The Impossible Network

068: Big Questions of Creativity: Part 2 With Michael Hanchett Hanson

Jan 14, 2020

40:47

A few weeks ago we interviewed Michael Hanchett Hanson - author and founder and director of the Masters Concentration in Creativity and Cognition program at Columbia University around the theoretical aspects of creativity.

In part two of the interview we focused on creativity in practice.

Michael explains why constraints are a core component in generating creativity, and expands on the invalidity the out of the box metaphor, discusses big ideas.

I use a classic quote from legendary ad man David Ogilvy to frame our discussion

We discuss how as we work creatively we not only produce work, but our point of view develops, our understanding of big questions deepens.

Michael draws on references to Monet, John Coltrane, Ian Curtis, Mozart, George Bernard Shaw, Elton John and Picasso as we discuss and dissect the role of passion, empathy, hard work, research, complex systems, forward and backward loops and how creating solutions for the future often requires us to mine the creativity of the past.

I hope you are stimulated by this episode of big questions on creativity with Michael Hanchett Hanson.

What we discuss

Constraints drive creativity

Deviation amplifying techniques

David’s Ogilvy's philosophy

Pat Stokes research on creativity and rats

George Bernard Shaw and The Fabian Society

Bill Bernbach

Aristotle

The importance of passions

The role of Empathy

Affect and Effect