creativity tools

Makey Makey 10th Anniversary

Playification – The Makey Makey Story

Makey Makey, a creative platform that has spread widely through education, turned 10 this month. In this episode of Make:cast, I talk to Jay Silver, the creative technologist and self-described jester, who started this product with a successful Kickstarter. Makey Makey is meant to inspire play and exploration with the things around us, including technology. […]

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Patent Depending, The “Nonsense” Inventions of Steven M. Johnson at Maker Faire

Patent Depending, The “Nonsense” Inventions of Steven M. Johnson at Maker Faire

How the goofy inventions of Steven M. Johnson serve a serious design purpose.

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How to Make Fidget Spinner Toys

How to Make Fidget Spinner Toys

Work off some of that nervous energy with a “fidget toy” you can easily make yourself.

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5 Essential Meta-Level Tips for Makers

Let’s look at some of the top-level tips to consider around the art of creativity and making things.

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All-Star Pattern Seeker Trading Cards

All-Star Pattern Seeker Trading Cards

The other day, I bumped into these interesting (but sold out) “trading cards” from mysterious and delightful Imaginary Foundation. I immediately did a web search and found a remaining set ($18) at an e-tailer (they only had one deck left). They came today, and they’re really nice. It’s a shame they aren’t selling them anymore. […]

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John Kenn’s dreamy Post-It Note art

John Kenn’s dreamy Post-It Note art

Years ago, I published an art and early cyberculture zine, called Going Gaga. I did an issue devoted to doodling. I’m fascinated by doodles, scribbles, “crazy walls” (those string-connected, associative wall collages that Hollywood serial killers and the cops who pursue them all seem to need), and all forms of loose-brained/non-linear thinking. The very precise […]

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