Creativity Vs Innovation: Similar Roots, Different Outcomes

I came across two words recently that made me pause: creativity and innovation.

They sound similar. I have used them millions of times. People often use them interchangeably. But this time around, the more I thought about them, the more I saw the differences and similarities.

We call someone creative, but not innovative.

We praise a product as innovative, but not creative.

So what do these mean?

Here are a few thoughts that emerged.

💡 Creativity is the spark

It’s the act of imagining possibilities — like seeing a new approach, drawing parallels, or reframing the problem.

🔧 Innovation is the follow-through

It’s taking that spark and building something useful from it — a new system, a process, or a product that creates value.

Innovation improves what already exists. Creativity imagines what doesn’t.

Innovation is about refining, scaling, or simplifying. It often happens in business, science, or process design.

Creativity is about original ideas. It may never be implemented or measured. It often lives in art, expression, or raw ideation.

Examples:

• Uber didn’t invent taxis. It changed the way we access them.
• Dyson didn’t invent the vacuum. It redesigned it.
• A surrealist painting doesn’t solve a problem. It creates a new perspective.

Innovation is about execution. Creativity is about expression.

Creativity is often individual. Innovation is often collaborative. Creativity asks, "what if?" Innovation asks, "how do we build it?"

Both solve problems, but in different ways.

Creativity reframes the problem. Innovation delivers the solution.

Is one more valuable than the other?

Sometimes, innovation is seen as a higher order. It has market value. It creates impact. But creativity often comes first. No innovation without ideas. No execution without imagination.

Maybe they are not a ladder. Maybe they are a loop.

Where creativity and innovation come together:

• Apple iPhone: Creativity imagined a touch-driven smart device. Innovation delivered the "integrated" hardware, software, and ecosystem.
• LEGO Ideas: Creativity came from fans. Innovation turned ideas into real products.
• Nike Flyknit: Creativity redesigned the shoe upper. Innovation solved for mass production and waste.
• Pixar Films: Creativity created stories like Up. Innovation built the animation tech to tell them.
• Spotify Discovery Weekly: Creativity rethought music discovery. Innovation built the recommendation engine.

How we can apply to our business?

Every team has room for both creative thinking and innovative execution.Don’t wait for a big idea — start with small experiments that combine imagination with action.

Use Creativity to:

• Challenge assumptions
• Reframe customer problems.

Use Innovation to:

• Build better systems, products, or processes.

Encourage cross-functional collaboration.

Innovation needs diverse perspectives, and creativity thrives with open space.

In our business, we should reward both: the person who dreams it, and the team that delivers it.

Some questions for you:

• Can you innovate without being creative?
• Can you be creative without leading to innovation?
• Which one do you value more in your own work?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.