Oliver Ding’s Post

[Creative Life] The Basic Form of "Creative Dialogue" (3) Last week I edited a new possible book titled Mapping Creative Dialogue which was claimed as a new Unit of Analysis of Creative Life Theory. After sorting my tools and articles about the “Creative Dialogue” unit of analysis, I realized there are three categories behind these works: 1. Subjects are Objects such as knowledge themes, career themes, etc. 2. Subjects are People 3. Subjects are Social Entities or People inside a Social Entity I also found that the three models I developed match these three categories. 1. The Echozone model: Subjects are Objects 2. The ARCH Model: Subjects are People 3. The Activity Circle Model: Subjects are Social Entities It’s also easy to find three metaphors that represent these models. 1. “Bridge” 2. “Arch” 3. “Talk” This is not an ideal classification. Some tools and articles are about knowledge themes, but the ECHO Way model does not represent them. Part 5 of the book is about other models. The link below is its introduction. X____Y: The Basic Form of “Creative Dialogue” (4) https://lnkd.in/gS-BmSnZ (4/6/2024) More: Creative Life Theory https://lnkd.in/gN_fuXYe Mapping Creative Dialogue (book, v1, 2024) https://lnkd.in/gmWh_XPi

[Creative Life] The Basic Form of "Creative Dialogue" (1) Last week I edited a new possible book titled Mapping Creative Dialogue which was claimed as a new Unit of Analysis of Creative Life Theory. After sorting my tools and articles about the “Creative Dialogue” unit of analysis, I realized there are three categories behind these works: 1. Subjects are Objects such as knowledge themes, career themes, etc. 2. Subjects are People 3. Subjects are Social Entities or People inside a Social Entity I also found that the three models I developed match these three categories. 1. The Echozone model: Subjects are Objects 2. The ARCH Model: Subjects are People 3. The Activity Circle Model: Subjects are Social Entities It’s also easy to find three metaphors that represent these models. 1. “Bridge” 2. “Arch” 3. “Talk” This is not an ideal classification. Some tools and articles are about knowledge themes, but the ECHO Way model does not represent them. Part 2 of the book is about the ECHO Way. The link below is its introduction. The ECHO Way: Waterfall, Bridge, and Creative Life https://lnkd.in/gUp8gBJu (4/2/2024) More: Creative Life Theory https://lnkd.in/gN_fuXYe Mapping Creative Dialogue (book, v1, 2024) https://lnkd.in/gmWh_XPi

[Creative Life] The Basic Form of "Creative Dialogue" (3) Last week I edited a new possible book titled Mapping Creative Dialogue which was claimed as a new Unit of Analysis of Creative Life Theory. After sorting my tools and articles about the “Creative Dialogue” unit of analysis, I realized there are three categories behind these works: 1. Subjects are Objects such as knowledge themes, career themes, etc. 2. Subjects are People 3. Subjects are Social Entities or People inside a Social Entity I also found that the three models I developed match these three categories. 1. The Echozone model: Subjects are Objects 2. The ARCH Model: Subjects are People 3. The Activity Circle Model: Subjects are Social Entities It’s also easy to find three metaphors that represent these models. 1. “Bridge” 2. “Arch” 3. “Talk” This is not an ideal classification. Some tools and articles are about knowledge themes, but the ECHO Way model does not represent them. Part 4 of the book is about the Activity Circle model. The link below is its introduction. TALK: Two Cups of Coffee and Activity Circle https://lnkd.in/gffaw62B (4/5/2024) More: Creative Life Theory https://lnkd.in/gN_fuXYe Mapping Creative Dialogue (book, v1, 2024) https://lnkd.in/gmWh_XPi

If you are thinking about or writing a book, these are good tips for getting out of the linear thinking that makes writing hard.

A question I'm often asked: "How do I spark my creativity?" Here are 3 strategies that help me form new and interesting ideas, and might work for you: 1. Making a daily visit somewhere. Currently, I’m doing a “daily visit” to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. I visit the museum every day—to see how the place changes over time and how making a daily visit changes me. Also, when I go to the Met, I’m walking (good for creativity) and I’m also spending time outside as I make my way there and back (also good for creativity). 2. Giving myself recess. To keep going, I need to let myself stop. I can get very focused on my schedule and my to-do list, so I schedule time to goof off. For instance, going to the Met is one way to make sure I have time to wander. Also, because I’d read so much research about the benefits of a daily nap, I started napping regularly a few years ago. I’m a real fan of the short mid-day nap. 3. Suiting myself. I plan my work with my natural rhythms in mind. I’m a real morning person, so when I’m doing original writing or tricky editing, I tackle them in the morning. As the day goes on, I turn to less taxing work. These are just a few ways I keep my creativity sparked. Want to learn about all 11 strategies I use? Check out my full article at https://bit.ly/3D0nfTG. I'm fascinated to learn about other people's methods too - what works for you?

PART 3 of my Managers as Designers trilogy Inspired by a story from Richard Feynman and an essay by Karl Weick. The essence of this essay is that true understanding goes beyond simply labelling things; it comes from engaging with and navigating their complexities. In the same way, true success in design comes from knowing when to stop—just beyond the skeleton—rather than over-designing in an attempt to control every detail, which is often where organisations struggle -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A couple of months ago, I made a commitment to the subscribers of the Disruptive Business Network to deliver a newsletter every Friday. And so, "DBN’s REBEL YELL" was born. One of the key sections is the Atomic Essay—a brief, thought-provoking piece that explores challenging the status quo, exploring new ideas, and finding meaning in work. This is the 13th Atomic Essay DBN’s REBEL YELL will also feature: DBN in Action: Updates on what we’re up to. Explore This: Something fascinating to check out. What We’re Reading: Our current reads and recommendations. Soul Food: Internet gems that are good for your soul To subscribe please go here: https://lnkd.in/gjfynHPf

This is a picture of what my though process looks like in a few of my many journals. 💡 I am undeniably a visual thinker. Without pen and paper nearby, I get lost in my thoughts. I need to visualise it: putting everything into context and perspective, moving from the big overview to the small details, and seeing the relationships in front of me. Drawing helps me focus and slow down the flood of thoughts. ✏️💭 I love unraveling complex concepts and making sense of them visually. There's a certain magic in seeing my thoughts and other's ideas take shape on paper, especially when it's about envisioning the future. ✨ I must admit, sometimes I get carried away a bit by creating complex structures within structures, into even bigger structures. While it all connects and makes sense in my mind, it can sometimes get too intricate and lead to a loss of focus and clarity. This is a good reminder for me to zoom out regularly and keep the bigger picture in mind. 🖼 #visualthinking #journalillustration #drawyourthoughts #visualthoughts #complexmattertovisuals #visualnotes #visualthinker

This week my paper "De-imagining myth possibilities through mechanisms from critical design" was published in Semiotics and Visual Communication IV: Myths of Today, published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. The chapters in this book consist of selected papers which investigate the theme of ‘Myths Today’, paying homage to the notion of myth as defined by Roland Barthes in the late 1950’s which provided a theoretical framework under which daily habits, as well as consumer practices, can be examined as socially constructed signs, idealized through verbal narratives. While ‘myth is a type of speech’, it is also a type of image; typeface, cinema, photography, sports, online networks, politics, TV shows, sound, and fashion can all serve as groundwork for mythical discourses. Under this framework, the book explores myths today, in the context of global networks, globalisation, visuals and mass communication. The interdisciplinary nature of the book provides a platform for discussion and research, broadens the scope of semiotic and visual communication thinking, and challenges the boundaries of various disciplines. Hardback ISBN: 1-0364-0548-6 ISBN13: 978-1-0364-0548-9 Release Date: 26th June 2024 Pages: 629 Price: £86.99 https://lnkd.in/dZ8jVurx

🎧 Today's from the experts Recommendation: "The three ways that good design makes you happy " Ted talk by Don Normal. Dive into this insightful content where we learn tons about enjoying the design process and make it fun. 🌟✨ #fromthexpert #Design

Added a new case study to my Portfolio! The focus of this case study looks at how might we use evaluative research in combination with human-centered design thinking to improve the user experience and workflow for a check out. The unique aspects of this project included a condensed timeline, a tight nit group of diverse stakeholders and decision makers, and a lot of unique data points that were leveraged to understand the current experience and where we could make the largest impact. Please check it out and let me know what you think. https://lnkd.in/gFC93Rpu