Improvisation
can’t be improvised.
but it can be
learned.
Freestyle School is the first program
designed to improvise better ideas for a fast paced world.
WHEN ARE THE NEXT EDITIONS TAKING PLACE?
8 Nov. 2023
🇸🇪 Hyper Island
IN BETWEEN
Online
27-28 Nov. 2023
🇮🇹 NABA
FREESTYLE SCHOOL
Roma
22 February 2024
🇮🇹 Talent Garden
FREESTYLE SCHOOL
Roma
March 2024
🇪🇸 Barcelona Beyond
PRODUCT DESIGN
Barcelona
March 2024
🇮🇹 The NET Value
FREESTYLE SCHOOL
Cagliari
WHY IMPROVISATION IS A CRUCIAL SKILL?
To improvise means, essentially, to live: it is a daily, incessant activity, which belongs to all living species from the dawn of time. And yet, there is no doubt that in our times knowing how to improvise is becoming increasingly complex and, for that very reason, increasingly necessary: the large number of global crisis piled up during the latest years is entwisted together with unpredictable hi-tech accelerations, in a tangle of threats and opportunities extremely hard to decode.
Of course, there is no chance to design a universal improvisation method, suitable for any kind of scenario; but at least it is possible to acknowledge a series of general principles that belong to all the forms of successful improvisation. It is a collection of insights spread across the most diverse fields of human activity (from art to business, from sport to music, from theater to advertising), which we actually use very often without fully realizing it: becoming aware of these resources and arranging them for the best outcome is the main focus of this workshop.
WHAT IS THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED TO?
Improve creative
and strategic thinking
across your team.
Explore and expand
the comfort zone through
an enjoyable workflow.
Envisage future scenarios
and identify conceivable
creative solutions.
Acquire the mindset
to design a personalized
improvisation method.
WHERE IS THE PROGRAM AVAILABLE?
Freestyle School has been designed to seamlessly adapt to any organization, culture and timezone.
Depending on your needs you can book an onsite workshop, arrange a series of online sessions, or request a tailor-made format.
ONSITE WORKSHOP
1 or 2 days at your venue (or another comfortable location):
unlock the full package and apply it immediately on your current projects. Recommended if you are in Europe and/or looking for a deep dive on the topic.
WEBINAR SERIES
4 to 6 sessions on Zoom: grab the essentials of improvisation and gradually integrate it in your workflow. Recommended if you are outside Europe and/or looking to learn at your own pace.
TAILOR-MADE FORMAT
Improvisation calls for flexibility. Feel welcome to contact us: we’ll design a tailor-made format to fulfill all your organization’s needs.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR?
CREATIVE LEADERS,
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES,
MARKETING MANAGERS.
ENTREPRENEURS
AND STARTUPPERS.
ARTISTS
AND WRITERS.
WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE
IN SEPARATING SCIENTIFIC
AND HUMANISTIC KNOWLEDGE.
THE PROGRAM IS MADE OF FOUR MODULES.
MODULE #1
IMPROVISATION CAN’T BE IMPROVISED.
An overview about the key concepts, with a special focus about our relationship with time as a tool to deal with the daily unexpected. We will explore the topic from several perspectives and leave for a time travel from the most unusual departure station: our brain.
✔ What improvisation means: definitions and prejudices.
✔ Aesthetics of imperfection: the importance of setting a limit.
✔ A brief history of time: mythology, physics, psychology, sociology.
✔ Brand new memories: how and why our brain improvise.
✔ Acting unbeknownst of ourselves: introducing the flow.
MODULE #2
IMPROVISATION AS REACTION.
The most common use we make of improvisation is when we have to respond to a urgent, sudden issue.
We will explore a few techniques we spontaneously apply to turn pressure into inspiration.
✔ The art of timing: understanding the anatomy of fear.
Our instinct is a precious ally, but trusting the very first idea is not always the best strategy: before reacting, first estimate how much time we have to design our reaction.
✔ The art of breaking the rules: real time cost/benefit analysis
Acting against the rules might be risky, but sometimes it might be surprisingly rewarding: a brave football player from Uruguay will show us exactly how much.
✔ The art of hiding the effort: mastering your very own style
Being under pressure doesn’t mean we have to compromise on our identity: a movie actor and a jazz trumpeter will teach us how to keep authentic to our truest selves.
MODULE #3
IMPROVISATION AS CREATION.
Do we really need external pressure to use improvisation? We will explore a set of scenarios where we can deliberately leave room for the unexpected, freeing ourselves from the fear of making mistakes.
✔ The art of disciplining indiscipline: theory of organized chaos.
Far from being a paradox, planned randomness looks like a very effective creative method: from Sweden to Mexico, a journey through conterintuitive outcomes.
✔ The art of exploring the comfort zone: a sustainable procrastination.
It’s not bad to take journeys outside our favorite space, but don’t forget to visit it toroughly: we might discover outstanding talents we didn’t know we have.
✔ The art of challenging the future: accelerationist temptations.
Time loves to flow faster than we expect, so many times the future arrives way before we can predict: conscious foreseeing is essential to become even faster than time itself.
MODULE #4
IMPROVISING YOUR OWN WAY.
Time has come to design a tailor-made improvisation method and run your first freestyle creative session. We will use the original, design thinking inspired, IMPRO framework.
Identify the frame.
Mark the limits.
Play the ideas.
Record the outcome.
Organize the progress.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS THE PROGRAM ONSITE, ONLINE, OR HYBRID?
If you’re looking to unlock the full package and apply it immediately on your current projects, we recommend the live workshop: it’s perfect to maximize interaction and immediately get hands-on.
If you’re looking to grab the essentials of improvisation and gradually integrate it in your workflow, we recommend the webinar series: it’s perfect to learn at your own pace and apply the method in between the sessions.
If you’re not sure, feel welcome to contact us:
we’ll be happy to design a tailor made format to fulfill all your organization’s needs.
DO YOU OFFER TAILOR-MADE PROGRAMS?
Actually, every program is tailor-made! Feel welcome to contact us and explain your needs: we’ll figure out whether a onsite workshop, a webinar series or a hybrid format is the best solution for you.
WHICH IS THE DURATION OF THE ONSITE WORKSHOP?
We recommend a 2 day/16 hour format, as it’s the best way to set the right mood, unlock interaction at the right pace and have time to start applying the method on your current projects. However, we can offer a 1 day/8 hour format covering all the essentials.
WHICH IS THE DURATION OF THE WEBINAR SERIES?
We recommend a 6 session/12 hour format, as it’s the best way to cover all the modules, boost interaction through live exercises and start applying the method on your current projects. However, we can offer a 4 session/8 hour format covering all the essentials.
WHICH IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE HYBRID FORMAT?
There’s no fixed structure: we’ll design a tailor-made one to fulfill all your organization’s needs.
However a good example might be: 2 hour introductory webinar, 8 hour onsite workshop, 2 hour follow up webinar.
WHICH IS THE PROGRAM FEE?
Since each program is tailor-made, fees are not predefined: once you’ll request for a personalized format, you’ll receive the program outline and the quotation.
WHO IS LEADING THE PROGRAM?
Roberto Ottolino lives in Rome, Italy.
He is a creative director, book writer, communication consultant and funk music collector.
His campaigns have been shortlisted in several international creativity acts, including Cannes Lions, New York Festival, Eurobest, ADC*E Awards, Golden Drum, ADCI Awards.
He lectures advertising in IED Rome and NABA Milan,
and is a board member of the Italian Copywriters Association,
He is the author of
#Freestyle. The art of improvisation from oracles to streaming
(Hoepli, Milan 2022).
READY TO FREE YOUR STYLE?
For additional information and enquiries feel welcome to contact us and explain your needs: we’ll be happy to figure out the best solution for you and your organization.