how can this be creative

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how is making
thinking?

facing the future

How can this be creative?

It is not obvious to us all exactly how digital technology impacts on our lives because we have become so accustomed to using such helpful services - I am not just talking about how convenient it is to be able to talk to your family or friends instantly by ‘text’ wherever they are.

Digital technology is changing the very nature of our lives, greatly expanding our creative horizons by developing a do-it-yourself culture, changing our idea of the world, encouraging new ways of thinking, and new ways of storytelling.

Do-it-yourself culture
Digital technology allows us to do things which previously we had to rely on "experts" to do. User-generated content is increasing and diversifying all the time.
When you remember how this all started in such a very basic way when we all had to learn how to use a keyboard, inputting stuff into our own personal magic box, which looked like a TV but in reality was just a black screen with words and numbers.

Now you can publish your own books, make your own photographic prints, create your own films and music, and share them worldwide. You can visit online libraries all over the world and therefore do your own research, including accessing original old books and material, hard-to-get out of print books, as well as newly generated online encyclopaedia.

You can campaign on issues with little start up costs, join in forums and petitions worldwide, raise ‘kickstarter’ money for interesting projects from individuals rather than bank loans, and you can even print your own products or prototypes in 3D, create designs for everything from textiles to architecture, to motor car engines and run powerful systems to regulate anything and everything.
It has now become so sophisticated it is beginning to know what you want before you do.

This do-it-yourself culture is very empowering and paves the way for a new level of innovative culture

Transforming our idea of the world
In the 1960’s our image of the world was changed dramatically with the beautiful view of our blue planet from the outer space shuttle orbiting around the moon. In hindsight we can see that this new image made it easier for people to think in global environmental terms, developing wider concerns about pollution and world population explosion - suddenly our small planet seemed too fragile to cope with our unfettered exploitation.
Now we find ways of thinking about our world are changing yet again - maps are no longer just diagrammatic plans of geographical areas for finding our way around. Satellite images can now be magnified a thousandfold by zooming in on every landmark, back yard, green fields, rubbish tip, ocean waves, weather systems.
This has been augmented by filming every street allowing us to navigate right up to individual front doors in StreetView, adding information on alternative travel routes, ‘tags’ for galleries, shops, cafes, and current public events. Into this mix comes interactive content from individuals - our more personalised views such as photographs, reviews and recommendations, and algorithmic suggestions based on our previous preferences, or those of everybody around us.
The way we navigate in the environment is changing, and our horizons and relationships are shifting. Not only can we never truly get lost again, but we can anticipate what we will be encountering and be better prepared. This means we can approach life’s experiences with more confidence even in challenging circumstances.

what do we mean - thinking by making?

• there is special knowledge and understanding to be gained by making things

• childhood plays a vital part in this innovative process

a historical perspective

• evidence from the past

• art and decoration

• observation, trial and error

• origins of maths
• patterns and geometry

facing the future

• living in a digital age

• how can this be creative?

• new ways of thinking