Darla Arni

I am a speaker, artist,& author and this came up on my daily Google alert for creativity. I call what your are talking about, Filling Your Creative Well and when I ask that question of audiences some of the answers I get are:
breaking your routine, comfortable furniture, shake up the surroundings (rotating art displays, use of color, rearranging and staying away from cubes), short fun breaks throughout the day to re-energize, time away as a group to work on new ideas, in-house fun times (contests, theme days, less noise/more quiet, course on creativity for management so they get it,and less fear. For me I also like 'piddle time' which might be thumbing through a magazine, or exploring a new shop or gallery with nothing in mind, no pressure and that's when POW the good stuff comes through!

Posted by Darla Arni | May 14, 2008 2:42 PM

jamesV

one of the best experiences was working for Digitas in NYC. the reason was that for first presentation we only showed marker comps. this forced the idea to be clear and more precise. it also saved a heck of a lot of time not having to search for images (which may or may not exist), or laying out a perfect comp on the computer.
we spent more of our time thinking...

Posted by jamesV | May 16, 2008 6:03 AM

MaryM

Less fear. That's a big one. The best places to work have no fear. People can be who they are and say what they think without the fear of looking foolish or pointed at when it goes wrong. Where everyone learns from every experience. Then there is no such thing as a failure - because there is always something to be learned. Where people talk openly about the

Great expectations. That's another big one. Where people push each other to be great, to strive, to achieve, to do their best. Where even the youngest, most inexperienced employee is expected to grow in to something great. In those places, more responsibility and accountability are pushed to more people throughout the organization - it doesn't sit in a few offices of a few top dogs. Because we expect great things from them all.

And youthful optimism. This has nothing to do with chronological age. This is a point of view about the world. Some people see hope, some people see despair. Hope is so much better.

Posted by MaryM | May 16, 2008 5:12 PM

xgeronimo

subjectively - i like working surrounded by exotic plants (Lycoris radiata is one of my faves)... sometimes i even hear them whispering ideas into my head...

objectively - one of my best experiences was working at hhcl london... we were free to leave the offices and seek inspirations outside (i.e. galleries, movies, a quickie, etc.) the result was always more important then physical presence.
also ocassional desk swapping was cool - added to the fluidity of thinking :)

Posted by xgeronimo | May 20, 2008 1:03 PM

Pierce Meehan

I am a student @ USC but I have had the chance to work for a company unlike any other. It is an all-in-house shop that allows a person to walk in with an idea or dream from the night before in the morning, and see the final project on the shelf before lunch. The idea of having such a fast production without dealing with so many coperate levels allow the true creativity and love of an idea flow it also allows the compnay to stay so far ahead of the game that larger shops just cant afford to keep up. no matter what the task at hand is, by putting a little bit of love into everything you do- allows creativity unlike i've ever seen.

Posted by Pierce Meehan | May 27, 2008 9:16 PM

April Durham

I'm from small town Idaho doing small town advertising. The best way my work environment encourages creativity is freedom. No micromanaging, no one peeking over my shoulder. Just the freedom to put the stuff in my brain on paper, without the onslaught of outside distractions. Being able to basically do whatever I want all day, and being accountable for my self-inflicted brilliance in the end.

Posted by April Durham | June 4, 2008 11:57 PM

R

The best work I have been apart of was where true collaboration existed.

In this scenario, inherent confidence and mutual respect allows the work to take shape and hit the objective right on the mark.

The sad thing is, its rare when this actually happens. Sharing a common goal is gone from this business.

Integrated means, internal competition to gain access to one pot of gold.

Again, sharing a common goal is gone from this business.

Why?

Nobody wants to take a chance anymore. The reliance on borrowed interest underscores this point constantly. Easy isn't smart or creative, its just "easy".

Only when integration becomes a true team effort will it inspire mutual respect,
thus allowing great work to exist within a brand strategies and objectives.

Lets face it, there are not many new tricks left, just new ways to present, expose and exploit, but we still have to get people to agree. That is the ultimate trick and art form.

I dare ask,

why not have it be fun again, without all the uncertainty and the confusion created by it?

Posted by R | June 19, 2008 4:35 AM

Dondrae Mills

The "True" Power of Creative has always been in an environment where my mind is able to run with out any limits, only idea's and challenges for food and air, where the core of my idea's and solutions start with people and community as a whole and individually, expecting no end only progressive revelation and new colors and Dimensions!!

My best work experience helping friend come up with ideas for business

what makes this special for me is that I,m helping people.

Posted by Dondrae Mills | July 1, 2008 11:04 PM