My Role

Project Director

Project Duration

2.5 Days

Description

In the fall of 2010 sixteen undergraduate and graduate graphic design students recently took part in an M Blitz at the Savannah College of Art and Design. For some it was a highlight of their education, for others a wonderful opportunity to learn a new methodology for ideation, let go of creative limitations, allow themselves to ‘Think Wrong' and have fun.

The event was led by Project M Advisors Louis Baker, Professor of Graphic Design and Service Design, SCAD, and Bernard Canniffe, Graphic Design Department Chair, Iowa State University.

Project M is an organization that harnesses the desire to make the world a better place through the use of non-linear ‘Think Wrong’ methodology. A Project M Blitz is a 2.5 day charette that has three challenges and one purpose. These include team building, community immersion, and a community project—the purpose is to generate fresh ideas and good will.

Challenge 1: Team Building

On the first evening, participants learned the basic tenants of “Think Wrong” Strategy. Afterward they were divided into teams and challenged with presenting code names and a team seal with symbols representing each member. There were also asked to add strange ingredients, and to make the audience care! To help spark their creative, they were given a pink monkey as a provocation.

The next morning the presentations were a great success. There we're not only innovative, but engaging and fun.

Challenge 2: Community Immersion

During the afternoon each team was asked to venture into the community to engage and interview local citizens, make a list of positive and negative comments, and to create a unique expression their experience. There was only one rule. Do not use a computer.

Creative Pause

After the Community Immersion we allowed the teams to take a creative pause. This disrupted the flow of information in order to discover and reveal alternative ideas. It forced participants to pay close attention to one another, and encouraged creative attitudes.

During this time, each team was asked to condense community project concepts into one word. Next, they were shown how to harness the concept of ‘think wrong,’ where viable design solutions emerge from abstraction.

Challenge 3: Community Project

During this final challenge, participants were asked to create a community project, one that involved experiential research, multidisciplinary design thinking, and rapid prototyping in the field. They could act as Social Responders, Agitators, Bridge-Builders or Catalyst Creators.

Result

During the Project M Blitz, we disrupted our natural instincts and took creative chances. Each team forged new paths, told uniqued stories, and created novel experiences. Most importantly, everyone understood that originality is a commodity, the best designers are original thinkers—not just service providers.