The Happiness Lab: Getting Unstuck The Surprising Science of Creativity (with Dr. George Newman)
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Jan 26, 2026 Dr. George Newman, a Rotman School of Management professor and author on creativity, explains how ideas are often found in the world, not conjured in isolation. He discusses exploration before breakthroughs, treating creativity like archaeology, using constraints and transplantation across domains. He also covers systematic search methods, AI as a tool, and how to evaluate and persist with ideas.
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Creativity Is Newness Plus Usefulness
- Creativity equals generating new and useful ideas rather than novelty alone.
- George Newman emphasizes usefulness as essential to creativity across domains.
Ideas Are Discovered, Not Born
- Creativity is discovery work, not sudden inward genius moments.
- Newman argues ideas exist externally and are uncovered through careful exploration.
Pollock's Short Hot Streak
- Jackson Pollock produced his most iconic drip paintings in roughly a three-year hot streak.
- Dashun Wang's research shows hot streaks are preceded by extensive exploration.
