March 4, 2024 • 15 mins
What if I told you that everyone has at least one type of creativity waiting to be unleashed within them? I know that you do, but perhaps you just haven’t realised it yet!
In this episode I aim to help you discover and understand the untapped potential of your creativity by exploring three traditional types of creativity: exploratory, transformational, and combinational.
By shedding light on these distinct forms of creativity, I aim to spark a realisation within you, igniting a journey to unleash your innate creative abilities. Tune in and embark on an exploration of your creative self.
Happy listening!
xo Abi
P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: http://www.crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/the-3-types-of-creativity-which-one-suits-you
Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.
Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
(upbeat music)
(00:02):
Your creative, be probably just don't know it.
(upbeat music)
Hi everyone, my name is Abi Gatling
and this is Creativity (00:16):
Uncovered.
And I wanna start this episode by saying,
what if I told you that every single person in the world
has at least one type of creativity inside them,
just sitting there waiting to be unleashed.
Well, this episode is going to explore
(00:37):
the different types of creativity out there.
And I'm hoping that by listening to this information,
you're going to maybe find that one jumps out at you
or maybe just hits home a little harder than the others.
And that's gonna help kickstart your journey
to unlock that latent creativity
(00:58):
that I know is inside of you.
Now, if you haven't tuned in before,
Creativity (01:03):
Uncovered is a podcast
where I uncover how everyday people find inspiration,
get inventive and open their imagination.
And in each episode, I set about exploring
how different people find creative solutions at home,
at work, at play and everything in between.
(01:25):
And my goal is to share with you some tried and tested ways
so that you can summon creativity
the next time that you need it.
So one of the premises here at Creativity (01:32):
Uncovered
is that everyone is creative.
You just need to find your form of creativity.
And today, I'm gonna help you do that.
(01:52):
Because you see, creativity is not just about being artistic
or inventing something new.
There's actually different forms of creativity
and each of their own characteristics.
And I'm hoping that by knowing a little more
about these different ways to be creative,
that one of these will jump out at you
and they'll resonate with you.
(02:14):
And this may just help you unlock and explore
those uncharted territories of your creativity.
I believe everyone is creative
because creativity isn't a natally human thing.
We are some of the only beings,
the only animals that practice creativity.
(02:36):
However, creativity isn't a one size fits all concept.
It comes in so many different forms
with different characteristics, different applications
and different times of our lives.
And because of this variety,
researchers are super, super interested in it.
And there is so much information out there about why
(02:59):
and how humans are creative.
In fact, if you actually go Google how to be creative,
you'll get so much information
it'll actually be overwhelming to you.
So today, I kinda wanna circumvent
that process for you a little bit
and talk about a view on creativity
that has spoken to me personally.
Today, I'm gonna talk about the three types of creativity
(03:23):
according to classical psychological research.
And this research says that there are three main types
and these are exploratory, transformational
and combinational creativity.
Let's dive right in.
And I'm gonna start with talking
about exploratory creativity.
And the key word here is explore.
(03:47):
Think of an explorer.
They head out into the world to discover the unknown
and they don't actually know where they're going to end up.
This type of creativity is an exploration
where the journey or the process of creativity itself
is just as valuable as the destination or the outcome.
(04:10):
It's all about curiosity and discovery.
And how this can play out is that it could involve
noodling around and exploring some new ideas
or concepts or possibilities,
but not necessarily looking for a specific outcome.
(04:31):
This type of creativity may be suited to you
if you are more comfortable with things like ambiguity,
uncertainty and just allowing your mind
to wander freely.
This approach is really great
(04:52):
for helping make some unexpected connections.
And this often can lead to some novel
or unconventional insights or solutions
or breakthrough innovations.
This type of creativity, exploratory creativity
is the type that I love when I am focusing
(05:15):
on my artistic creativity.
As we know from the podcast,
if you've listened to a few episodes,
there are different styles of creativity
and artistic is just one of them.
So when I'm flexing my artistic side,
I like to try different styles of art, different mediums.
I just like to test things out.
(05:36):
And when I'm in this mode,
I don't even care if I finish a piece.
In my mind, there's almost no reason to finish an artwork.
And I find that exploratory creativity
is such a perfect introduction to creativity
because it takes all the pressure off
(05:57):
delivering an outcome.
It really just focuses on the process
and not that end result.
So now let's chat about transformational creativity.
So unlike exploratory creativity,
this one doesn't focus on the journey or the process.
(06:18):
It is about pushing the boundaries.
And the keyword here is transform.
So changing from one state to another.
Transformational creativity involves challenging
existing paradigms and disrupting the status quo
and envisioning entirely new possibilities.
(06:41):
This type of creativity will suit you.
If you are bold, you have a clear vision
and you can't help but just challenge
that normal convention.
Now, if you're trying to imagine what this looks like,
(07:02):
this type of creativity can be seen in people
who are visionaries, who are daring to imagine
a better future and that can range from anyone
from inventors to entrepreneurs to artists
to social reformers.
It's about daring to dream big
and then having the courage to pursue those dreams
(07:27):
relentlessly.
When I think of this, I think of industry thought leaders
such as Brené Brown or Seth Godin
or radical business owners like Steve Jobs
or even Malala.
These are people who are pushing the boundaries.
(07:48):
And this type of creativity is almost like setting
your own path and your own rules.
Now I'm gonna put my hand up here
and say this is not generally me.
I don't identify myself in this type of creativity
but some of the people I've had on my podcast
like guests like Clinton Weeks
from episode four of Creativity (08:08):
Uncovered,
I think he sits firmly in the space
because he's always thinking big,
he's got massive ideas and he goes for it.
It's really impressive.
But it's good to know when you fit into this type
of creativity or when you don't
because it can give you a better understanding
(08:31):
of yourself and your appetite
and your approach to creativity.
So let's jump over to the third type
which if you may recall, it's combinational creativity.
This episode is kind of like the story of Goldilocks.
If exploratory creativity was too cold
and transformational was a bit too hot,
(08:51):
then maybe combinational creativity will be just right.
It'll be the porridge that's just the right temperature
and it will suit you.
So this type of creativity focuses
on combining different elements,
so combinational creativity.
And it involves basically bringing together
(09:14):
and melding together different ideas
and concepts and elements in a new or unexpected way.
And the result is to create something original from that.
It's kind of like you get a packet of Lego
and there is the set Lego design
(09:35):
that you're supposed to make and the instructions there.
You throw that aside and you start to use these blocks
and maybe some blocks from other sets of Lego
and you mix and match the different pieces
and you make your own unique combination,
your own unique presentation of these blocks.
So this type of creativity is about, you know,
(09:56):
getting these different elements,
synthesizing them together and you get a brand new solution,
a brand new artwork, a brand new piece of Lego.
And this type of creativity,
it may be just up your alley
if you like to make connections
and if you draw on everything around you
(10:18):
to make those connections right.
So basically, if you go down combinational creativity,
you're probably gonna draw inspiration
from a whole range of different sources
and disciplines and experiences
and you're gonna leverage all of that
to spark a brand new creative piece.
(10:42):
I'll give you another example.
If you've ever watched MasterChef,
this is one of my favorite shows,
if you've ever watched MasterChef,
I think that combinational creativity
is just so prevalent in the invention challenge.
So this challenge is where the contestants
(11:05):
are given a dish, for example, an apple pie.
And they have to use the ingredients from that apple pie
and in the concept of a pie to craft a new dish.
And it's such an amazing challenge to watch
because even though all of these contestants
have the same starting point,
(11:26):
you will get 12 completely different dishes at the end.
And this is because each of those chefs contestants
are bringing different skills, different experiences,
their heritage, their careers, whatever else.
They're bringing on all these different things together
(11:47):
and applying it to this challenge
with a purpose of creating something brand new.
It's super impressive to watch.
Now, I do like this type of creativity
and I think that I do stray occasionally
into this style of creativity in my everyday life.
So for example, when it comes to problem solving,
(12:09):
I will scour my brain for similar experiences or challenges
and I'll piece together knowledge and skills
to solve this problem.
Heck, you know, I mostly do it every night
when I'm trying to cook dinner, scratching my head
and going, "What am I gonna do with these few ingredients
"in my pantry and how am I gonna make a nice meal out of this?"
(12:32):
So these approaches to creativity are so different.
And that means that they appeal really well
to different people and at different times.
Because as I said before,
I believe that every single person
has the potential to be creative.
And my goal of this podcast is simply to peak
(12:54):
your interest in creativity,
to present you the options of how different styles
of creativity will manifest
and just encourage you to embrace the curiosity
about each of those.
And truthfully, I really do hope
that one of the examples I've given you today
has rung a bell in your mind and clicked something.
(13:17):
And you've suddenly realized that actually,
yes, you are practicing this type of creativity in your life
and you didn't even know about it.
So whether it's exploratory or transformational
or combinational creativity or a mix of any of the three
or perhaps another different creative approach
from another area of research, it doesn't matter.
(13:37):
'Cause I know that there is the perfect fit for you somewhere.
And I'm happy to continue this journey alongside you
and help you get there.
Thanks so much for tuning into Creativity (13:46):
Uncovered today.
I hope that this little bit of insight
into creative research has just kind of given you
a bit of a broad view of what creativity is
and how it can manifest in people's lives.
I wanna know, did any of these options jump out at you?
(14:07):
If so, don't forget to get in touch and let me know.
I'd love to hear about it.
Okay, until next time, take care.
(upbeat music)
(14:45):
If you've made it this far, a huge thank you
for your support and tuning into today's episode.
Creativity (14:51):
Uncovered has been lovingly recorded
on the land of the Kabi Kabi people
and we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.
This podcast has been produced
by my amazing team here at Crisp Communications
and the music you just heard was composed by James Gatling.
(15:12):
If you liked this episode, please do share it around
and help us on our mission to unlock more creativity
in this world.
You can also hit subscribe so you don't miss out
on any new episode releases.
Thank you for watching.
(upbeat music)
(00:02):
Your creative, be probably just don't know it.
(upbeat music)
Hi everyone, my name is Abi Gatling
and this is Creativity (00:16):
Uncovered.
And I wanna start this episode by saying,
what if I told you that every single person in the world
has at least one type of creativity inside them,
just sitting there waiting to be unleashed.
Well, this episode is going to explore
(00:37):
the different types of creativity out there.
And I'm hoping that by listening to this information,
you're going to maybe find that one jumps out at you
or maybe just hits home a little harder than the others.
And that's gonna help kickstart your journey
to unlock that latent creativity
(00:58):
that I know is inside of you.
Now, if you haven't tuned in before,
Creativity (01:03):
Uncovered is a podcast
where I uncover how everyday people find inspiration,
get inventive and open their imagination.
And in each episode, I set about exploring
how different people find creative solutions at home,
at work, at play and everything in between.
(01:25):
And my goal is to share with you some tried and tested ways
so that you can summon creativity
the next time that you need it.
So one of the premises here at Creativity (01:32):
Uncovered
is that everyone is creative.
You just need to find your form of creativity.
And today, I'm gonna help you do that.
(01:52):
Because you see, creativity is not just about being artistic
or inventing something new.
There's actually different forms of creativity
and each of their own characteristics.
And I'm hoping that by knowing a little more
about these different ways to be creative,
that one of these will jump out at you
and they'll resonate with you.
(02:14):
And this may just help you unlock and explore
those uncharted territories of your creativity.
I believe everyone is creative
because creativity isn't a natally human thing.
We are some of the only beings,
the only animals that practice creativity.
(02:36):
However, creativity isn't a one size fits all concept.
It comes in so many different forms
with different characteristics, different applications
and different times of our lives.
And because of this variety,
researchers are super, super interested in it.
And there is so much information out there about why
(02:59):
and how humans are creative.
In fact, if you actually go Google how to be creative,
you'll get so much information
it'll actually be overwhelming to you.
So today, I kinda wanna circumvent
that process for you a little bit
and talk about a view on creativity
that has spoken to me personally.
Today, I'm gonna talk about the three types of creativity
(03:23):
according to classical psychological research.
And this research says that there are three main types
and these are exploratory, transformational
and combinational creativity.
Let's dive right in.
And I'm gonna start with talking
about exploratory creativity.
And the key word here is explore.
(03:47):
Think of an explorer.
They head out into the world to discover the unknown
and they don't actually know where they're going to end up.
This type of creativity is an exploration
where the journey or the process of creativity itself
is just as valuable as the destination or the outcome.
(04:10):
It's all about curiosity and discovery.
And how this can play out is that it could involve
noodling around and exploring some new ideas
or concepts or possibilities,
but not necessarily looking for a specific outcome.
(04:31):
This type of creativity may be suited to you
if you are more comfortable with things like ambiguity,
uncertainty and just allowing your mind
to wander freely.
This approach is really great
(04:52):
for helping make some unexpected connections.
And this often can lead to some novel
or unconventional insights or solutions
or breakthrough innovations.
This type of creativity, exploratory creativity
is the type that I love when I am focusing
(05:15):
on my artistic creativity.
As we know from the podcast,
if you've listened to a few episodes,
there are different styles of creativity
and artistic is just one of them.
So when I'm flexing my artistic side,
I like to try different styles of art, different mediums.
I just like to test things out.
(05:36):
And when I'm in this mode,
I don't even care if I finish a piece.
In my mind, there's almost no reason to finish an artwork.
And I find that exploratory creativity
is such a perfect introduction to creativity
because it takes all the pressure off
(05:57):
delivering an outcome.
It really just focuses on the process
and not that end result.
So now let's chat about transformational creativity.
So unlike exploratory creativity,
this one doesn't focus on the journey or the process.
(06:18):
It is about pushing the boundaries.
And the keyword here is transform.
So changing from one state to another.
Transformational creativity involves challenging
existing paradigms and disrupting the status quo
and envisioning entirely new possibilities.
(06:41):
This type of creativity will suit you.
If you are bold, you have a clear vision
and you can't help but just challenge
that normal convention.
Now, if you're trying to imagine what this looks like,
(07:02):
this type of creativity can be seen in people
who are visionaries, who are daring to imagine
a better future and that can range from anyone
from inventors to entrepreneurs to artists
to social reformers.
It's about daring to dream big
and then having the courage to pursue those dreams
(07:27):
relentlessly.
When I think of this, I think of industry thought leaders
such as Brené Brown or Seth Godin
or radical business owners like Steve Jobs
or even Malala.
These are people who are pushing the boundaries.
(07:48):
And this type of creativity is almost like setting
your own path and your own rules.
Now I'm gonna put my hand up here
and say this is not generally me.
I don't identify myself in this type of creativity
but some of the people I've had on my podcast
like guests like Clinton Weeks
from episode four of Creativity (08:08):
Uncovered,
I think he sits firmly in the space
because he's always thinking big,
he's got massive ideas and he goes for it.
It's really impressive.
But it's good to know when you fit into this type
of creativity or when you don't
because it can give you a better understanding
(08:31):
of yourself and your appetite
and your approach to creativity.
So let's jump over to the third type
which if you may recall, it's combinational creativity.
This episode is kind of like the story of Goldilocks.
If exploratory creativity was too cold
and transformational was a bit too hot,
(08:51):
then maybe combinational creativity will be just right.
It'll be the porridge that's just the right temperature
and it will suit you.
So this type of creativity focuses
on combining different elements,
so combinational creativity.
And it involves basically bringing together
(09:14):
and melding together different ideas
and concepts and elements in a new or unexpected way.
And the result is to create something original from that.
It's kind of like you get a packet of Lego
and there is the set Lego design
(09:35):
that you're supposed to make and the instructions there.
You throw that aside and you start to use these blocks
and maybe some blocks from other sets of Lego
and you mix and match the different pieces
and you make your own unique combination,
your own unique presentation of these blocks.
So this type of creativity is about, you know,
(09:56):
getting these different elements,
synthesizing them together and you get a brand new solution,
a brand new artwork, a brand new piece of Lego.
And this type of creativity,
it may be just up your alley
if you like to make connections
and if you draw on everything around you
(10:18):
to make those connections right.
So basically, if you go down combinational creativity,
you're probably gonna draw inspiration
from a whole range of different sources
and disciplines and experiences
and you're gonna leverage all of that
to spark a brand new creative piece.
(10:42):
I'll give you another example.
If you've ever watched MasterChef,
this is one of my favorite shows,
if you've ever watched MasterChef,
I think that combinational creativity
is just so prevalent in the invention challenge.
So this challenge is where the contestants
(11:05):
are given a dish, for example, an apple pie.
And they have to use the ingredients from that apple pie
and in the concept of a pie to craft a new dish.
And it's such an amazing challenge to watch
because even though all of these contestants
have the same starting point,
(11:26):
you will get 12 completely different dishes at the end.
And this is because each of those chefs contestants
are bringing different skills, different experiences,
their heritage, their careers, whatever else.
They're bringing on all these different things together
(11:47):
and applying it to this challenge
with a purpose of creating something brand new.
It's super impressive to watch.
Now, I do like this type of creativity
and I think that I do stray occasionally
into this style of creativity in my everyday life.
So for example, when it comes to problem solving,
(12:09):
I will scour my brain for similar experiences or challenges
and I'll piece together knowledge and skills
to solve this problem.
Heck, you know, I mostly do it every night
when I'm trying to cook dinner, scratching my head
and going, "What am I gonna do with these few ingredients
"in my pantry and how am I gonna make a nice meal out of this?"
(12:32):
So these approaches to creativity are so different.
And that means that they appeal really well
to different people and at different times.
Because as I said before,
I believe that every single person
has the potential to be creative.
And my goal of this podcast is simply to peak
(12:54):
your interest in creativity,
to present you the options of how different styles
of creativity will manifest
and just encourage you to embrace the curiosity
about each of those.
And truthfully, I really do hope
that one of the examples I've given you today
has rung a bell in your mind and clicked something.
(13:17):
And you've suddenly realized that actually,
yes, you are practicing this type of creativity in your life
and you didn't even know about it.
So whether it's exploratory or transformational
or combinational creativity or a mix of any of the three
or perhaps another different creative approach
from another area of research, it doesn't matter.
(13:37):
'Cause I know that there is the perfect fit for you somewhere.
And I'm happy to continue this journey alongside you
and help you get there.
Thanks so much for tuning into Creativity (13:46):
Uncovered today.
I hope that this little bit of insight
into creative research has just kind of given you
a bit of a broad view of what creativity is
and how it can manifest in people's lives.
I wanna know, did any of these options jump out at you?
(14:07):
If so, don't forget to get in touch and let me know.
I'd love to hear about it.
Okay, until next time, take care.
(upbeat music)
(14:45):
If you've made it this far, a huge thank you
for your support and tuning into today's episode.
Creativity (14:51):
Uncovered has been lovingly recorded
on the land of the Kabi Kabi people
and we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.
This podcast has been produced
by my amazing team here at Crisp Communications
and the music you just heard was composed by James Gatling.
(15:12):
If you liked this episode, please do share it around
and help us on our mission to unlock more creativity
in this world.
You can also hit subscribe so you don't miss out
on any new episode releases.
Thank you for watching.
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