Creativity, Inc.

Shanken's reference of Toy Story on page 42 reminded me of a book I greatly enjoyed and would like to recommend.  Creativity, Inc. is by Ed Catmull, president of Pixar, who discusses the evolution of the company and its goals over the past 30+ years.

The book not only goes into detail on behind-the-scenes meetings and ideas regarding the 15 Pixar movies, but also has sections describing computer science, the development of 3D animation programs, and the company's relationship with co-founder Steve Jobs.  There is also a lot of time spent on how to create effective work environments for creative companies - how to lead, how to share ideas and critique, and how to best work with one another through all steps of the creative process.

I think the book might be useful for those of you interested in working in some creative capacity as a career, though the book's ideas can be applied to non-creative companies, too.  It was published last year and includes passages about the newest movie, Inside Out, before it was even released, as well as info about an upcoming movie about Día de los Muertos.  The sections about 3D rendering software were interesting, as were the anecdotes shared about people, experiences, and events that have impacted how Mr. Catmull thinks about creativity and leadership.

The book taught me a lot about how to be a better creative thinker, as well!

Shanken, Edward.  Art and Electronic Media.  New York: Phaidon Press, 2014.  Print.