Friday, February 11, 2011

Creativity@Work: Idea Master Buckminster Fuller

I just invent, then wait until man comes around to needing what I've invented.
--R. Buckminster Fuller

Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller (1895 –1983) was an American philosopher, thinker, visionary, inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician, poet, cosmologist, and is credited with being one of the first futurists and global thinkers.

Fuller is best known for his lattice shell structures or geodesic domes, which have been used as parts of military radar stations, civic buildings, environmental protest camps and exhibition attractions. Although Fuller popularized use of the dome, the original design came from Dr. Walther Bauersfeld. For the next half-century, he developed many ideas, designs and inventions, particularly regarding practical, inexpensive shelter and transportation because of his overriding concern for sustainability and human survival under the existing socio-economic system. Fuller, however, remained optimistic about humanity's future. He documented his life, philosophy and ideas scrupulously by a diary called the Dymaxion Chronofile.

Fuller also developed the Dymaxion Map of the world as the first world projection to show the continents on a flat surface without visible distortion. This view shows the earth as being essentially one island in one ocean.

His ideals are still carried on through the work of the Buckminster Fuller Institute. Visit the website for more information.

Need more ideas to unleash Creativity@Work? Download a free, 25 page preview of THE training guide to Creativity@Work, Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing More Creativity@Work, at the E-book website.

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