Creativity is the act of conceiving something new, whether a variation on a theme or something wholly new. Innovation is the act of putting something into practice. It’s the difference between conceiving an idea of a craft that could fly through space, and actually building a rocket that can fly through space.

​

I included this effort in my portfolio to showcase that innovation and creativity are paramount in creating products.

 

The Ford team contacted me to discuss ways to approach new work and projects. I pitched an idea of a creativity workshop that is a little off the beaten path of product discussion.  

​

I wanted the team to understand that involving creativity throughout their day would enable innovation in their products.  

​

After working with children at my art studio (see more about my public studio, Make Art Studio here) I observed some interesting flows. I set the classroom up with two sides to the studio. On one side was for open space for movement, music, and dancing. On the other half were art tables, loads of doodads on the shelf, and a focused area to make art.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

I noticed when kids are given the ability to ebb and flow between contraction and expansion periods of focus, they are more productive during the focus periods. More so, they are not only more focused, but more inspired with NEW IDEAS.  

​

Research shows that schools with more recess time have happier, smarter, friendlier, and more focused students. It has been proven that recess is critical for a child's social, emotional, and cognitive development. Now, research is coming out showing that schools with more recess have happier, smarter, and more focused students.

​

I also observed this in regards to allowing to let the mind unwind, and just make, to make. I observed this with no serious point to make in mind, but just messing around with art materials. Children are great at this because they don't care as much about the outcome and sheerly enjoy process.  

 

When the parents would sit waiting at the studio while their children made art, I intentionally would leave a bit of clay on the table strategically placed near them.  

​

I noticed that out of 9/9 art sessions parents would pick the clay up mindlessly and within 30 minutes have a sculpture of something- a human face, a bowl, a teacup, an alien etc.  It was so cool to see because when it was time to finish, the parents would look down in amazement at the little skull they created mindlessly for the past couple hours.  

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

I believe that the subconscious mind is free when we take the pressure off to create and just enjoy the sensory experience. I also observed that the adults were very calm, despite a hectic background of music and kids while they made things.  

​

I wanted to ignite some passion for the Ford team and shake them up, to let go, to be creative, and to take time to breathe/move.

​

I started with that same process setting clay on the tables and very casually said they were welcome to play with it.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile I jumped into a great talk referencing multiple studies on productivity, creativity and breaks and innovation.  Showing my research on how children ebb and flow through expansion and contraction.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The discussion then led into explaining the principal that: you have to "disconnect to reconnect".  

​

I asked them to look down at the clay things they made. Most were immediately shy, shocked and praying I wouldn't ask them to share what they made. After gaining some feedback, the team expressed that the feeling of creativity increased as they played with the clay forgetting about what they were making and just enjoying the feeling of the clay.  

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

I then asked them to continue their clay play to continue working to create an entire collection.  Not only did they smile, play and enjoy adding to their pots, flowers, or face sculptures they ADVANCED to more complicated ways of putting them together.  It was all tongue in cheek as these are engineers and product developers.  However it was a spirit lift and much of the feedback was positive and light hearted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I followed up 1 month later and the team had implemented a creativity club to keep the inspiration and ability to include creativity in their breaks throughout the day.  It was an honor to bring out that inner kid and hang with the team.

​

​

​

​