Navigating Ambiguity and Creativity in Today’s World: A Conversation with Jason Blair

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Blair, a seasoned educator passionate about redefining creativity in education. Jason brings a refreshing perspective to the conversation—highlighting not only the role creativity plays in schools but also how crucial it is for the future of the workforce. His insights were both eye-opening and practical, especially for those striving to advocate for creativity in an increasingly divided and complex world.

Creativity Needs Constraints

One of Jason's most compelling points was that creativity is often misunderstood. Schools and organizations use the phrase "be creative," but what does that even mean in practice? Jason explains that creativity isn't just some free-flowing, unstructured activity. It thrives under constraints—in fact, it needs them.

“Creativity needs constraints,” Jason said, highlighting the importance of structure and limitations in fostering true innovation. This is especially relevant in education, where the push for creativity often feels like a vague, unattainable goal. However, as Jason points out, creativity is born when we work within certain parameters and face challenges that push us to think beyond the obvious.

The Importance of Thinking Like an Artist

Jason further emphasized that thinking like an artist is one of the most essential ways we can approach today's problems. "Artists slow down to notice the nuance of the world,” he said, which allows them to navigate the gray areas where many of today's pressing challenges lie. In a world polarized by binary thinking, where everything is either black or white, artists live in the "mess” middle," embracing ambiguity and using it as a source of strength.

This idea resonated deeply with me—and I imagine it will resonate with many of you, too. As leaders and advocates, we often balance conflicting demands and expectations, trying to navigate ambiguity without losing our sense of direction. Jason’s perspective on embracing the "messy middle" directly relates to this challenge and offers a new approach.

Why Schools Aren’t Turning Out Creativity—Yet

Perhaps one of the more frustrating aspects of this conversation was Jason's observation that despite industry leaders consistently asking for more creativity, schools still aren’t turning it out. “It’s like creativity is still an enigma,” Jas explained. Even though creativity is increasingly valued, there is a disconnect between what’s taught and what’s done.

So, where does creativity come from? And how can we better integrate it into education? For Jason, the answer lies in thinking like an artist—fostering empathy, curiosity, and openness to experience. These qualities make someone not only a better thinker but also a better problem solver. And as we all know, the world could use more of those right now.

Living in the Messy Middle

In a world that increasingly tries to simplify and divide, we must advocate for creativity in all its messy, nuanced glory. We must continue pushing for creative thinking—not just in schools but in all aspects of life, from business to politics to personal growth.

So, where do we go from here? We continue to fight for creativity, the arts, and the idea that the messy middle is where the magic happens.

You can listen to the entire conversation with Jason Blair on ARTS Redefined wherever you enjoy podcasts, or check it out on YouTube! [Spotify][Apple Podcast]

You can find more about Jason’s work here- https://www.growcreativethinkers.com/