2010 v 2020 – what’s changed in the way we think about creativity?

In 1666, an apple fell from a tree. Just an ordinary apple, from an ordinary tree – nothing remarkable or out of the norm about that. Except, of course, that the man who observed it was Sir Isaac Newton.

Change is a mysterious thing. Sometimes it happens in a split second, other times it develops over years and decades. But if there is one thing we know for sure, it’s that change is ongoing.

2010 v 2020 – what’s changed in the way we think about creativity?

With the turn of the decade, it seems an epochal time to reflect on how things have developed over the last 10 years, especially in relation to how we think about creativity. From major tech startups to innovative company cultures, creativity is gaining more traction than ever before. So, what is it that has reframed our thinking, and how are things different now from what they were 10 years ago?

Disruptive thinking

Once upon a time, the world was dominated by immovable corporations who – for the most part – played it safe. With business giants ruling the market, companies were little inclined to try and shake things up. To do so would be an extreme case of David squaring up to Goliath (and Goliath’s three big, mean brothers, too). Luckily a few brave few, armed with just a great idea and a passion for innovation, took the plunge.

Ten years on, and startups grown from ideas in garages have become an everyday affair. The household brands which have appeared in the last decade are numerable; from Spotify and Netflix to Airbnb and Instagram. Now that people have seen firsthand the power of disruptive thinking, everyone wants a slice of the pie. While actually making it big is a challenge indeed, from a mindset perspective, it’s clear the world in 2020 is much more open to innovative ideas.

The traditional office

We know what the traditional office looks like. Uniform cubicles in a row. Desks complete with computers, phones and half-eaten apples. Back in 2010, Google were trailblazing the way for offices that broke away from the monochrome world of wastebaskets and filing cabinets. Still, for most of us, water cooler conversations were very much had at the water cooler.

Today, things look different. As our corporate landscape has expanded to encompass more and more startups, trendy offices have become something of a staple. Meeting spaces now include games of ping-pong and bean bags. Bright colours and potted plants liven up offices that were once as grey as a January afternoon.

While creativity requires more than trendy office decor, this adjustment in work reflects a new ideology; one where creativity is seen as something that can and should happen at work. With more space to daydream and incubate ideas, our creative offices are stimulating innovative thought more than ever before.

Automated admin

The robots are going to take your job! Well, maybe not all of your job, but certainly the boring parts. With automation on the rise, there are going to be some major overhauls in the job market. Even more so than what we’ve already seen over this last decade. But what does this have to do with creativity?

Was truly inspiring speaking in #China at the Shenzhen Stock Exchange last week. #Shenzhen is an amazing city that exemplifies applied innovation. pic.twitter.com/ouFMG0ycIl

— Chris Griffiths (@GriffithsThinks) November 16, 2019

Well, in 2018 the World Economic Forum predicted that by 2020 the most in-demand workplace skills would be complex problem solving, critical thinking and creativity. And this is proving to be true. With AI becoming available to do all of the most mundane and repetitive jobs for us, new and upcoming roles are spotlighting focus on the one skill AI can’t compete with us on: creativity. Though this shift in the working world is still very much in progress, it’s already begun to reframe the way we approach creativity in work. Employers are looking to foster imaginations as a point of corporate interest, whereas just 10 years ago, the prospect and scale of AI was – to most us – entirely unknown.

A lot can change in 10 years. With creativity at the forefront of the minds of business and tech, we can guarantee they’ll be many more exciting developments to come.

Written by Chris Griffiths with Caragh Medlicott. Chris is a world-leading creativity expert and creator of the app Ayoa.com – a platform used by top thinkers to boost productivity.

It's no surprise that the time we grow up in impacts who we are as adults. But how do work expectations of the new wave of Generation Z differ from the Millennials before them? @GriffithsThinks dives into this topic with @newbusinessmag. Read here! https://t.co/3UotrDxdwB pic.twitter.com/Qywl9GwXl1

— OpenGenius (@OpenGeniusltd) November 19, 2019

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