ASHLEY CONGDON

How would you define creativity?

Genius. Ed C ; ) Someone that can think outside of the box. Not the usual. Looking at things differently. Non-linear thinking.

 

Could you describe your creative process? (the senses, observing, imaging… pg. 25)

I see what my brother’s doing and do the opposite ; )  I look at how the world would be different if the product wasn’t in it. How does this product change someone’s life? Trying to look at something old in a new way.

 

How do you experience creativity in your life?

Photography. Playing with my brothers. Sculpting. Read a lot. Exploring the internet. Painting. Work with my bees and see how creative they are.

 

Have you heard of “flow”? Do you experience this?

Yes. “Execution.” You would think back to see what you played, but you couldn’t remember taking the field // total concentration // drum and bugle core. Very much in the moment. Total concentration. Not a lot of energy going into memory, but in playing. It’s that way with music a lot. We’re in the pocket. Get the same way with engineering break throughs. “Five faces of genius.” “Seer.” Self-realization exercises. See that there are other ways of doing things. 

 

Was there something in your life that you feel drove your creativity?

My mother b/c she saw it in me. I don’t know if it’s taught or… It’s a feeling. I got motivated by music. I got motivated by success. Feed off of that / competition within yourself. Self-fulfilling circle thing. I would get really excited about helping other people get that way. Even when I knew the answer for five minutes, I wanted them to work together. Getting other people to come together. Coaching, passing along the knowledge.

 

Where do you find creative inspiration?

Internet. Look at certain websites. Curious brain. Books. Award shows. Nature. Natural world that I bypassed for so many years. Bees/bugs/animals are fascinating. Inspiration from others. From past creative people. You’re curious as to their process, less their results. Old lady from Iron Wood MI. Being fearless. Not being afraid of being judged. Following your own instincts. (It’s how you brain operates. Different people are motivated by different things. People are afraid to try something new. Not afraid to be judged. Don’t care.) Upbringing has a lot to do with it. Always put paint brushes in their hands. Go, cook! If you get kids to open up to it then, then it continues. Not afraid to draw out something really cool. 

 

How would you decide whether something/person/idea is creative? Or worth pursuing?

Interesting way to looking at something. Being open to trying it. I would appreciate everyone looking at it with me. Are you going to be putting on the breaks? Or are you open to making a mistake? Losing? Can you take something away from every win or loss? Accepting the hard work as part of the process… learning to enjoy that 90% of your competing is working out, so you can appreciate the successes. Not being afraid of being judged. No such thing as wrong. People don’t look at it as a failure. You have a drawing board. Doesn’t mean the answer is wrong. Just not right for this problem. Artists will be sketching this new Buick, all beautiful, all different, but it’s not fitting the marketer or engineers, but then you pull that out a year down the road or on a different model.

 

What do you think students need to be taught to develop creativity?

You can be freed from caring what other people think. Alix was writing a paper on diversity. I learned to not care about what other people thought. I’m not going to let their view interfere with my perception of me. Creativity in business. Turn the table. Run a meeting differently. That’s what makes you stand out. Wow…I really liked the way you set the meeting up. I’ve never seen that before. I would encourage them to think about creativity in a different way. “We’ve never looked at it that way.” Come up with a different way of looking at it. We’re not just doing it for them, but guiding them. Getting out of a norm or pattern. Look at it differently. Hard part is getting others to take the chance with you. It’s the journey, not the destination. Instead of going down the street, but venture through the woods… (A teacher…seeing the ducks with heads under the water…come up with a story as to why they were all looking under the water.)