The Imagination Emporium: Creative Recipes for Innovation
From the former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney comes a practical, joyful toolkit for thinking differently — essential reading for charity leaders and fundraisers who want to unlock fresh ideas and build a culture of innovation in their organisations.
We are all born creative and curious, but that sense of play and imagination gets squeezed out of us long before we reach the workplace. The Imagination Emporium sets out to change that.
Think of it as a cherished recipe book — a well-worn companion that busy people can dip in and out of, filled with useful ingredients to generate innovative solutions for organisations of any size. Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, believes that the skills we are born with — Creativity, Empathy, Curiosity and Imagination — will be among the most sought-after of the next decade, precisely because they are the hardest to programme into AI.
Drawing on his experience fostering innovation across Disney’s Imagineering, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and Disney Parks — and helping organisations including Apple, Coca-Cola and Spotify to think differently — Wardle has developed a toolkit of easy-to-use recipes designed to make innovation accessible, creativity tangible, and the whole process genuinely enjoyable.
In a world where we are taught a vast variety of subjects, one thing often goes untaught: how to actually innovate. This book is here to change that.
About Duncan Wardle
Duncan Wardle served as Vice President of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, where he played a pivotal role across Imagineering, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and Disney Parks. He has worked with NASA, the NBA and some of the world’s most iconic brands.
He now works with organisations globally to make innovation more accessible and creativity more practical. Find out more about his keynotes and workshops at duncanwardle.com.
Reviews
Winner of the 2025 Goody Business Book Award in Business Innovation. Winner of the 2025 Nautilus Book Award in Business & Leadership (Gold). Winner of the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Award in Business (Gold).
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