Dare to Play: Unleashing Creativity in Unexpected Ways

Why is it that work and play often don’t come together? We, at Koekepeer , embrace playfulness and try to have fun with the creative concepts that we are working on. The open-minded approach to the creative process, both at the brainstorming stage, as well as during the execution, can yield unexpected results, discoveries, and breakthroughs. In this week's blog, we take a deep dive into the concept of fun at work.

Why Is It That Playfulness Matters?

The connection between playfulness and creativity is very intrinsic. George Bernard Shaw’s advice was: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

Groundbreaking, showstopping creations are all about surprise and bringing one’s mind to a halt.

We do that by remaining playful. If it stimulates divergent thinking, encourages experimentation, and sparks innovative ideas in us, as creators, it also has the very same thought-provoking effect on the audience. And that mindset is the one that we try hard to embrace at Koekepeer.

A good example of the promotion of fun and creativity at the workplace is 谷歌 's 20% time policy. It allows the employees to spend a portion of their workweek pursuing projects of their choosing, unrelated to their primary job responsibilities. This policy also encourages the employees to explore new ideas, experiment with different approaches, and take risks in a playful and non-judgmental environment.

The concept of 20% time is straightforward, yet remarkably effective: Google staff are urged to allocate 20% of their working hours, equating to one day per week, to pursue projects they select, irrespective of their usual job duties. This autonomy empowers employees to delve into their interests, test out fresh concepts, and engage in cross-departmental collaborations within the company.

Many of Google's most innovative products, including Gmail and Google News, have emerged from these 20% time projects, demonstrating the power of playful exploration in driving creative breakthroughs.

At Koekepeer we also believe that creation requires freedom, and freedom to play with ideas is an important component of our process. We are convinced that once you are given the freedom to come up with ideas, they may not always be perfect at first, but they can be perfected in the process.

The Power of Exploration and Curiosity

There is a famous concept: "The more you f***k around, the more you find out". It is an embodiment of playfulness, exploration and curiosity in the creative process.

Adopting a playful approach in the process of creation cultivates an atmosphere that promotes the emergence of unconventional ideas and breakthroughs. Let’s consider, for instance, the story behind the creation of the Post-it note.

Initially striving to formulate an adhesive of exceptional strength, Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M 公司 , instead stumbled upon a weak, pressure-sensitive adhesive. While this outcome might have initially appeared as a setback, Silver's playful exploration yielded an unexpected revelation when his colleague, Art Fry, ingeniously repurposed the weak adhesive as a bookmark, capable of adhering to pages without causing damage. This playful experimentation ultimately gave rise to one of 3M's most iconic products.

Overcoming Creative Blocks By Staying Playful

A common misconception is that creativity always goes hand-in-hand with seriousness. Keeping the struggle playful is a potent antidote to creative blocks and self-imposed pressure. If you infuse the creative process with play, then you may unlock access to numerous new avenues of inspiration and innovation.

One of many interesting ways to approach it is to engage in brainstorming games involving word association or mind mapping. This promotes lateral thinking and allows one to break the rigid patterns, and thus stimulate thinking outside the box.

You need to remember that failure is a natural part of the creative process. Failures grant us an opportunity to learn, and a playful approach allows us to further reinforce that mindset. By experimenting freely and fearlessly, we could potentially uncover unexpected solutions and refine our ideas through trial and error. Cultivating a lighthearted approach to problem-solving can enhance creative productivity.

We always encourage playful experimentation and encourage team members to explore unconventional solutions without fear of judgment. You should do that too if you struggle with the generation of ideas. Creating a supportive environment where laughter and spontaneity are welcomed can foster a culture of creativity and innovation.

Conclusion

Fun and play rule. At Koekepeer, we firmly believe in infusing fun and play into our creative processes, recognizing that this open-minded approach can lead to unexpected discoveries and breakthroughs.

Embrace playfulness in creative pursuits of your own! Make sure you recognize its transformative potential in unleashing the creative power. We encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences with embracing playfulness in your creative endeavors and to experiment with incorporating playful elements into your work.

Together, let's dare to “f...k around” a little bit more and explore the limitless possibilities that emerge when we approach creativity with a playful mindset!