What does creativity look like in a park in Korea, a kitchen in Guatemala, or a classroom in Poland?
Every year, Destination Imagination (DI) brings together teams from across the globe to solve challenges with imagination, heart, and innovation. However, what often goes unseen is how each team’s creativity is shaped—not just by their ideas, but by the culture they inhabit, the stories they’ve inherited, and the places they call home.
This year, teams from China, Korea, Australia, Pakistan, Qatar, Ukraine, Poland, Türkiye, Canada, Guatemala, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, and the U.S. offered us 30-second glimpses into their lives. These videos don’t explain everything—they don’t try to. Instead, they offer small, powerful moments: a favorite dish, a meaningful monument, a school day ritual, or a special celebration.
Each one invites us to slow down and wonder: What shapes the way I create? What might creativity look like through someone else’s eyes?
At DI, we believe creativity is a universal skill, but how we express it is beautifully diverse. Culture influences how we collaborate, how we problem-solve, and how we tell our stories. And when we show up—with curiosity instead of assumption—we give ourselves the chance to honor not just a solution, but the journey that led to it.
To explore these stories more deeply, we’ve grouped the videos into five themed “buckets.” These aren’t rigid categories—they’re open-ended pathways for discovery. Pick a theme that calls to you, and click into the videos within. Notice the differences, celebrate the connections, and most of all, stay curious.
What tells the world who we are? From jewelry to dance, hobbies to traditional dress, these videos capture how individuals express identity through creative, visual, and personal forms.
How do we celebrate meaning and mark transitions? Whether it’s a national holiday, a quiet ritual, or a monument that tells a community’s story, these moments show how cultures honor what is important.
What nourishes us—body and soul? Food, cooking, and inherited practices offer comfort and connection. These videos show how flavors, smells, and family traditions shape cultural memory.
How do we understand the world and ourselves? From school days to folk wisdom, these stories reflect how learning looks around the world—and how curiosity and creativity are nurtured in different ways.
How do we relate to one another? Markets, games, shared customs, and everyday interactions reveal the creative ways communities connect, support, and collaborate.
These videos remind us that there’s no one way to be creative, and no single story that defines a team. So take a moment, watch a few clips, and let yourself be surprised.
