Tools and Techniques in Creativity Midterm Assignment
Unit 2
Seen below was the first product, what I have come to call artifacts, connected to my idea for the overall project for CRTV 502. I typically have worked in video collages for the creativity classes, but I decided I wanted to be more hands-on for this project. Because I found it challenging to connect Thinkertoys to my current job, I decided to try connecting the tools to my ongoing health journey. I want to take extra time with this introduction because there are deeper forces at play here. My mother, who was crafty in different ways, left behind boxes of scrapbook material that have been sitting in my apartment for nearly four years since her death. I decided to use some of that material for this project. Most of the applied material comes from that collection.
In terms of the False Faces ideas I applied as reversals to the assumption that I must only go to the gym to maintain progress, I must confess that here in Week 5 of the quarter, I have only tried Tai Chi and did not employ Resistance to Premature Closure because I only tried it once. While I have not engaged in Solo Dance Parties, I do get up and move around periodically when I feel stuck or frustrated with the task before me. 
Below is the work for Slice and Dice. In this tool, I delimited health from not just losing weight but into pursuing an overall healthier existence by subdividing into Nutrition, Movement, Mental Health, and Sleep. In terms of nutrition, this is where I most struggle. Most of my diet does come from Nutrisystem, but I also fall into bad habits of buying chips and other salty snacks as well as my weekly visit to get Chinese buffet. However, for the remainder of this quarter (as a start) I'm beginning to reinforce my parameters. In terms of movement, I did go to the gym 23 times in January and thus far three times this month. I deleted my Facebook and another social app at the end of January and do not miss either. By not bringing my phone into the bedroom, I get better stretches of sleep. While I'm not "succeeding" in each idea, the visual helps me be accountable.
Cherry Split (below) has been helpful for me as visual reminders of habits I sometimes forget because I work and study from home. To help me with hydration, I bring out three 33.8 oz bottles of water to my desk at the start of the day and make it a goal to get through each. I typically far exceed this, but thinking of this in terms of daily goals adds to my pride when the intake is met. While I admit I should eat more vegetables, I do have canned vegetables on full display and try to pair them with meals. Like I said before, I could do better with the Nutrition outline as I sometimes snack after dinner.
Scamper is the tool I have not used to its benefit, and I should be using it. I moved all of the Unit 2 tools posterboard closer to where I do my work as reminders of these thought-changing processes I should be following and hope I do as the quarter continues.
Unit 3
I was excited when a large package arrived from Amazon because I then had a large box for my ideas for Unit 3's Thinkertoys. It's probably best to show the final product first.
Lotus Blossom (below) led me to think in terms of varying my concept of what working out is and can be. Efforts toward flexibility have been some of my favorite elements from this tool as I feel less flexible as I age. I focused on the benefits of these areas in the visual. While I do not engage in strength training as much as I should, the goal reminds me to reflect on the ways I've been mentally strong over my lifetime.
Tug of War definitely needs the visuals first.
If the box is approached from the perspective of a theatrical stage so Lotus Blossom is the upstage wall, the first image for Tug of War is the main floor. My favorite quote from that chapter is written on the floor (A clay pot sitting in the sun will always remain a clay pot. It has to go through the white heat of a furnace to become porcelain.). On the stage right wings is the Worst Case Scenario of what I could become if I continue to live like this; on the stage left wings is the Best Case Scenario of what I could become. This tug-of-war has been quite literal up through yesterday. I guess that's why it's called a journey.
As I shared in a Discussion Board post, I had trouble conceptualizing ideas for The Great Transpacific Airline and Storm Door Company and Future Fruit based on the chapter descriptions. So, I turned to AI to help me with the ideas shown below.
From the left side of the image, I have incorporated this tool in this incarnation. Before I "start" my day, I stay in bed and think about how I will spend that day, how I am feeling, what my anticipated joys and stressors are (Takeoff). About midway through my day, I will do an In-Flight Service Check and talk to myself (I live alone) about how the day is going. Although I admittedly did this before this class, I also make sure I have a Smooth Landing by considering that day's events and what I hope to accomplish the next day. I have variations on a vision board in my office already, but I could do one to complement this journey.
Unit 4
The tools that spoke to me most for this unit were more writing-based. As such, the visuals aren't as easily digestible or artistically interesting. But thank you for still reading nonetheless. First up is Brutethink. I enjoyed this process. Starting with this unit last week, I approached the Thinkertoys chapters with a different mindset of challenging myself to think of a product that could represent the tool and incorporate it immediately. I divided my notebook page into three sections and chose one word at random [close my eyes and point method] from each of the three pages of suggestions. I started with thinking of immediate associations and followed whatever path they took me on. Surprisingly, the task took me on a journey of tapping into awesome elements about myself I often suppress or forget exists as I play roles.
Hall of Fame was one of my favorite toys as well. I certainly have a rich catalogue of parasocial relationships: actors, musicians, and artists whose work inspires me. I took my biggest collage still in existence and wrote down the names of all the people on it. I assigned them numbers and then used a random number generator to decide who would appear in the project. Then I located quotes attributed to them and wrote them out. From the quotes I chose my favorite word and underlined it. I took those ten words and positioned them on the top and bottom of the remaining space. I drew connections between the words and added words to clarify ideas. I must admit this free association did provide some nuggets of insight into bigger issues connected to this health journey.
Lastly for this unit, Circle of Opportunity was a very wordy experiment, and I will provide it as an attachment should you care to read it. I asked ChatGPT to provide me with 12 random words. I noted them and set to free-associate. Although I journal frequently, this was different for me because it was like responding to one-word prompts. Some resulted in more profundity than others, but it was still a fun activity.
I truly did want to create something for Ideatoons, but I am not visually, hand-manipulated/drawing talented. In another course I played around with InVideo AI to create a product and wanted to create an animated product, but it would cost money I do not have. However, I still imported my Circle of Opportunity script and gave it a few prompts. I shared one video in the Discussion Board. Here's another: A Second One
Unit 5: Review and Refresh
I know this hasn't been a traditional Infographic and maybe you're sick of my writing already. I know it's only Wednesday, but today was a day when I had essentially the entire day to commit to the class, so I created my midterm early. I'm employing my risk-taking that this has all been demonstrating what it is you ask. These visual reminders are all around me in my home office. I want them to keep me inspired and held accountable.
I want to connect this unit's Idea Generation Tools to this ongoing project. I'm going to focus specifically on Forced Combinations and The Dream Trip. I will wait to post that response until I have had time to generate ideas and incorporate those tools. I know I have not been as successful as I had hoped, but I want to stay with this for my final project and see where the next 39 days [with time to put it together] can bring me. That also nicely aligns with one of my thought gurus and her 37-day challenge. Patti Digh's Strong Offer | building inclusive communities that unleash potential
Intermission.
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