Davos: What's the key to creativity?

I don't normally refer to news articles posted from Davos, but this one sounds particular interesting:

"The eight panel members were each asked to describe what they think is the key to creativity. The audience then voted them off the island, one by one. Quick to go, for example, were panelists who pitched religious institutions and government as important engines of innovation. In the end, we were left with two finalists who are well-known to Fast Company readers, Ideo's Tim Brown and Google's Marissa Mayer.

Their respective arguments: Brown stumped for the beginner's mindset, and for the virtues of rapid prototyping. Being or thinking like a beginner lets you approach problems in new ways, lets you make connections that haven't been made before. And rapid prototyping lets you test those insights quickly and at limited expense.

Mayer argued for a ''healthy disrespect for the impossible,'' combined with the virtues of constraints. A healthy disrespect for the impossible means you can take risks, while constraints--a price point you have to meet with a new product, a specific design problem you have to solve-- mean your risk-taking will follow productive avenues."

http://blog.fastcompany.com/archives/2006/01/25/live_from_davos_whats_the_key_to_creativity.html?partner=rss