World Creativity and Innovation Day

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

Scott Adams

Insanity is doing the same thing, the same way, over and over, while expecting different results. We’ve all heard this saying and often apply its wisdom to reasons to change negative life habits. However, this statement can also be applied to the creative process and scientific innovation.

World Creativity and Innovation Day provides people with an excuse to try to solve old problems in new ways–with the potential of finding better and more effective methods to accomplish our goals!

No more hum-drum day-to-day sameness. Instead, it is time to open that creative center, no matter how far inside the mind it has been buried, and try to be part of making the world a better place!

History of World Creativity and Innovation Day

In 1452, a man was born who would set the standard for what it meant to be a Renaissance man, excelling in both the arts and the sciences. He was involved with Invention, Mathematics, Music, Geology, Astronomy, Cartography, just to name a few. In just about anything he turned his mind or hand to, Leonardo da Vinci made significant advances.

In fact, this man was seen as the utterly perfect example of a universal genius, and his logical approach to the world was truly advanced and unusual for his time. And although he was admittedly unique, that doesn’t mean others can’t take a cue from him and try to think in innovative ways as well.

World Creativity and Innovation Day was established to encourage everyone to dig deep and find their own inner da Vinci.

Creativity and innovation are beneficial in every walk of life, occupation and career. From those in customer service finding ways to improve their customers’ experiences to scientists whose every workday is filled with learning new things about the world and finding new ways to apply it. From politicians who could use their creativity to find new ways to solve problems and aid the public to medical workers who can seek out new ways of doing things that will protect their patients as well as society.

With efforts supported by the United Nations, World Creativity and Innovation Day encourages every individual to imagine what it would be like to live in a better world with different solutions and more cooperation.

How to Celebrate World Creativity and Innovation Day

Try out these ideas for celebrating World Creativity and Innovation Day. Or, better yet, come up with your own creative ideas!

Generate Ideas That Solve Problems

Start the day out by brainstorming, sit down and think of all the things you do during the day and how you might change them for the better. Instead of being annoyed by them, find motivation through the broken (or at least, less-than-perfect) things that are found all around.

Throughout the day, keep a notepad handy and pay attention to ideas that occur, whether they are for personal use, or ways that other people can do things better.

Look at the World Differently

Sometimes, creativity and inspiration come from doing things a little differently than usual. Sit in a different place at the usual restaurant or, better yet, take a picnic lunch and sit outside. Try climbing a tree and looking at the world from above for a few minutes!

Simply doing something small, like taking a different route to work, can change the way a person thinks or responds to problems. Try biking instead of driving to work. Using public transportation. Or walking when the weather permits. Just these little changes can cause people to change perspectives.

Wait? Maybe it comes to mind that public transportation isn’t an option. Why not? Because it isn’t accessible in this community? Well, perhaps that is the first problem that needs to be noticed, creatively looked at, advocated for and solved!

Meet with Different People

In the same way that doing something differently can bring about ideas, collaboration with others who think differently than ourselves can help to foster ideas. Find a group to gather with that is outside of the typical type of people in life.

• Join a book club at the library and discuss a book that might not normally be on the top of your reading list. Be sure to be an avid listener.
• Become part of a community effort that is outside the typical charity involvement for you and learn why this effort is so important to them.
• Find cultural events advertised in the local newspaper or online. Join in and learn more by giving compliments, showing interest and asking questions.
• Take a local community education class. These might be advertised at the library or on a community website. This not only helps to learn a new skill, craft or hobby but allows for getting to know people who are outside of the groups you might ordinarily meet with.

Share Innovative Ideas

Got an idea for your local town or municipality? Send the suggestion to them and let them know how it could benefit others in the community.

Got a new idea for the employer or workplace? Inform a supervisor or boss and see what they have to say about implementing these creative solutions.

Got a new plan for your own personal life? Set it in motion and see where that creativity can go.

Visit a New Culture

Sometimes, innovation and creativity come from seeing something from across the world that could be done better in our little corner. Learning about the way different people groups and cultures across the globe do things can help not only foster respect for others but also generate incredible ideas. Whether just “visiting” by watching a documentary or actually going to a new place, this will help to promote creativity and innovation.

World Creativity and Innovation Day could be the day that can set the world on a whole new path!