Every April 21st, and in the week leading up to it, people worldwide come together to celebrate World Creativity and Innovation Day. It’s a day all about honouring and encouraging creativity and new ideas across different parts of life.
World Creativity and Innovation Day, celebrated every April 21st, and the week leading up to it, is a time for everyone to embrace their creativity and find new solutions to problems. In 2017, the United Nations resolved to make World Creativity and Innovation Day, April 21 a Day of Observance to raise awareness about the role creativity and innovation play in human development and to encourage people to use creativity in problem-solving for all issues related to achieving the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals. It’s a reminder that thinking outside the box can lead to positive changes. People celebrate by joining workshops, brainstorming sessions, and other events to spark fresh ideas and celebrate human ingenuity. It’s all about showing how creativity and innovation can make the world a better place.
Before I go any further, I can’t talk about creativity and innovation without mentioning Marci Segal. Not only is Marci the founder of Creativity and Innovation Day/Week, she also played a big part in making CLSR Inc. what it is today. She was one of our early collaborators, and did countless hours of training, and writing for us with an unmatched creative and innovative flair. If any of you were lucky enough to take part in one of Marci’s trainings, you know what I’m talking about.
Aside from creativity and innovation, one of Marci’s other passions is personality. So, to really get what this day is all about, let’s have a look at how different types of people think and act when it comes to being creative, thinking up new stuff, and new ways of doing things. Each of the four personality dimensions have their own creative side. For some, it may look like it comes more naturally, but others can surprise you with how creative and innovative they are.
Resourceful Oranges are the doers and risk-takers. They like trying out new things, being spontaneous, and getting their hands dirty (literally and figuratively). In the world of creativity and new ideas, they’re the ones taking leaps, breaking rules, and coming up with cool stuff. You’ll often find them in creative fields like design, fashion, or performance arts, where they can let loose and think outside the box. Relying on their senses and lived experiences, Resourceful Oranges are quick to jump into action when creative and innovative solutions are needed the most.
Organized Golds are the folks who like things orderly and reliable. They’re all about following the rules and keeping things stable. While they might not be the most traditionally creative, they play a big part in making sure creative projects run smoothly. They’re the planners, making sure everything stays on track. You’ll see Organized Golds in roles like project management or administration, where their attention to detail keeps everything in line. Who says that spreadsheets can’t be creative and innovative? Some of the best ones out there are works of art in their own right, and were created by Organized Golds.
Inquiring Greens are the logical thinkers. They’re great at solving problems and figuring out how things work. When it comes to creativity and innovation, they’re the ones who take ideas and turn them into reality. They’re big picture thinkers and always looking for new, innovative ways to improve stuff. You’ll find Inquiring Greens in fields like engineering, technology, or running their own businesses, where their brains are put to good use solving tricky problems. Inquiring Greens are often associated with STEM careers, but in reality, their creative and innovative approach to problem-solving is an asset in any field. Whether it’s streamlining processes, optimizing systems, or developing new ideas, they use their creativity to tackle challenges head-on.
Authentic Blues are the dreamers. They’re all about making the world a better place and inspiring others to join them. When it comes to creativity and innovation, they’re the ones with big visions and even bigger hearts. You’ll find them in fields like social entrepreneurship, education, or the arts, where they’re working hard to bring their ideas to life and make a positive impact on the world. Using art as a medium to raise awareness and inspire social change or storytelling to evoke empathy and drive action, Authentic Blues are not short on creative and innovative ways to bring people together to tackle the challenges facing today’s world.
During World Creativity and Innovation Week and the day itself, it’s all about recognizing and appreciating the different ways people bring new ideas to the table. Whether you’re a Resourceful Orange trying out new things, an Organized Gold keeping things in order, an Inquiring Green solving problems, or an Authentic Blue dreaming big, your creativity and innovation matter. Together, we can embrace our differences and work towards a future full of endless possibilities, in the most creative and innovative way possible.
Brad Whitehorn – BA, CCDP is a lifelong Introvert, and the Associate Director at CLSR Inc. He was thrown into the career development field headfirst after completing a Communications degree in 2005, and hasn’t looked back! Since then, Brad has worked on the development, implementation and certification for various career and personality assessments (including Personality Dimensions®), making sure that Career Development Practitioners and HR Professionals get the right tools to do their best work.
