Tom Cledwyn

It’s difficult not to spend hours on TED’s website. One talk turns into three or four and all of a sudden you’re behind or late for whatever it is you’re really meant to be doing but at least with procrastination of this form you come away more informed. More interesting.

Amongst the thousands of talks available, there are some real gems specifically for designers. Here, we’ve tried to give you 5 talks (in no particular order) that will give you something to think about in preparation for yet another fast approaching working week.

1. Charles Limb: Your brain on improv.

Researcher, musician and surgeon, Charles Limb, pursues how the brain and creativity are related through scientific studies of improvising musicians.

Artistic creativity is a neurologic product that can be examined using rigorous scientific methods

2. Don Norman on 3 ways good design makes you happy

This talk by Don Norman from 2003 looks at design that makes people happy.

3. Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. A really entertaining talk this one.

If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original

4. Rory Sutherland: Life lessons from an ad man

Advertising adds value to a product by changing our perception, rather than the product itself. Rory Sutherland (Executive Creative Director and Vice-Chairman, OgilvyOne London and Vice-Chairman, Ogilvy Group) makes the daring assertion that a change in perceived value can be just as satisfying as what we consider “real” value — and his conclusion has interesting consequences for how we look at life.

Another good talk from Rory called ‘Sweat the small stuff’ can be seen here.

5. Sunni Brown: Doodlers, unite!

Studies show that sketching and doodling improve our comprehension — and our creative thinking. So why do we still feel embarrassed when we’re caught doodling in a meeting? Sunni Brown says: Doodlers, unite! She makes the case for unlocking your brain via pad and pen.

Doodling has a profound impact on the way that we can process information and the way that we can solve problems.

Go on. One more! Hans Rosling shows the best stats you’ve ever seen.

Hans Rosling gave this talk in 2006 and although not strictly relevant to you designers it has become one of TED’s most viewed talks. He debunks some myths of the so called ‘developing world’ as well as how statistics can actually be fun.