Carlos Lastres releases TEDx talk on creativity and problem solving

By AI, Created 3:35 PM UTC, May 23, 2026, /AGP/ – Senior product designer Carlos Lastres has released a new TEDx talk, Innovation Comes From Breaking Things, on how trial and error, limitations, and hands-on learning shaped creative thinking before modern AI and frictionless digital tools. The talk frames experimentation as a lasting advantage for individuals, educators, and organizations navigating more automated workplaces.

Why it matters: - Lastres argues that creativity still depends on experimentation, mistakes, and hands-on learning, even as AI and automated tools become more common. - The talk pushes back on the idea that efficiency alone builds better problem solvers. - The message has relevance for product teams, educators, and organizations adapting to workplace transformation.

What happened: - Carlos Lastres, a senior product designer and TEDx speaker, released a new TEDx talk titled “Innovation Comes From Breaking Things.” - The talk examines how experimentation, limitations, and practical problem solving shaped creative development before modern AI tools. - Lastres is currently based in Tokyo and works across product design, artificial intelligence, UX strategy, and business development.

The details: - The talk draws on Lastres’ upbringing in Costa Rica. - Lastres also references professional experience across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. - The presentation describes how earlier generations often learned technology through trial and error. - Lastres links those experiences to creativity, adaptability, and critical thinking in personal and professional settings. - The talk says many modern systems emphasize efficiency and predictability. - That design approach can reduce opportunities for experimentation and independent problem solving. - The presentation highlights curiosity, persistence, and practical learning as drivers of creative development. - Lastres says growing up with imperfect technology required people to figure things out along the way. - “That process encouraged experimentation, problem solving, and creative thinking in everyday situations,” Lastres said. - Lastres has contributed to projects involving SaaS platforms, accessibility solutions, Web3 initiatives, growth systems, and emerging technologies. - The talk also addresses artificial intelligence, workplace transformation, and the need to preserve human creativity in automated environments. - Lastres says creative thinking remains tied to exploration, mistakes, and hands-on experience. - Lastres has also participated in international discussions on education and AI-powered learning systems, including speaking engagements on gamification and accessible education. - A company announcement was included in the source material.

Between the lines: - The talk uses nostalgia about earlier technology experiences to make a current argument about design and learning. - The core point is not anti-technology. It is that tools can make life easier while also narrowing the chances to build resilience through trial and error. - For teams building products or curricula, the message suggests that some friction may still have educational value.

What’s next: - Lastres is encouraging individuals, educators, and organizations to treat curiosity and experimentation as part of long-term innovation. - The talk may also extend Lastres’ visibility in conversations about AI, education, and human-centered design. - As automated systems expand, the debate over how much friction should remain in learning and work is likely to continue.