A screenshot with the phrase "Live Creatively" in white cursive font over a red-orange background with faint, abstract sketches and drawings.

Creativity is more
than art—it is a powerful, problem-solving tool.

Creativity2 (squared) thesis exhibition close-up of modular interactive rotating displays.

Creativity is a term that extends beyond the realm of art and design. Creativity2, or creativity squared, is a merging of two worlds—art and aesthetics with logic and purpose. When these ideas are combined, it is possible to achieve the kind of innovative, out-of-the-box thinking the world needs to produce exceptional change. 

Audience

  • People outside of the design industry who think of creativity as being only an artistic pursuit.

  • Those who don’t consider themselves to be creatively minded and tend to be more analytical thinkers.

Goals

  • Educate about the benefits of creative thinking.

  • Demonstrate that outrageous ideas can lead to innovations that have the power to solve complex problems.

  • Invite participants to become citizen designers where they can identify causes that they are passionate about.

Deliverables/Components

  • Free-standing interactive installation, brainstorming worksheet, citizen designer cause cards, photo backdrop opportunity, documentation and social media sharing.

inspiration

Museum exhibit about social design and its impact, featuring bicycles, informational panels, a globe, and a large yellow sign reading 'Design with the 90%'.

This project was partially inspired by an installation seen at the Bill and Melinda Gates Discovery Center in Seattle, WA.

The exhibit Design With the 90%, explored the efforts of designers around the world who are committed to developing solutions for complex problems such as clear drinking water and health. It also encouraged the idea of people becoming citizen designers to use creativity as a tool to lead to innovative ideas.

A bulletin board with a section labeled '#DesignForAll' in yellow text, featuring a clip holding a sign that says 'YOUR DESIGN HERE'. To the right, there are instructions for submitting a design, and a display of various clipboards with papers attached, along with other design materials.

How might design transform lives around the world? Act as a catalyst for change? Expand access? Include those who have been excluded?

– Design With the 90%

installation

Table displaying art supplies, including cups filled with colorful pens and markers, a worksheet titled 'Creativity' with a worksheet outline and fill-in sections, an orange card with the motivational phrase 'Live Fully, Creatively,' and a small black wire stand.
A worksheet with various hand-drawn sketches of animals and plants, including a snake, a bird, a crab, a butterfly, trees, and a dog. The worksheet is titled 'creativity' and has a handwritten note at the bottom.
An exhibit booth titled 'creativity2' featuring colorful books and educational materials, with a backdrop decorated with a blue and beige banner, set in a modern indoor space with concrete walls and metal lighting fixtures.
Colorful infographics and educational posters displayed on a white shelf, focusing on creativity, learning, and creating, with various diagrams and icons.
A person with glasses and a teal sweatshirt is reading a sheet of paper in front of a white bookshelf filled with colorful books and pamphlets about creativity and education.
Close-up of a bright orange card with white cursive text that says "Live Creatively." The card is clipped onto a black twisted string holder, and there are other papers partially visible underneath it, with text that includes phrases like "We hope you left inspired and connected with your creative side" and "serve as a reminder that creative thinking leads to innovation."
A young girl with long dark hair, wearing glasses and black headphones, is writing on a large colorful display board filled with notes, drawings, and messages. The girl is wearing a teal hoodie and appears to be in a school or community space with a wooden door and informational display in the background.

interaction

Phase I — Learn

An animated graphic with a large blue play button shape containing the word 'Learn' and a yellow banner with the words 'Start Here' on an orange gradient background.
Blue gradient background with white text in a rectangular frame that says "HOW TO USE THIS EXHIBIT".
A blue poster explaining design thinking as a process for generating new ideas and solutions, featuring overlapping circles labeled desirability, feasibility, and viability, with text about its application in various industries.
A bright yellow background with the text 'CREATIVITY DEFINED' vertically along the left side in red outlined letters. In the center, the word 'creativity' is defined with phonetic spelling, noun classification, and two definitions. At the bottom, the synonyms are listed in orange, including 'inventiveness,' 'Imagination,' and 'innovation.'

Phase II — Try

A graphic with a teal gradient background, featuring a stylized orange and cream label with the word 'Create' in white script font, and an orange arrow pointing to the right with the text 'Get Creative' in white.
Colorful text displaying different styles of the words "Colored Pencil" in various colors and fonts on a light pink background.
A purple and lavender graphic with the words 'Idea Generation' and a lightbulb icon, and instructions to brainstorm three other ideas.
Green activity sheet for creating scribbles, with a circular sketch of scribble marks in the center and instructions to turn the wheel and copy the scribbles.

Phase III — Apply

Pink cover page of a book or presentation titled 'Case Studies and Examples' with the subtitle 'Crazy ideas turned innovative solution'
A yellow background with a large black word 'WHY?' in bold, followed by a paragraph about the importance of creativity in solving problems and making a positive impact.
An infographic with an orange gradient background and yellow text boxes, titled 'Quantity, Quality'. It explains exploring multiple ideas initially, revising ideas later, and valuing even poor ideas for solving problems.
Digital illustration with a red rectangular sign that says "Apply" in white script font, and a yellow arrow banner below that reads "Take Action" pointing to the right, set against a blue background.