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The Imagination Emporium: Creative Recipes for Innovation
This is not your typical business book! We are all born creative and curious, but that sense of play and imagination gets squeezed out of us by the time most of us enter adulthood. Think of The Imagination Emporium as a cherished recipe book, a well-worn companion that busy people, like you, can dip in and out of, filled with useful ingredients to empower you with innovative solutions for your business, be it big or small. Why? Because Duncan Wardle believes that the skills we’re born with—Creativity, Empathy, Curiosity, and Imagination—will be some of the most sought-after skill sets of the next decade, as they will be the hardest to program into AI. In a world where we learn a vast variety of subjects, one thing often goes untaught: "HOW to actually Innovate". This book is here to change that by showing you the way to innovate, generate creative ideas, and bring them to life.
224 pages
Published December 10, 2024
2 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 2, 2025
The Imagination Emporium: Creative Recipes for Innovation by Duncan Wardle is an energizing and refreshing guide that reawakens the creativity we’re all born with but often lose along the way. Wardle, drawing on his deep experience in innovation and creative strategy, presents a playful yet powerful “recipe book” designed to help individuals and businesses unlock fresh ideas, think differently, and approach challenges with renewed imagination.
Across its 224 pages, the book blends storytelling, practical exercises, and conceptual frameworks to illustrate how Creativity, Empathy, Curiosity, and Imagination are not just nice to have traits but essential skill sets for the future. In a world increasingly shaped by AI and automation, Wardle argues convincingly that these human strengths will be the hardest to replace and the most valuable to cultivate.
What makes this book stand out is its accessibility. Rather than presenting innovation as a complex process reserved for experts, Wardle breaks it down into actionable, enjoyable “recipes” that anyone can use. Whether you’re a business owner, a team leader, or an individual looking to reignite your creative spark, The Imagination Emporium provides a toolkit for generating ideas, solving problems, and building a culture of innovation.
This is an inspiring and practical resource that encourages readers to embrace their innate creativity, challenge conventional thinking, and innovate with confidence.
Across its 224 pages, the book blends storytelling, practical exercises, and conceptual frameworks to illustrate how Creativity, Empathy, Curiosity, and Imagination are not just nice to have traits but essential skill sets for the future. In a world increasingly shaped by AI and automation, Wardle argues convincingly that these human strengths will be the hardest to replace and the most valuable to cultivate.
What makes this book stand out is its accessibility. Rather than presenting innovation as a complex process reserved for experts, Wardle breaks it down into actionable, enjoyable “recipes” that anyone can use. Whether you’re a business owner, a team leader, or an individual looking to reignite your creative spark, The Imagination Emporium provides a toolkit for generating ideas, solving problems, and building a culture of innovation.
This is an inspiring and practical resource that encourages readers to embrace their innate creativity, challenge conventional thinking, and innovate with confidence.
January 4, 2025
A Playful, Practical Toolkit for Sparking Creativity
Duncan Wardle’s The Imagination Emporium is a treasure trove of creative strategies that can inspire anyone to think differently. As a teacher, I found this book packed with ideas to bring more creativity and innovation into the classroom—both for my students and myself.
Wardle’s "creative recipes" are simple, practical, and fun. Exercises like "What If?" brainstorming and reframing problems are easy to adapt for classroom use and can help students approach challenges with fresh perspectives. His emphasis on curiosity, collaboration, and breaking free from fear of failure aligns perfectly with what we try to foster in education.
The book is engaging, thanks to Wardle’s storytelling and his experience at Disney, but it’s definitely written more with business professionals in mind. Some examples and exercises need tweaking to fit a school setting, especially for younger students.
That said, The Imagination Emporium is a fantastic resource for any teacher looking to shake up their lessons or rethink how they approach problem-solving in the classroom. It’s not just about "being creative" but about building a mindset that celebrates curiosity and innovation. A great read for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to inject a little more imagination into their world!
Duncan Wardle’s The Imagination Emporium is a treasure trove of creative strategies that can inspire anyone to think differently. As a teacher, I found this book packed with ideas to bring more creativity and innovation into the classroom—both for my students and myself.
Wardle’s "creative recipes" are simple, practical, and fun. Exercises like "What If?" brainstorming and reframing problems are easy to adapt for classroom use and can help students approach challenges with fresh perspectives. His emphasis on curiosity, collaboration, and breaking free from fear of failure aligns perfectly with what we try to foster in education.
The book is engaging, thanks to Wardle’s storytelling and his experience at Disney, but it’s definitely written more with business professionals in mind. Some examples and exercises need tweaking to fit a school setting, especially for younger students.
That said, The Imagination Emporium is a fantastic resource for any teacher looking to shake up their lessons or rethink how they approach problem-solving in the classroom. It’s not just about "being creative" but about building a mindset that celebrates curiosity and innovation. A great read for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to inject a little more imagination into their world!
December 12, 2025
The Imagination Emporium: Creative Recipes for Innovation is an inspiring and practical guide that reignites the creative spark in both individuals and organizations. Duncan Wardle combines his deep experience in innovation with a playful, approachable style that makes complex creative processes easy to understand and implement.
Wardle’s book stands out as both a toolkit and a companion, filled with actionable “recipes” to foster curiosity, empathy, and imagination. Each concept is designed to be applied immediately, offering real-world solutions while also encouraging playful experimentation. Readers are reminded that innovation isn’t just for specialists, it’s a mindset everyone can cultivate. This book is a must-read for those looking to unlock creativity, drive impactful ideas, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving business landscape.
Wardle’s book stands out as both a toolkit and a companion, filled with actionable “recipes” to foster curiosity, empathy, and imagination. Each concept is designed to be applied immediately, offering real-world solutions while also encouraging playful experimentation. Readers are reminded that innovation isn’t just for specialists, it’s a mindset everyone can cultivate. This book is a must-read for those looking to unlock creativity, drive impactful ideas, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving business landscape.
January 1, 2025
The Imagination Emporium is a refreshing departure from the typical business book. It’s not just another dry manual packed with jargon and theories; instead, it brings creativity and innovation to life in a truly enjoyable way. Presented in the form of comics, this book transforms complex concepts into something fun and engaging. You don’t have to wade through lengthy chapters—just pick it up, dive into the colorful pages, and start exploring.
What I love most about this book is its accessibility. It feels less like a traditional business guide and more like a friendly companion that you can dip in and out of. Duncan Wardle’s approach emphasizes the creativity, curiosity, and empathy we’re all born with—traits that can be the secret to thriving in today’s ever-changing business world. It offers practical tools for generating innovative ideas and solutions, making it a valuable read for anyone looking to bring fresh thinking to their work.
Whether you're a business owner, manager, or simply someone looking to unlock your creative potential, The Imagination Emporium is a fun, inspiring read that will encourage you to innovate and think outside the box. It’s one of those books you’ll want to keep close by for ongoing inspiration!
What I love most about this book is its accessibility. It feels less like a traditional business guide and more like a friendly companion that you can dip in and out of. Duncan Wardle’s approach emphasizes the creativity, curiosity, and empathy we’re all born with—traits that can be the secret to thriving in today’s ever-changing business world. It offers practical tools for generating innovative ideas and solutions, making it a valuable read for anyone looking to bring fresh thinking to their work.
Whether you're a business owner, manager, or simply someone looking to unlock your creative potential, The Imagination Emporium is a fun, inspiring read that will encourage you to innovate and think outside the box. It’s one of those books you’ll want to keep close by for ongoing inspiration!
August 26, 2025
This book is brilliant. It is a roadmap on how to achieve innovation and foster it as a culture. I will definitely be using it in my professional career.
The writing is very explanatory, the playlists are on point, and illustrations are great! It will get you on your creative side in no time. Even my notations were more creative toward the end of the book. I would highly recommend this as a must read.
The writing is very explanatory, the playlists are on point, and illustrations are great! It will get you on your creative side in no time. Even my notations were more creative toward the end of the book. I would highly recommend this as a must read.
February 23, 2025
Many useful exercises for workshops and design thinking sprints.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews