Category: 2023

I found this chapter very interesting and insightful, as it challenged me to think differently about how I generate and evaluate ideas. I agree with the author that forward-thinking is a process that involves moving forward by building new ideas while backward thinking involves the analysis of pre-existing ideas. I also like the concept of suspended judgment, which means delaying judgment while coming up with new ideas through lateral thinking. I think this is a useful skill to have, especially in situations where there is no clear or obvious solution. However, I wonder how easy it is to practice suspended judgment in real life, as we are often influenced by our biases, assumptions, and emotions. How can we overcome these barriers and become more open-minded and flexible thinkers? I also wonder how we can balance forward and backward thinking, as both are important for innovation. How can we know when to switch from one mode to another? These are some questions that I would have liked the author to explore further.

The chapter explores the challenges and rewards of making art. The author argues that artmaking is a skill that can be learned and improved through practice and reflection, rather than a matter of luck or talent. He also claims that artmaking is a way of discovering oneself and expressing one’s unique vision, rather than pleasing an audience or conforming to external standards. I agree with the author’s main points, as I think that artmaking is a personal and creative process that requires courage and perseverance. However, I wonder if the author is too dismissive of the role of the audience in artmaking. While I agree that artists should not compromise their vision or seek validation from others, I think that artmaking can also be a form of communication and dialogue with the audience. I think that art can have different meanings and effects depending on how it is received and interpreted by different viewers. Therefore, I think that artists should also consider the audience’s perspective and feedback when making art.

I liked this visit (even if i got lost trying to find the place). The way they found inspiration from food was interesting. The animation with the noodles looked really smooth and was really pretty. I realised that I liked what they were doing when they were showing the project with the lab equipment. I personally hate chromatography, but the second I saw their design I though: Oh chromatography is pretty. Making me forget my hate for a process for a second is something really hard to achieve, and they did it.

As the name suggests, the chapter starts by describing the fear of the artist: not being good enough and what I can only describe as impostor syndrome an the feeling of alienation to one’s art. It really tackles the (wrong) idea of the Artist as genius, as someone that was born with a divine gift for the arts. (this discussion actually remind me of a great essay called (Why have there been no great women artists? By Linda Nochlin)

This idea of the genius artist is confronted by 4 main ideas: Skill can be learned, ordinary people make art, viewing and making are different roles, and art making is something older than the modern view of art.

I’ve always hated the distinction between arts and crafts. For me it only feels as if one practice is less difficult than the other, when each one has its difficulties and requires skills. (In my opinion there is also a link of crafts being perceived as a feminine activity, but I don’t really have proofs). This separation comes from the difference between something learned and something innate. Anyone can make crafts, only Artist can make great art.

This chapter also go over the fact that art is personal, but does not define the artist. This also shows the importance of differentiating the process and the result, specially when it comes to see the roles as an artist and as a spectator. I liked how it explains art as a modern concept, because yes art existed before, but it was not perceived the same way. (I wonder how this concept has been recently affected by technology)

The books describes lateral thinking as moving backwards and vertical thinking as moving forward. Something that has been bothering me about these ideas is mentioned in this chapter: the distinction is completely arbitrary. vertical thinking can be developing and restructuring, as well as lateral thinking. For me, these two concepts are not even distinguishable in most aspects.

One thing that still bothers me is how vertical thinking is described as “being right all along”. I genuinely don’t think such thing exist. Later on the chapter it is explained that in lateral thinking “wrong” ideas are also explored, which is different from being right all along. However, I still think that the concepts are too close to be considered two different things.

What I thought was interesting about this chapter was how wrong ideas are explored. The way i interpret it was : ok it is wrong, but what if it wasn’t ?

Which I think is a interesting way of approaching problems.

The chapter discusses the problems that arise when one tries to make art, and how it gets done. I found most curious two statements: art as an expression of personal identity is a modern construct, and the romanticism of the period of an artist’s life when no one cares about their art is wrong.

The authors point out that art existed before as a part of a bigger religious picture, and even older still is art made by cavemen who didn’t think much of themselves at all (so the authors postulate).

Regarding the romanticism of the hard phase of an artists life, the authors explain that this phase is a required learning phase where the person learn how to create their best work. All people must make mistakes along the way. No one has any reason to be moved by the artist’s artwork, and they’re not missing any insight that the artist has seen from afar. The art just isn’t there yet.

I think the chapter tries to negate some of the fear around making art, and tries to make the reader reflect on the humble nature of artwork. It is not an esoteric gift bestowed by god on a chosen few.

The first chapters start with an introduction of innovation and what it requires. The author distinguishes between ‘backward’ and ‘forward’ thinking. Where backward thinking involves analyzing an old idea and explaining it, while forward thinking involves moving ahead and creating something new. The lines between them are blurry since forward thinking, as all lateral processes, is non-linear and may require some backward thinking. Bono claims that this forward thinking is a feature important to innovation.

The second chapter goes in depth into the concept of Suspending Judgement of ideas, ourselves and other people. This goes back to the previous statements we read about lateral thinking sometimes involving being wrong in the middle of the brainstorming process in order to be right at the end. If we keep judgement in our hearts are are not able to fully consider some idea for what it is and the inspiration it can provide (despite it being wrong, or weird), we will have slower progression towards truly unique end products.

I find the above to be quite abstract. Although Bono tries to give examples of Lee de Forest and Marconi, I find the descriptions unsatisfactory. Perhaps an application of the principles in my own work will yield more insight.

field.io

This was my favorite visit so far. Something that I found particularly interesting was their description of a “visual anchor” in a creative process:

precise information (e.g. algorithms) -> visual representation (basic ‘structure’ of the algorithm in blocks -> abstraction based on artistic and not so much scientific decisions.

This sounds like a useful framework for future artworks.

Bruna, Haya, Natty

For our project, we decided to design a magazine based on apples called “Apple Daily”. In this magazine, we presented each of our works, the watercolor painting presented by Bruna, a comic done by Natty, and the Recipe to Success done by Haya. 

In Natty’s comic, he created a light-hearted comic based on the adventures between a talking apple and a knife, which it takes a dark turn towards the end. It aims to attract attention to the readers of Apple Daily and provide them with a sense of humor throughout the day. 

In Haya’s infographic, it provides you with the key steps to creating a successful Apple business and factory. The infographic gives you key tips and tricks to stay on top of your game, such as providing the best quality of apples, gaining customers, and becoming a success.

Bruna was inspired by the way in which a recipe book, as well as the act of cooking in itself, often evokes connections to female relatives in our earliest memories. Relating this nourishing memories to the traditional conditioning of women as domestic laborers, she created a watercolor panel of textures that stem from snapshots of her own body. “Pinch of Love” attempts to turn the (female) body into a main ingredient of our women-centered food memories. It is both as an embracing of those times, as well as as a criticism to their underlying sexism.

Shahram Chaudhry

I loved how they focused so much on their environment and surroundings – cooking food together , good way of bonding to connect on a personal level which is essential if they want to make art together

Build own set ups suitable to projects, not limiting themselves to available options  , exploring and thinking outside the box

The crowd simulation idea was pretty cool

Using AI to generate and another AI to critique it

Spend more than half the time on research and development so very innovative end products