The Power of Creativity

Creativity is more than just a tool for innovation; it’s the spark that drives new value in the world and a cornerstone of what it means to be human. As we face an era of unprecedented change, creativity emerges as both an economic engine and a source of personal fulfilment - nurturing our inner lives and enabling us to thrive in complexity.

This collection of research, resources, and thought leadership explores creativity’s critical role in shaping the future—both as a driver of innovation and as a whole-making practice for our human experience.

Reports & Articles

  1. Creativity in the Age of AI Exploring two topics that chime with BIF over the last 30 years: Project Based Learning and 21st Century Skills.

  2. UNESCO’s Future of Education This flagship report Reimagining Our Futures Together: A New Social Contract for Education proposes a human-centred vision for the renewal of education that is hopeful, urgent, and audacious.

  3. World Economic Forum’s Skills of the Future Insights into why creativity is among the top job skills needed for the 21st century.

Books

  1. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a bestselling classic that holds the key to unlocking meaning, creativity, peak performance, and true happiness.

  2. The Field by Lynne McTaggart is one for anyone currently attracted to notions of intention and manifesting… Lynne taking inspiration from Rumi (the 13th century poet) confirms nothing is new under the sun.

  3. The Web of Meaning by Jeremy Lent - our BIF read of 2024 that shows the way forward for wholistic resilient people and planet innovation.

Videos & Talks

  1. TED Talk: Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity? A timeless call for fostering creativity in education by the late great Sir Ken.

  2. TED Talk: The Failure of Success This is the first mention we ever came across of the NASA longitudinal study on the decline of creativity (13 mins in)

Podcasts

  1. The Matter with Things Love or loathe J Peterson, this chat with the neuroscience master of our times Dr. Ian McGilchrist is dripping in gold.

  2. The Case Against Reality Deepak Chopra talks with Dr. Don Hoffman about the nature of reality and the idea of fitness payoffs - again a repeating listen of ours!

  3. Against the Rules: Fans As fandom pioneers, this Michael Lewis series on sports betting is mind expanding with all kinds of impact for other domains and categories.

  4. Conversation with Mel Robbins Prof G has an insightful conversation with the No1 podcaster and self-help guru Mel Robbins of ‘Let Them’ fame.

Interactive Resources

  1. My Creative ProfileThis is a BRILLIANT profiling resource for individuals and teams to think through who you are and the best kind of collaborators for your ideas.

  2. Gene Keys This is a modern version of the i-Ching as an online resource to undertake a kind-of spiritual profiling to help surface your highest life path, calling, vision and purpose (if only for stimulus - but my goodness it seems to be crazy crazy close for many we’ve shared it with).

Want to Collaborate on Research?

If you have suggestions, links, or insights to usurp this growing resource, get in touch. Let’s continue exploring how creativity shapes the world - inside and out 🔮