I found this in the book while I was reading for homework for class. I really like this. If you want to get more context you can read this random blog I found the quote on as well: http://eevania.tumblr.com/page/3
But I also like it as a standalone, no context quote. It is pretty universally true and can be applied to so many different factions of life - not just design or creativity. More broadly it could be conversation -> ideas ->action -> change.
Sort of ties back to Hubski. We are conversations. And it remindes me of what the answers hubskiers gave in the Has Hubski Made You More Creative thread. Conversations. Ideas. Change.
Cities, according to Edward Glaeser, have a similar effect: access to more people makes people more creative. Sounds like you might like the book. One could argue, as I would, that 'conversation' is a term that is best loosely applied. When you enter, for example, the Sydney Opera House, to what extent are you having a conversation with its architect? Perhaps some impression or semblance of meaning really gives you an idea about acoustics, geometry or patters in general. I don't think that all projects lead to positive change; there are definitely some mad scientists out there.
You make an excellent point. Indeed, let's remember that we can potentially be in many human & non-human-stimulus "conversations"...and we probably are, in our minds, as we move in various ways through digital and non-digital environments. We can bring these thoughts from the recesses of our minds up into the light of conversation -- and perhaps get a response from a human at hand (real world or digitally) (and sometimes action, and sometimes change).
That's an important distinction to make. Positive change is not guaranteed, even with the best of intentions.
Thanks for bringing that creative thread back to light. I agree with the quotation. The "positive change" can be invisible to the eye; the positive change can lead to other projects/attitudes and changes only years later. So many change-generating projects that I've been involved in have emerged from spontaneous conversations. These include a Women's Studies program at a community college, several literary festivals, and book publications - which began with conversation. "Positive" change is a subjective concept. I'd like to see it defined. Anyone?