Today, 21 April, is World Creativity and Innovation Day!

Author: Stefan Esser

Two years ago, while defining the name and identity of what would become Create361, I spent a long time turning over the wording, the name of the project. That’s how I stumbled across something I hadn’t expected: 21 April is World Creativity and Innovation Day!

An official United Nations day of observance, established in 2017.

A date as strategic reflection… and seed.

In the world we live in, saturated with commemorative days, skepticism about these celebrations is understandable. The United Nations holds that these days exist to educate the general public on issues that matter, to mobilize political will and resources towards global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce humanity’s achievements.

That’s the institutional definition. To this, I add my personal one: they’re a perfect excuse to pause for a moment, focus, and ask yourself whether this theme touches your work in any way, and whether what you’re doing genuinely incorporates it. Not as decoration, but as practice.

One day a year can be the moment something clicks… or when a seed gets planted. They’re also useful for finding new resources on a topic, and they might open doors to new alliances!

One Canadian, one headline, sixteen years.

Behind this day is a Canadian woman named Marci Segal. In 2001, she read a headline declaring that Canada was in a creativity crisis. She decided she wanted to do something about it. Not an article, not a post. The start moving an entire day dedicated to reminding the world that creativity is a natural capacity in every person, and that it can be used to build something better.

For years, Marci kept gaining momentum for the day, initially without institutional funding. The initiative spread to dozens of countries through workshops, educational programs and business events, until in 2017 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/71/284, formally designating it as an international day of observance.

One idea. One person. Sixteen years. Sometimes that’s how it works.

Why my articles of incorporation cite the United Nations.

When I drafted the articles of incorporation of 361 Creativity and Innovation S.L.U., I included an explicit reference to Resolution 71/284. The reason is simple: the United Nations has been saying for years that human creativity is the true wealth of nations in the 21st century, and that sustainable development requires connecting disciplines that don’t usually talk to each other. I couldn’t found a project on that conviction and not put it in writing.

With all of this in mind, and never one to do things by halves, I decided to name my new project after an international day… but what would a project like this be without a name with at least a touch of originality? So I added 361 in front: one degree beyond 360. Why not?

With all this in mind, the founding intention was enshrined in the notarial deed: to generate a positive impact for the common good and common interest, in harmony with nature, as a node and factory of creativity and innovation, advancing towards a more prosperous and sustainable world. It was also written into the date: I signed on 22 April, Earth Day, the day after 21 April (which fell on a Sunday that wasn’t exactly notary-friendly).

How do you bring creativity into your work, beyond the days marked on the calendar?