How do you think creativity can make the world a better place?

My idea of a better world would be one where everyone is committed to making tangible local and global changes. There would be a greater collective awareness and synergy in every community. We would all act responsibly and with integrity, especially when tackling the major world issues of climate change and over-population. I believe there are creative solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises, and that creativity is key to positive change on a global scale.

I would define creativity as a mental process, the use of the imagination or original ideas. I think the use of the imagination creates original ideas leading to advances and improvements in a huge variety of sectors, professions and social groups. Using our imagination allows us to be resourceful, and can help us develop our futures and ourselves. Using our imaginations – being creative is like a 6th sense; we can engage with our intuition and subconscious insights to develop new concepts as well as our feelings.

Most people when they initially hear the world creativity associate it with the arts, producing work that is predominantly appreciated for its beauty or an emotional level. The arts are very important in a variety of communities.

Then there is the association with creative, design-based industries; but creativity is the key to innovation, it’s necessary in engineering, sciences, architecture and business. The use of creativity in these areas can lead to an infinite number of scientific advances, and the development of new or modified products, services and systems.

Creativity can lead to the improvement of farming efficiencies in developing countries, designing places for shelter, health and education. In Central Asia there are projects involving solar thermal collectors for water and space heating, made from basic materials such as wood, horsehair, and black paint rather than high quality manufactured collectors.

Creativity helps inspire and motivate, businesses are increasingly valuing creative skills more and more. In this current economic many believe creativity is what will help differentiate organizations and allow them to regain their market share. Small budgets have always inspired innovation and so the current economic situation opens up options for all creative thinkers, businessmen and marketers. Recession can prompt unusual levels of creativity and I would like to be a part of that.

Feel Better, talk to a stranger...

Why?

I thought it would be a good idea to tell you a bit more about why I have applied for this course:


Please give your reasons for applying to your chosen course

I have been thinking back to times and activities where I felt totally happy and immersed in a moment, they all related to the learning process, creativity, innovation and development of myself, a product or a process. I am a very empathetic person, and I want to use design to push real changes for societies around the world, I feel this course will help me achieve my goals.

Although I have pursued creativity academically and recreationally, the lack of it for the most part in my work life has led to a feeling of constant unrest and dissatisfaction. I know that if I can unblock my imagination, stimulate my mind, I can develop what inspires me and feel empowered.

The journey itself through a course like this – especially considering the mix of students – will help me investigate my own culture further and help me find a sense of self and belonging, that will be essential to developing my design strategies.

The structure and ethos of this course is exactly what I have been looking for, allowing for the growth and development of each individual and the group as a whole. There are a variety of topics/fields that interest me, but the thought of coming to something completely new or different for my final project is very exciting. I want to make changes in myself to give me the skills to allow me to make changes in the world: social change, eco awareness and innovation are what currently drive me.

There are a number of areas currently where I would like to develop my thinking further, and they are as varied as my thoughts on most things!

• I am very interested in cultures and sense of culture, genetics versus surroundings, the sense of belonging people can have in places.
• I have also always had a real interest in racism and equality, how it affects our society and developments and advances we have made as well as the areas where there are still blocks.
• Inspiring and engaging communities and especially young people is also another interest of mine. I especially liked the way Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art involved a local group of young people in helping to publicise their Gerhard Richter, Modern Times exhibition.
• Another area that really interests me are the mental barriers we put in place of our own development and creativity, and the way we amplify negativity in comparison to positive feedback and encouragement.
• I am also very interested in the developments with augmented reality being used in current advertising and the arts, like Chris O’Shea’s Hand from Above. I think there could be some wonderfully exciting uses for it, I thought the Lego Digital Box was amazing, a really creative way to differentiate themselves at the point of sale.
• I have a special curiosity about mental illness, genius, insanity, science and the arts. Last year exhibition at the Wellcome Collection, Madness and Modernity had a profound effect on me. It led me to think about how creativity is used in relation to mental illness, as well as our understanding and reaction to those with mental illness. I am yet to visit the Museum of Everything, which is said to be a public space for creators and artists living outside conventional modern society.
• Another exhibition I found inspiring this year was the Telling Tales, Fantasy and Fear in Contemporary Design at the V&A, it was wonderful to see where really innovative product design could go, after having studied Engineering Product Design as my first degree I had lost touch with what amazing things people in that sector were doing, it allowed me to re-engage with it, and added an extra impetus to continue my design studies.

I have matured and developed, since I first studied Engineering Product Design and with hindsight it’s easy to see opportunities missed and not fully embraced. I now have a real interest humanitarian design, which I hope I can develop in my projects on this course. I would love to work for a humanitarian design firm improving the lives of those in need, creating an awareness in my own society to really ensure people engage with the key issues.

Nick Veasey Exhibition

What a great idea, loved his work... not a traditional photographer. Veasey makes use of medical equipment to produce some unconventional art.

Applied Imagination

Interview for my MA today, I'm in!