Inviting Serendipity: A reliable creative practice for humans
Karen VanHouten
Move thoughtfully and fix things
Finding and shaping more promising ideas, the human way
AI systems that are called generative are truly regurgitative systems. Dr. Joy Buolamwini
Whether you are starting from scratch or need a reset, this course will help you build a consistent, human creative practice for finding and developing good ideas.
This course operates from the following premises:
Creativity is a human endeavor. (if you love outsourcing your creative work to AI, this course is not for you)
Most of our work structures are optimized for delivery (efficiency) over discovery (opportunity), so we need to look more broadly for inspiration.
We can borrow approaches from people who make creativity the forefront of their work: authors, musicians, dancers, visual artists, etc.
If your job description includes the phrase must be comfortable with ambiguity, if you have been tasked to be more strategic, or if you just want to reset and reconnect with your own creativity, this course is for you.
In addition to live lessons and optional co-working sessions, the course includes recommended books, music, and films to re-ignite your spark (along with a little snark & a lot of pop culture references).
You just need to bring a pen, a notebook, and your curiosity.
What you’ll learn
You'll reconnect with your innate curiosity and creativity through practical, proven approaches.
We'll look at the definition and conditions of creativity, and dispel the common myths.
We'll move beyond the vague "discomfort," and learn to better identify our emotional responses (and develop tools to address them).
Despite external differences, the creative process across disciplines shares consistent patterns that we can borrow .
Build awareness of your own energy cycles to design an approach that works for you.
Who this course is for
Individual Contributors (not just designers) who are responsible for solving problems and designing solutions (aka, strategic work).
Managers and leaders who want to better understand how to create the conditions for creative work to thrive.
Individuals who want to invest in their creative practice for their own personal projects.
What's included
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Weekly 90 minute co-lab sessions (optional)
Collaborate with your peers to solicit feedback to move ideas forward, or to get "unstuck" when you are blocked.
Twice weekly 60 minute "accountability sprints" (optional)
Struggling with motivation and focus? Join us for body-doubling sessions where we'll put our heads down and power through together.
Recommended books, films, and albums
Get inspired by media that reinforces the processes and practices we discuss.
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Course syllabus
Week 1
Sep
29
Week 1: Cultivate, Part 1
Sep
29
Optional Accountability Sprint
Sep
30
Optional: Co-Lab Session
Oct
1
Week 1: Cultivate, Part 2
Oct
1
Optional: Accountability Sprint
Week 2
Oct
6
Week 2: Curate, Part 1
Oct
6
Optional: Accountability Sprint
Oct
7
Optional: Co-Lab Session
Oct
8
Week 2: Curate, Part 2
Oct
8
Optional: Accountability Sprint
Frequently asked questions
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