One of my team members,
Jenny Pratt, our resident pop culture expert has been telling me about Project Runway - a television show on Bravo for some time. She keeps telling me I need to watch it and why. So I asked her to write it all down, so we could share it with you. Here's Jenny . . .
Among other things, September is called "Cable TV Month" (although in my house every month could be called Cable TV month). To celebrate, I would like to share one of my current favorite cable television shows: Project Runway.
If you haven't seen - or heard of - the show, here's a brief synopsis: 16 unknown fashion designers are brought together to compete for the Project Runway title. Each week the designers are given random inspiration and must dream, design and sew outfits to be seen on the runway. One person is sent home each week with the top three designers ultimately staging runway shows during New York City's fashion week.
Even if you know nothing or care very little (if at all) about the fashion industry, Project Runway is a great lesson - every week - in creativity and innovation.
Challenges this season have ranged from creating fashion only from the supermarket (the winner that week made a cocktail dress from vacuum cleaner bags and coffee filters) to creating a look for U.S. athletes to wear during an Olympics opening ceremony to who knows what next. And they're given very little time to go from concept to completion - usually less than 24 hours.
You may be wondering how any of this relates to your professional and/or personal development…
Making It Work for YouEver had a meeting start with "we need to find an answer to this question before we leave the room this morning" or "we need a new website design - yesterday" or any number of other "what are we going to do now" moments? Project Runway shows that even in the world of high fashion - one of the ultimate creativity hotbeds - it doesn't have to take long to be innovative.
Plus, every time I watch the show I learn something about interacting with people, sticking up for what you believe in and taking critiques from Customers and experts - all good things for leaders in any area.
Yes, Project Runway is a reality show complete with unnecessary show-induced drama, off-beat banter and continual, often redundant, references to the show's theme "in fashion one day you're in, the next day you're out." Even so, it's worth it.
In the U.S., Project Runway airs on the Bravo network - check your local listings. If you don't have cable - the show has an
extensive website and previous seasons are available
on DVD.
Kevin again . . .
This is a perfect example of learning from everyday life - in case especially about creativity. I'll watch it soon and while I'm not a fashionista, I know I'll love the lessons.
Also posted in
Creativity and
Learning.
Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential is Kevin Eikenberry’s guide to helping you have amazing success while developing your professional and personal potential.
To provide you with resources, techniques and ideas (and some other interesting stuff) to help you reach your professional potential.
