The global event Social Media Week hit Chicago for the first time from 9/19 – 9/23/2011 and Catalyst Ranch was in on the action! With such great local events like “Journalism in the Age of the Tweet” and “The Power of Social Media for Social Activism”, we wondered where we might fit in. But with our passion for innovation and creativity, as well as invoking conversations no one else was having, we came up with the perfect event.

Because our staff ranges from Baby Boomer to Millenial, the topic of multi-generational relationships has been one we’ve been quite intrigued by. Many of our clients can relate, not only internally, but in terms of reaching out and connecting to different demographics. Marry those needs with the vast experiential usage of the different generations and we had the perfect panel for Social Media Week.

We sought to make our panel focus-group style, where the questions and content would be driven by our Twitter fanbase. When we posed with the question “If you had a focus group of social media pros & Millennials, what would u ask to benefit you or your business?” we didn’t realize what an overwhelming response we’d receive from our Twitter followers! We had enough crowd sourced talking points for three panel discussions, but were able to focus the discussion under the lens of how Gen Y wants to be interacted with and how they take their online action offline.

Our panel could not have been more eclectic and insightful! Moderated by our own Go-to-Guy (and Social Media Strategist) Danny Bernardo, social media pros Mark J. Carter, Sue Koch, and Tim McDonald led a lively and informative discussion with our twentysomething panelists. Our twentysomethings were diverse and at varied stages of their lives. Staci Diamond, in her late-twenties, had established herself quite well in the field of marketing and communications. Neal Ryan Shaw, in his mid-twenties, is well on his way to establishing himself in the world of theatre and journalism. James Coston was fresh off of a post-college internship at Golin-Harris and utilizing social media not only for personal reasons, but in his job search. Becca Dickson, a junior marketing major at DePaul, rounded out our panel.

Our Ranch regulars who have grown accustomed to our comfy and quirky environment would have been surprised by the sleek and tech heavy set-up we’d put on for this event. It is a testament to the versatility of our space and how we can cater to the theme of any event. It was a Ranch event, however, and our handy dandy Ranch Hands set up a delicious snack service for all the attendees to enjoy, including a very fall themed candy explosion!

You can still follow the Twitter conversation that was had before, after, and during the event if you follow the hashtag #SMWcatalystranch. Our attendees were live tweeting their learnings and following up conversations with our panelists. The reactions after the event were definitely worth noting. Check out these tweets from panelists Tim and James:

Some of our attendees had some great things to say. Check out these Tweets from Kyle Akerman, Mira Lowe, Douglas Lee Miller, and Joe Cajindos:

You can also check out more pictures from the event on our Facebook page.

Thanks to the generous donation of resources and talent from the TV Department of Columbia College Chicago, we will be able to post panel excerpts in the future, so be sure to either follow us on Twitter or subscribe to your YouTube Channel. In the meantime, check out this teaser video, comprised of visitor sourced video and images!

If you would like to see another panel like this at the Ranch, leave us a comment and suggest a topic!

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  We all are innovators in our own ways. We know how creative you can be, we have seen it over and over again from focus groups to ideation sessions, you all bring the “sky is the limit” to the ranch. Now here is a chance to gather with like minded friends both new and old to achieve the impossible. Share ideas, projects, and connect with other local artists and entrepreneurs in an exchange of ideas and creative concepts that will help lead you to your next big idea.  This Thursday, October 21^st, is your opportunity to really get those creative gears going during Create. Innovate. Repeat..

It’s a pop-up.

It’s experiential learning.

It’s an art fair and a performance space.

It’s an event open to the public.

It’s a mini-festival, a series of classes, workshops and, most of all, an opportunity to show the public what artists can do!

It’s Create. Innovate. Repeat.. Entrepreneurs and Artists Unite! is an experiential entrepreneurial happening. 

Thursday, October 21st

from 7-9 pm at the ING DIRECT Cafe Chicago

@

21 East Chestnut in Chicago

Create.Innovate.Repeat. is presented by the Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship, a school designed to help you turn your creativity into a living.  Find out more about the IAE at www.TheIAE.com.

For more info and to RSVP click here.

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Almost all of us have at one time or another had a crazy idea for a new product. Forbes.com has compiled a list for the 15 Kookiest Inventions:

“Even in a lackluster economy, patent lawyers keep busy. Between 1996 and 2008, the annual number of patent filings jumped 130%, to 485,000. But what some consider innovation others might call a boondoggle. We trolled the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for some of the kookiest intellectual property on the books. You decide.”

Pneumatic Shoe Lacing Apparatus

Patent No. 5,205,055 

Remember those Nike shoes that Michael J. Fox sports in Back to the Future II–the ones that, with a touch of a button on the shoe tongue, tightened up to a perfect fit, no messy lace tying or hopelessly un-hip Velcro? Aaron D. Harrell figured he’d make those a reality, if a tortuously complicated one: These high-tops require a gas canister on the back of the shoe to power a pneumatic piston in the shoe’s sole. The piston turns a crank on the side of the shoe that draws close the straps across the top–no laces needed. Great Scott, Marty, that’s ridiculous! 

Cheese Filter Cigarette

 Patent 3,234,948
Millions of people across the world like to smoke. Many also enjoy cheese. Why not combine the two in a cigarette filter made of cheese? That way, you can relax and nibble at the same time–with no toxins left behind! So efficient was this ventricular assault that Stuart Stebbings of De Pere, Wis., patented the idea in 1964.

Check out all 15 kooky inventions at Forbes.com. Think you have a great idea for a new hot product? Send in your ideas/ suggestions to amber@catalystranch.com . We will then feature your ideas in a blog.

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Holding a puppet is empowering, puppets can allow you to explore new ideas and create endless different situations. Here is an excellent energizer to spark people’s imagination and get your meeting started in the right mind set.  It is also an icebreaker getting people to laugh and work as a team. With a puppet, your meeting’s attendees can act out or say things in role-playing that they might not otherwise do or say. They can problem solve or just have fun using their wild imaginations. The process of puppet making is fantastic, too. Be creative!

Assignment:  Construct a paper plate pet puppet.  Then group everyone into teams of 5 and give them 5 minutes to put together a quick 3-minute play.  To jump start their creativity; bring out a bunch of balloons.  Each team randomly selects one and pops it to get a slip of paper with the title of their play written on it.

Allotted Time:  10 minutes to make their pets.  15 minutes to write their play.  You may want to have them start on this project as soon as they arrive, while they get their breakfast.  Then, once you’re ready to start the morning session, you can have them do the play portion of the assignment.

Suggestions:

• Each person starts by taking a colored paper plate and folding it in half to make the mouth.  Tape or glue the edges of a 4-inch by 1 and a half inch paper strip on top for the fingers and a 2 inch by 1 and a half inch strip on the bottom for the thumb.  They can then add a tongue on the inside and teeth along the upper and bottom edges.  On the top outside have them add eyes, eyebrows, hair, antennae, a nose . . .  fold, bend and curl the features, and layer them on.  It may be helpful to make one in advance to get them going. 
• Provide a table filled with various supplies to construct their pet.  Supplies can include yarn, pipecleaners (buy several varieties), plastic eyeballs, ribbons, fabric remnants, construction paper, colored index cards, wrapping paper, gluesticks, Elmer’s glue, glitter paint tubes, scissors, cotton balls, colored string, candy, staplers, tape, plastic beads, paperclips (regular and colored), felt, pompoms

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Sometimes you want to get people in a completely different mindset before you get to the meat of the business at hand. This is a great exercise to get them thinking about everything but your business – specifically a business they know nothing about. It’s also a great way to level the playing field amongst meeting attendees. No one person’s ideas are necessarily better than someone else’s. It’s important to ensure that this is not treated as a contest. It’s just a sharing of ideas. You might be surprised to discover the way some people’s minds work!

Assignment:  Give everyone 3 white sheets of paper and some colored markers.  This exercise is done in three rounds.  In the first round, ask them to design a hat.  Have them all show their hat designs.  Then on the next sheet of paper have them design a vacuum cleaner.  Once again, have them share their designs with the group.  Then in the last round, ask them to design a dog washing machine.  Don’t give them any further explanations.

Allotted Time:  Allow 30 seconds for the design phase of each round.  Total time depends on the size of your group, as this will drive how long it takes everyone to show off their designs.

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Name: Jackie Sloane

Company: Sloane Communications, Inc.

Area of Expertise: Collaborating with people to produce results through how they communicate, engage others, cultivate relationships!

Share one of your trade secrets for keeping the energy and enthusiasm flowing when working through a long session or meeting with your clients. Laughter. Taking a moment to lighten up. Sometimes a serious discussion can get an infusion of energy from a little strategic lightness.
What sparks your creativity? Walks outside, going to new neighborhoods, new stores, art openings and exhibits, time with children and young people.

Give us an example of a creative output that you’re particularly proud of. I worked with the leaders of a local firm and as a result of what she learned about clear, direct communication and “shared leadership,” one leader taught her team to innovate, and as a result, they cut 50% of the production time for a new product.

What was one of the best meetings you’ve ever attended? What made it so great? Superior speakers with great experience, and each session interactive and packaged so that you walked away with real learning.

What recently sparked your curiosity and how did you satisfy it? I pay attention to my intuition. A friend invited me to an event recently, and it was not really at a convenient time for me, but I noticed I kept thinking about it, so I went. And, I connected with several really interesting people with whom I have had subsequent good networking conversations. It was definitely worth my time and energy.

Join us for Cheryl McPhilimy and Jackie Sloane’s Breakthrough Lab April 29^th.  Gather with a diverse group of creative thinkers and experience an infusion of energy that will help in beating the obstacle that is keeping you, your project or your company from being front and center in your audience’s minds.  Visit our happenings page for all the info!

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Here’s a very easy and fun way to start a meeting, using the talents in the room to redesign the environment and give it some pizzazz.

Assignment: Draw the missing half of a face of a person.

Allotted Time: 5 minutes

• Go through a bunch of magazines and cut out interesting photos of people.  Make sure that they are fairly large photos.  Cut these photos in half – cut some in half vertically, others horizontally.  Mount them on a sheet of paper.  Give each person a sheet and have them draw in the missing half of the face.  Provide them with buckets of coloring pencils, crayons & markers.
• Once they’ve completed the artistic assignment, quickly form a gallery of the drawings which others can then admire.

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I am sitting here trying to think up a name for a new product. It is funny that while I have performed this act a hundred times before — never has an idea come while sitting down, looking at a blank page waiting for the name to just show up. I just isn’t going to happen like that!

That is why I ask, “What are your Catalysts for Creativity?” For me there is a formula. I love to gather information about the product/project I am working on. I mean as much information as possible. I become steeped in the research (company provided, internet, library) I then go back and bounce the idea off a trusted co-worker, friend, family member or at this point anyone who crosses my path. Watch out!

I then bounce away from the process all together. I rejoin life with ideas still wondering about. If time is available two or three days later I will go to my favorite little coffee house and begin writing to see what takes shape. And, it is usually there where I will witness the beginnings of an idea or concept taking form. Ideas and names appear, sometimes faster than I can write. I could spend days in this mode! That is if the lattes keep coming.

At this point it is just a matter of making sure I convey the vision in a format that others can quickly grasp. For me the input of others always makes the end product even better. It’s called collaboration darlin’ and nothing is sweeter…except maybe my coconut macaroons at midnight.

Please feel free to send any of your catalysts for creativity. We would love to share them on-line or we’ll stop by your on-line Creative Space to see what innovations you have.

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On Monday we talked about the origins of brainstorms or ideation sessions. Those energetic sessions that companies use to develop a new product, provide company direction and find creative solutions to an existing problem.

Having been part of many brainstorming sessions I have found that those that produce the desired results have one thing in common: COMPLETE INVOLVEMENT BY ATTENDEES!

How does one garner involvement by all attendees? I think the answer is creating an atomosphere where everyone feels comfortable. Those ideation sessions that create the most enthusiatic participation begin with Warm-up Exercises and Icebreakers.

I sat down with Eva Niewiadomski, Catalyst Ranch, Ranch Czarina and asked her to provide a few effective Warm-up Exercises and Icebreakers that she has used during her most fruitful innovation sessions. Following is an exercise Eva has used with much success. We will provide more as we meet in the months to come.

THE CARTOON CHARACTER
Assignment: Create a mask that shows how you would like to look if you were to become a cartoon character.
ALLOTTED TIME: 15 minutes
1. Provide a table with various supplies to build a mask, using a colored paper plate as the base. Supplies can include yarn, pipecleaners (have several varieties), plastic eyeballs, ribbons, fabric remnants, construction paper, colored index cards, wrapping paper, glue sticks, Elmer’s glue, glitter paint tubes, scissors, cotton balls, colored string, candy, staplers, tape, plastic beads, paperclips (regular and colored)felt, pompoms.
2. Have them wrap the masks around the back of their chair using yarn for ties.

This will create a very positive environment and spirits should remain high with the cartoon masks displayed all day. Such a fun way to begin conversations!

Feel free to contact us if you have a specific need. We love to brainstorm ideation ideas. Whew! We are here to support your creative needs. If we don’t have an answer — we’ll find someone who can help!

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The last time we met in the Creatives’ Space we mentioned brainstorm. Those fun, dynamic, energetic sessions that are used to produce a new product, provide a solution to a problem or create a new business venture. These sessions tend to have the best outcomes when individuals are gathered and given the opportunity to expand their thinking in a creative, fostering environment. Ideally, while chewing bubblegum, playing with a slinky and pounding a piece of silly putty.

As creatives we have all been involved in a few brainstorms. Just where did the term brainstorm originate? We sought immediate feedback at www.answers.com and here is what they wrote:
In the 1920s the term brainstorm was used as a way to describe a “sudden surge of ingenuity.” Around 1950, Alex Osborn of the noted advertising agency Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn had a brainstorm of his own. He expanded the concept to create a monsoon of ideas when he began hosting brainstorming sessions. An article in Business Week, explains that it involved “free-wheeling sessions that encouraged ideas by prohibiting any evaluation or discussion until the session was over.” Osborn would absolutely explode if he could see the ideas that have evolved from his then revolutionary brainstorm group.

Recently brainstorming sessions have also been referred to as ideation sessions. Our creative space at Catalyst Ranch was even founded on the tenet that great ideas are inspired by groups of people in a creative, supportive environment. And, don’t forget to play baby, ideate, brainstorm. Just have fun with it!
We would love to hear your thoughts on great brainstorming ideas or even fun brainstorm sessions you have participated in.

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