest in the projects.

One of the insights from this exercise was the value of having different types of businesses and clients.  The students were designing and implementing design workshops for very different clients and contexts — so they learned a lot from each other.  So the final review was an opportunity to extend the learning.

I also learned a lot from this studio (as I usually do);  I am determined to not completely renovate the studio for the Fall (which I tend to do) — instead I want to take the learning and refine and improve what we offered this term.

The students’ insights themselves were very useful — especially the group that realized that sometimes there just isn’t an answer right now.  Not enough info.  Needs research.  And so on.

Here are some photos of the teams and their clients.

Van Houtte team with Client Morten Schroder

Climate Smart Business Team with client Elizabeth Sheehan

Final Review Pacific Arbour Retirement Home with client Peter Gaskill

Half Moon Yoga team with their client Beth McTavish

Met Fine team with their client Scott Gray