To generate creative ideas, we must have ingredients to work with. Anything we see or sense is such a potential ingredient, and the more such bits we collect, the greater the chances for surprising fusions and applications to emerge.
This is why observation is part of the Creativity Operating System. When we observe things, we capture them in our minds as raw material for potential future creations.
Observation is more than just seeing; it is an act of exploration. When we mindfully explore our surroundings, we discover things we haven’t noticed before. As we continue to observe them from different perspectives or through various lenses, we uncover even more surprising insights.
The Chameleon experience is an exercise in multi-dimensional observation. It begins with thinking of a chameleon or carefully examining a picture or video of one. If you have more time, you can explore additional resources and learn more about chameleons.
After familiarizing yourself with chameleons, the next step of the experience is where the creative magic happens. You don’t have to do anything special, but whatever you do during the day and wherever you are, look around you mindfully for things associated with different characteristics of a chameleon.
As you capture the surprising things you find in photos, make sure not to focus only on one aspect of a chameleon, such as its color-shifting capabilities. Consider the chameleon through different conceptual lenses, and use each of these lenses to explore the world around you.
