How to Boost Your Creativity and Imagination (feat. Joe Garlington)
Have you ever wondered what it really takes to come up with innovative and creative ideas? Do you have to just wait around until you have a stroke of brilliance?
Fortunately, that isn’t the case.
According to my guest today, Joe Garlington, we can develop a creative mindset, with practice, and by finding the right sources of inspiration.
Joe, as the former Vice President and creative lead of Interactive Projects at Walt Disney Imagineering, was responsible for the development of interactive attractions for Disney theme parks.
Joe also led long-term visioning for Disney’s Epcot theme park and played an important role in the development of new concepts for theme park entertainment. Currently, Joe consults and teaches theme park design at the University of Southern California.
In this interview, Joe pulls from his vast experience from working in Disney, to share some important lessons on finding creative insight including the best process to follow and how we can tackle common obstacles that tend to get in the way.
Interview time stamps:
02:52 ︳Joe shares his inspirations and past work experiences that led him to work with Disney Imagineering
06:20 ︳The creative process: how to come up with innovative ideas
12:14 ︳The importance of teamwork in the creative process
13:14 ︳Joe discusses the thought process and strategy behind the attractions he played a key role in creating
29:00 ︳How to get out of a creative rut and jump-start your creativity
40:34 ︳What Joe and his team take into consideration to build emotional experiences
52:55 ︳Adapting your creations to suit different audiences from different cultures
01:01:45 ︳Joe’s advice for those looking for a surge of inspiration
01:06:30 ︳The importance of curiosity
Resources on Disney Imagineering techniques:
1. Book: Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career by Kevin Rafferty
2. Blog: Don Carson