Dear reader,
I know I haven't been writing lately - have been dealing with other stuff. In the last article about the Creative Platform, I talked about the different models that it uses. Now I want to tell you about the structure. And here is the model the Platform uses:
More or less, so far we have covered the 3D didactic (remember the 3D cases); the rules that invoke the conceptual principles and the creativity definition. Today, I want to talk about the conceptual process - the 6-phase model at the bottom of the chart.
1. Preparation - this is the organisation of the whole workshop. Gathering resources (office supply materials, such as presentation papers, markers, sticky notes, pens, etc.); making presentations (for the mediator to talk through); training process guides for the group work; and of course - problem definition. The last part is with the biggest importance. As organisers we need to define the problem for the workshop - ask the right question, which will bring the right creative idea. So far, I haven't really been part of such a workshop where the question wasn't clear. That is why research of the problem in advance is essential.
2. Red Carpet - entering the environment of the workshop. This is when the rules are introduced and presented to the participants. Here we also use the 3D cases to set the environment, to show how the rules work. Of course, not to forget - welcoming the participants, inviting them to the workshop environment and making sure that there is no socialising - these are all part of the Red Carpet. We strip down all social barriers, such as names, work teams, friendships, social interaction and discussion and we set the mood for creative working. This is the role of the Red Carpet and it is essential to be done the correct way, in order for the barriers not to emerge during the work.
3. Presenting Problem - as I said before - defining the question for the problem and its solution - this is by far the most important phase. Here it is essential for the moderator to explain the question as efficient as possible. No examples are allowed because they are considered to be barriers to creativity. For example, if your task is to find new modes of transportation that do not pollute as much as cars that run on petrol and if I tell you that you can think of an idea that represents the same principles as a bike - all you will think about is bikes. And the end idea might not look like a normal bike, but it will have the same principles, so it won't be as creative as possible or applicable in that matter. Furthermore, in this phase, all participants are not allowed to ask questions about the problem question. There will be a time set for questions in the group work after ideas are developed. After presenting the problem and the question, which needs to be answered, the participants are sent to their group rooms for group work.
4. Idea Development - here is where the Mind Map, the stimuli cards and the rules are invoked. Participants are welcomed to the group rooms by the process guides, all electronic devices, such as watches, laptops and phones are gathered by the process guides and put in a safe place. Then, as mentioned in the previous article - white pieces of paper and a pen is given to the participants for the task with the Mind Map. I am not going into details about the different tasks in this phase, but it usually takes around 4 hours. There are several tasks, as mentioned already, that the participants are given, but the wanted outcome of these 4 hours is an idea, which qualifies as a solution to the problem question. After 4 hours you have two options - either presentation and Professional Input (next phase) of the idea that is developed or more Idea Development phase. Meaning, if you think that the initial idea of the participants after 4 hours is developed and can be presented and evaluated - then you can schedule presentations. Or you can go back to phase Idea Development and further develop the current idea. There is a secret step here, which I am not going to say on purpose - this is my company's trade secret, so the only way you will ever know what this rade secret is - is by participating in one of our workshops.
5. Professional Input - here the participants present their ideas, and there is a jury that asks questions after each presentation. Meanwhile, the other participants give "silent feedback" - on sticky notes, grades and comments are given to the presenting group, which are after the presentation gathered by the process guides and given to the group. Here we also have two options: either go to the next phase (Blue Carpet) or go back to Idea Development. The same principle as before - if you are satisfied with the ideas, then we can all go home, if not - keep on working. The key component here is the trade secret if we decide to go back to Idea Development - then the trade secret is implemented, if not - no trade secret.
6. Blue Carpet - this phase has the same principle as the Red Carpet, but opposite goal. If the Red Carpet has the purpose of setting the environment for the Creative Platform, then the Blue Carpet takes the participants down from the Platform and prepares them for the world without creativity. We have here again 3D cases, social interaction is encouraged and the barriers start appearing one by one. For example, we let the participants introduce themselves to their group members, if they don't know each other, we give them back the electronic devices and so on. You get the gist!
These are the 6 phases of the model. I hope you enjoyed the article! Next week we will talk more about the 4 pillars of the Creative Platform, meaning the conceptual principles of the model.
Thank you for reading!