Name: Suzanne Merritt
Age: 39
Title: Senior Creatologist, Polaroid
Has Held Title For: 3 years
With Polaroid For: 13 years
Previous Title: Worldwide Strategic Planner for Entertainment
Imaging Degree: BA in Aesthetic Education
What exactly is a creatologist?
Creatologist — noun; professional dedicated to the art and science of rekindling the creative spirit, imagination, and intrinsic motivation of those individuals engaged in the work of creating the future.
How can people inspire their own creativity?
You must slow down and reflect. When was the last time you slinked a Slinky or molded Play-doh or drank coffee out of a mug that's shaped like a cow while you kicked around new ideas?
How do you run a creativity session?
Right now I'm looking for science fiction writers to participate and act as facilitators. They have incredible imaginations and combine fantasy with true scientific genius.
Are businesspeople less creative than other professionals?
Stifled creativity is particularly evident in the corporate world where executives are terrified of getting off the track to success. They've been trained to follow the rules rather than make them up.
A version of this article appeared in the April/May 1996 issue of Fast Company magazine.
