Keep the Creative Juices Flowing - Issue #10: Creativity Hack: Recycle & Upcycle
Ciao! Mauro here!
This is October 2022 issue nr 10. The 3nd of the series of issues dedicated to Creativity Hacks.
Thank you so much for following along in this Creative Journey.
If you like this newsletter, maybe you can consider to forward it to a Creative friend. If you received this email from a friend you can have yours by subscribing and have it delivered straight to your inbox the first Monday on every Month.
Spoiler alert!
The next issue will entirely about Creativity in the Workplace.
It'll be... intense :)
Creativity Hack #3: Recycling & Upcycling
I have so much to share about this that I don't know where to start.
Well... let me start by mapping what I mean by recycling and upcycling. The literal meaning is not the most important part, they overlap at some point.
What it is important to me is the amazing number of possibility that this Creative process opens and makes possible.
The harder you search the less you find
Does this happen to you? To me, all of the times. If I take and object and I stubbornly try to find a way to recycle or upcycle, it in the large majority of the cases I come up with questionable (read crappy) ideas.
This is the perfect example of how collecting, curating and being aware of your dots (check issue #3 to refresh your memory) is the fundamental that allow you to Create by connecting the dots.
Press pause for a sec and let's talk about reducing waste
This is important, more than ever in these days. We are drowning in waste: plastic, paper, wood, cans, bottles, containers... you name it.
Recycling and upcycling it's NOT just a fancy way to make things and art, it is about awareness and knowledge.
Recycling is NOT about making cheap things out of cheap stuff
We aim create something useful or beautiful and, if we are good, both.
"You use always the same objects in your examples, why?" You may ask.
Very simple, they are familiar for both of us, they do not steal your attention, they are borderline boring, so you can focus on the rest, on the real message and value of the sketchnote.
If you like more "variety" just let me know: hit reply or DM me on Twitter.
The cycle of Creative Reuse
I really tried to find a metaphor for this and I think this upcycled slide from the keynote speech I gave at ISC22PL is a good way to render the concept in a simple way.
I think that this slide from Keep the Creative Juices Flowing - Issue #3 - Connecting the Dots may be helpful and depict an upcycle flow well enough.
Of course this is only a microscopic fraction of this aspect of Creativity but I hope it can be enough to make you think a go further with your reflections.
Just break down this newsletter in bite sized dots and... recycle them!
October Monthly Creative Challenge
Wait for it! This is tricky.
Signals&Dots
think: Mastery for generalists
This post is perfect for this issue. Being a "Generalist Master" is the core skill to excel in recycling.
This post debunk an old adage, and I quote:
"Jack of all trades, master of none” can sound negative—almost implying one isn’t good at anything.
think: You are never too good for the basics
This is perfect for our monthly challenge! Basics are boring, why to read a manual? Playing over and over the same notes is tedious, let me try some cool riff! Only to find myself doing things poorly…
inspiration: Earth is now our only shareholder.
This is the title of the message from Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia brand, that appears on the very home page of their website.
I followed Patagonia and Yvon story since the very beginning and I have been lucky enough to meet him once.
My esteem, admiration and respect for him and his brand are endless, even when I used to work for a competitor brand.
About the topic of this issue, Recycle and Upcycle, I strongly encourage you to visit the Worn Wear page on their website.
👋 Hey, let's connect as reading buddies on Refind to easily share the most valuable articles from around the web:
Become my Reading Buddy on Refind
The Catch All
First and foremost, this is NOT a paid promotion, I actually bought the product!
The awesome guys from the project I’m going to introduce are offering a special promotion for Keep the Creative Juices Flowing newsletter subscribers!
A few days ago my dear and super talented friend Dr. Makayla Lewis recommended me a Kickstarter campaign called Horizon Helvetica©️.
It took only few minutes to fall in love and back it.
It intrigues me in so many ways, has so many features and it’s the size of a credit card which makes it perfect for my EDC.
Plus, when it comes to Helvetica… I can’t help myself!
Here a couple of the features I love the most:
A compass:
An Isometric grid:
The owner of this campaign saw my tweet and contacted me and offered to add free Horizon Helvetica©️Memo book for all the of newsletter subscribers who’ll back the project on Kickstarter!
An Important Notice
The free memo book deal is not a public offer so please do not publicly post or comment to claim your free Horizon Memo book.
Please send a private message to Horizon Team( team@horizonruler.com ). After they receive your direct message, they will note to add your free memo book.
You can check the campaign details here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/horizonteam/horizon-helvetica?ref=ewrvl3
My Stuff
Do you want to train your Creativity? There is a game for that!
Phrenville Drawing Game
Here how it works.
If you want to know the story behind it, here is how I hade the idea and made it: The PHRENVILLE idea and here a closer look at the set with a short timelapse about me playing solo (I do it all the time).
You can get your copy now!
Phrenville — www.thegamecrafter.com A city drawing game for all ages to boost your fantasy, creativity and practice your drawing skills
One more thing, would you like to play with me? Hit reply and give me a shout, we'll organise an online Phrenville session and we'll play. It'll be fun!
That’s it!
As always, thank you so much for reading this issue! It was a honor spending time with you.
I hope you like this issue, if you don’t like it you can always unsubscribe or, maybe, it’s just this issue so, please, can you just reply and help me to make it better?
Of course if you have suggestions or ideas I’d LOVE to hear from you, just reply to this email or DM on Twitter, even if we don’t follow each other.
See you on November, 7th 2022 at h7.30 AM CET for an issue under steroids about Creativity in the Workplace.