Maybe because the country’s founders had lost so much during the Holocaust, they chose to fight so hard for their new country, build by them from zilch. Over time and endless conflicts, wars and over numerous generations, they succeeded establishing a nation of a booming economy, impressive technologies, research, innovation, culture, prosperity, military potency, freedom of speech and, some say, a true democracy, most of anything and everything any country could hope for. All this except of course for the precious peace, stability and safe future for its current as well as the future generations.

 

I have just returned from a trip to Netherlands, the land of tulips and windmills.  The first one representing an outgrowth of our humanity’s adoration for beauty of nature, and our ingenuity in refining it to the outmost perfection. The second, a product of design projecting humanity’s pragmatic inventiveness when faced with a need for a solution and solving it through design thinking, this at the core of my mission there. 

Should current technologies motivate and dictate new innovative designs or can concept designs inspire novel technologies? Which one is better, wiser, more advantageous in a long run? But is the choice black and white or could students be offered some, or the best of both worlds of occasions? Should educational systems, most of which are motivated by the need to differentiate themselves, this in order to compete with other similar in objectives schools, be also willing and capable of electing the more comprehensive and more globalized, Renaissance like approach and philosophy towards their education?

We have been, and so have the technologies we invent, evolving with an accelerated speed. Currently we are, as it should be, at the stage of development that is the most advanced thus far. Technology is a true “magic wand”. It makes us more powerful then ever. This is likely the most exciting time to be a creative individual or an artist, or a designer, or even an engineer or technologist or inventor. Borders between all disciplines are dissolving before our eyes. Interdisciplinary fusion is lighting up the path to exciting future.

In the past I conducted my workshops and presentations in not just the different states within the USA, which in itself offers insightful dissimilarities, but also in such countries as Poland, Germany, France, Canada, Venezuela, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Turkey, Japan... You cannot imagine how contrasting the experiences of working with Mid-Western students is from that of those in New York City or even Boston, and how much more extreme these distinctions become in, for example, cases of Korea and Costa Rica.

Currently I am exploring possibilities of conducting my creative workshops in India. Based on my previous visit to this fascinating country, is would seem to me that students who are growing up in the environment that is so ancient, with such rich heritage,  and yet radically diverse and intensely vibrant, would be truly fascinating. If Indian art, legends, myths, film, dance, culture, ways of life, their energy, passion, spirit and “hot blood” are indicative of the imaginary potentials of the Indian students, than this could truly become a “mind blowing” experience. As such it could radically expand my sensibilities and horizons, and thus scope of future impact on those I hope to mentor over the years. And I am always ready for more.

As I began to ready for the forthcoming series of creative workshops and presentations, it also dawns on me, why not dedicate a singular blog to this very topic? And so, this is the one. I shall attempt to express why such workshops are so imperative, impactful and, at least in my personal conclusion, simply fundamental. As always, reader’s comments are welcome.

The process that propels my creative workshops is an outcome of a distillation of both my artistic, creative and production experiences and the academic initiatives and mentoring. It is not simply dedicated to creative ideation, imaginative storytelling or innovative concept designs but also the process of defining one’s personal, individual essences, which in turn inspire the kind of “ideas worth fighting for”. It is why my creative workshops are designed to ignite self-search, self-discovery and empowerment arousing evocative self-expression.