Break the Pattern

Creativity often begins when we stop trying to solve a problem in the most obvious way.
In this first practical creativity workshop, we’ll use random words, playful constraints and group exercises to break rigid patterns of thought, loosen fixed assumptions and generate unexpected ideas.

Creativity is not just about having good ideas. Often, it is about changing the conditions in which ideas appear.

The session takes inspiration from Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt’s Oblique Strategies: a set of creative prompts designed to help artists and other creatives escape blocks, loosen fixed habits and approach problems from unexpected angles.

This will be an active, participatory workshop rather than a talk. You’ll work with other people in pairs and small groups, trying out practical exercises and responding to prompts designed to interrupt familiar ways of thinking. The emphasis will be on engagement, experimentation and practical action: having a go, noticing what shifts, and exploring how unusual prompts can open up new possibilities.

You do not need to be an artist, designer or creative professional. This workshop is for anyone interested in thinking more flexibly, solving problems differently, or exploring practical creativity in a friendly, hands-on setting.