Our Top 10 Stories of 2019
2019 was widely regarded as a year of tumult—politically, environmentally, societally. But in the face of it all, 2019 brought us unparalleled human advancement, from Greta Thunberg’s movement of youth-led climate activism to NASA’s first-ever image of a black hole. For better and worse, 2019 kept us on our toes.
As we wrap up the year, we’re reflecting on the power of creativity to inspire change in ourselves, our work, and the world around us. We've pulled together The Octopus’s top ten most read stories of 2019, each of which offers tips, tools, and mindsets to help you cultivate creativity as a tool to navigate the constant ambiguity facing us in these turbulent times.
And as always, a heartfelt thanks from The Octopus team for stopping by. We can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store.
1. 10 Exercises to Build Your Creative Confidence
Creativity is like a muscle—it can be strengthened with practice. Try these activities from David Kelley & Tom Kelley’s book Creative Confidence to get started.
2. Corporate Innovation Needs a Shakeup. Here’s a Blueprint.
Innovative ideas don’t happen by accident. Check out these tips for creating an environment that fosters innovation from the team behind IDEO’s newest digital tool, Shape.
3. The 3 Mindsets of Great Interaction Designers
Being a successful interaction designer is about more than mastering digital tools—it’s about the soft skills that help you push your designs to the next level.
4. The Best Managers Understand Their Employees’ Emotions—And Their Own
There’s no denying it: your relationship with your boss makes or breaks your experience at work. Here’s how the best bosses create positive emotional environments for their employees.
5. Practice Your Prototyping Skills with These 4 Resources
An old IDEO proverb states, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, a prototype is worth a thousand meetings.” These resources from IDEO designers will help you prototype efficiently, effectively, and creatively.
6. 3 Creative Exercises to Make Change Stick in 2019
We kicked off 2019 with intention, sharing three activities to help you actually reach your New Years’ goals. So, how’d you do?
7. Turns Out Emotions Do Belong in the Workplace—Here’s Why
The definition of professionalism is changing. Here’s why organizations should invest in their “emotional culture” and allow employees to express feelings at work.
8. An IDEO Recruiter’s 3 Strategies for Writing a Better Resume
Planning to start off the new year with a new gig? Use these three tips to help you create a resume that stands out in a sea of sameness.
9. AI Needs an Ethical Compass. This Tool Can Help.
Artificial intelligence is the product of those who create it—biases included. That’s why IDEO data scientists created a tool to help teams design ethical AI solutions.
10. Design an Organization’s Purpose Statement With This Tool
Why does your company exist beyond making profit? IDEO organization designers built a colorful tool to help you arrive at an answer.
Saige Perry is a content strategist at IDEO, where she looks after the IDEO brand and its many digital homes. Her happy place is somewhere in the shadowy back-right corner of a hole-in-the-wall music venue.