Creativity is necessary across every industry and most job functions to innovate, grow, learn and find success. In the gaming industry, creativity is simply the lifeblood of what we do every day. It’s vital for creating engaging content that keeps users coming back.
As entertainment options expand for users everywhere, creating new, innovative content and technology is essential in the rapidly evolving gaming world. I also don’t believe merely encouraging creativity in your team is enough — it must be a way of life ingrained in everything you do. Here are five key ways to unlock the creative potential of any team, be it in gaming or another industry.
5 Tips for Fostering Workplace Creativity
- Stay in constant communication.
- Host informal brainstorms.
- Chase the impossible.
- Find inspiration outside of work.
- Embrace AI as a creative partner.
1. Stay in Constant Communication
At our studio, we foster creativity through continued cross-team collaboration and communication. This means collaboration is not limited to formal meetings. It’s continuous and part of the process. For instance, we keep all voice memos on our Discord open throughout the workday. Although game development and coding require independent focus time, we encourage team members to keep their voice-chat feature on to discuss experiences in real-time openly. We ask each other for gut checks, feedback and quick ideas in these chats to let diverse perspectives collide.
These conversations often develop into playtesting, where we screen share, play through and showcase our creations. Multiple coworkers in the voice-chat get to watch and pitch their ideas or suggestions for improvement. This practice can help push the limits of the game’s creativity and also its optimization. Most importantly, it’s fun!
Breaking down silos and encouraging team members from different departments to share their insights has helped boost our creativity and innovation. We’re strengthening team bonds, inspiring each other and building trust.
2. Host Informal Brainstorms
Another unique feature of our creative culture at Twin Atlas are informal gatherings called “Community Campfires.” These bi-weekly brainstorms are designed to allow any team member to share rough, unpolished ideas without any judgment. A big part of developing video games is storytelling — especially fantasy-themed stories — so our Community Campfires inspire our never-ending collective imagination.
The Campfires aren’t just about generating new ideas. They’re also about building trust and creating an environment where everyone feels safe expressing themselves because that’s where creativity truly flourishes. Creativity can spark from even the most casual conversations when we create this atmosphere of trust and openness.
3. Chase the Impossible
As a leader, it’s my responsibility to give my team members the freedom they need to explore their creativity. Twin Atlas is known for creating fantasy worlds filled with mythical creatures, epic battles and immersive quests and adventures, so it’s essential to our work that we challenge reality. I encourage ambitious and innovative ideas, and especially the ones that sound impossible, to ensure our imagination is limitless.
My job isn’t just to guide. I also need to hype up my team about the potential of their ideas. I am available throughout the day, offering feedback and guidance whenever needed. This level of accessibility and support is crucial in maintaining our creative momentum. By deeply listening to my team and our player base, I ensure that the games we create resonate with our community and fulfill players’ dreams.
4. Find Inspiration Outside of Work
When I first joined Roblox as a player, I loved exploring all of the amazing, immersive experiences that the community created. I started seeing how communities and developers were thriving on Roblox, and it inspired me to start creating and developing on the platform too. Now, when experiencing a creative block or needing inspiration, I go back to Roblox to play and explore.
The best way to stay inspired is to take a break from the project and focus on finding inspiration in different places. Whether playing games, attending conventions or participating in online forums, these activities help us stay in touch with our audience and gain valuable insights that inform our creative process. Being a gamer, in particular, allows me to listen deeply to our player base and connect with the community. I also draw inspiration from hobbies such as watercolor painting and plushy collecting. These activities keep my creative juices flowing and remind me to take breaks and recharge.
5. Embrace AI As a Creative Partner
The advancements in generative AI empower creators. More than a technical tool, it can also be a creative partner that helps us generate ideas and hone our skills. For example, Roblox’s 3D Foundational Assistant lets us generate new assets through text or image prompts, opening endless possibilities during development. We can rapidly prototype our ideas for environments and assets and visualize rough concepts, leading to unexpected ideas and fresh perspectives.
Using AI doesn’t mean less creativity, but rather more room for experimentation. Especially when we hit roadblocks, AI is an ideal self-learning tool that opens our minds to new possibilities we may not have initially thought of before. As AI can generate multiple variations of a project at a speed that would be impossible by hand, we focus on refining the best ideas and making them truly shine with the time it frees up.
For me, the journey of creativity is never-ending. Whether making games on vacation, inspired by family gatherings, or leading my team through new challenges, my commitment to creativity remains at the core of everything I do.
