Behind the Scenes of Creative Processes
The creative process is often romanticized as a spark of genius or a eureka moment. But in reality, it’s a journey filled with iterations, collaboration, and plenty of trial and error. Let’s take a peek behind the curtain at three top creative companies—Pixar, IDEO, and LEGO—to see how they built their success and what we can learn from their stories.
Pixar: Storytelling Through Iteration
Pixar is synonymous with heartwarming, visually stunning animated films that resonate with audiences of all ages. But their success didn’t happen overnight. Behind every beloved character and touching storyline is a rigorous creative process focused on collaboration and iteration.
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How They Do It: Pixar’s creative process revolves around what they call “braintrust sessions.” In these meetings, teams review work in progress and provide candid, constructive feedback. The focus isn’t on who came up with the idea but on how to make the story better.
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What We Can Learn:
- Feedback is a gift. Be open to critiques and use them to refine your work.
- Collaboration over ego. Great ideas come from teamwork, not individual brilliance.
- Embrace imperfection. Every masterpiece starts as a rough draft.
IDEO: Design Thinking Pioneers
IDEO is a global design company famous for its human-centered approach to problem-solving. From creating the first commercial mouse for Apple to designing better healthcare systems, IDEO’s work is a masterclass in innovation.
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How They Do It: IDEO popularized the concept of design thinking, which involves empathizing with users, defining the problem, ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing. They deeply engage with the people they’re designing for to ensure their solutions are meaningful and effective.
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What We Can Learn:
- Start with empathy. Truly understand the people you’re creating for.
- Prototype early and often. Test your ideas before committing resources.
- Stay curious. Approach problems with a mindset of exploration and experimentation.
LEGO: Reinventing Through Play
LEGO’s journey is a story of resilience and reinvention. After facing financial struggles in the early 2000s, LEGO transformed itself into one of the world’s most successful toy companies by staying true to its core mission: encouraging creativity through play.
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How They Did It: LEGO focused on co-creation with its customers. By listening to their fan community, they developed products and experiences that resonated deeply. Initiatives like LEGO Ideas allow fans to submit designs, some of which are turned into official products.
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What We Can Learn:
- Listen to your audience. They often have the best insights.
- Stay true to your mission. Your core values should guide your decisions.
- Be willing to pivot. Adaptation is key to staying relevant.
Bringing It All Together
What’s the common thread between Pixar, IDEO, and LEGO? It’s their commitment to process, people, and purpose. Each company has cultivated a culture that values collaboration, creativity, and constant evolution. And while their paths differ, the lessons they offer are universal.
- Key Takeaways:
- Don’t be afraid of failure—it’s part of the process.
- Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you.
- Always keep the end user or audience in mind.
The creative process isn’t a straight line. It’s messy, unpredictable, and sometimes frustrating. But as these companies show us, it’s also where the magic happens. So, whether you’re designing, writing, building, or brainstorming, take a page from their playbooks—and enjoy the journey.