Improving Creativity

Everyone possess immense creativity.

Unfortunately, our minds have ways to distract us from using our imagination for innovation.

A notebook is the best way you can improve your creative skills.

Sketches, to-do lists, ideas. 

A notebook organizes your thoughts, helps improve your writing, and increases your capacity for deeper thinking. 

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Writing/sketching ideas in a notebook helps bring the imaginary closer to reality. 

The longer an idea sits in the mind, the longer you get to criticize and dissect "why it won't work".  You see an idea you had years ago make someone else rich. 

Putting ideas on paper, removes internal criticism and makes your ideas real. 

Don't like that line?  Draw over it. Draw around it. Erase it. 

You can iterate an idea in your mind, but putting all your work on paper documents the progression.

Even with 3D modeling prevalent in the footwear industry, many designers ideas start out as a sketch. 

Sketching connects your mind with the object you are drawing.  Writing down ideas moves them from the inside to outside, so you can have more inside space for more ideas.

You are creating change you can see.

Improving the concept with each iteration.

Growing your thoughts and ideas into something real. 

When I visited Nike's campus back in July 2016, everyone had a Moleskine.

Next time anything crosses your mind, write it down.

Sources

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/writing-and-remembering-why-we-remember-what-we-write.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2014/04/08/why-you-should-be-writing-down-your-goals/#4ba430652f14

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/Putting-Feelings-Into-Words-Produces-8047

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2012/jun/19/joy-moleskine-notebooks

Sneaker School - Recap

Over 60 hrs of work created a pair of bespoke Air Jordan 1's.  The process of making a pair of sneakers is straightforward: cut leather, sew leather, stretch leather, glue on sole. 

Even with a straightforward process, the shoe maker has the ability to put creativity and innovation into each pair he creates.

Its All A Process

Its All A Process

There were early mornings and late nights, but it was all worth it.  Stitching the leather was the toughest part for me.  A crooked stitch meant the thread had to be removed and that piece of leather might need to be replaced.  There was no room for error.

Dom "The Shoe Surgeon"

Dom "The Shoe Surgeon"

The Box

The Box

I'm extremely proud of what I created.  From the flyknit and leathers down to the lasting and stitching, I made it.  I have a Nike sole and a swoosh, but it was made by Aaron. 

One of One.

The 11 students came from different backgrounds, but all shared a love for sneakers and making.  Throughout the whole class, we learned and worked together.  Everyone helped each other realize thier creations.  I was grateful and inspired by the way we worked together as a team.

Dinner with the class

Dinner with the class

Decon & Recon - The Shoe Surgeon

““The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice.” ”
— Brian Herbert

Next week, I'll be in taking the Decon/Recon course offered by The Shoe Surgeon.  Over 5 days, with a handful of other students, we will take an existing shoe, deconstruct it, cut/sew new patterns and end up with a one of one shoe. 

Custom AJ 1 - The Shoe Surgeon

Custom AJ 1 - The Shoe Surgeon

I'm excited to work with The Shoe Surgeon (Dominic Chambrone).  His story is inspiring and we share a similar vision for improving and creating newness.

“I want to evolve and do stuff that no one else has done yet in the industry and be ahead of the game”
— Dominic “The Shoe Surgeon” Chambrone

The course will also bring together students who share a passion for shoes and learning.  Until now, there were few places where people can gain footwear experience outside of a shoe repair store or working for a large footwear company.  Learning by doing is the best way to gain footwear experience.

Besides gaining experience, the course give you the skills necessary to start your own footwear business.

I'm looking forward to creating a story through my pair.  Selecting the colors and materials, cutting and sewing using my hands.  The end product is a true reflection of my creativity, hard work and attention to detail.

 

KICKS IN MY KITCHEN

The kitchen is where a chef (like David Chang) turns the everyday into something completely new.

Romaine and walnut bagna cauda

Romaine and walnut bagna cauda

The kitchen is also where Bill Bowerman using his wife's waffle iron created an outsole with a gridded pattern and grip traction, completely new at that time.

Bill Bowerman at a Eugene lab circa 1980.

Bill Bowerman at a Eugene lab circa 1980.

FOOD and FOOTWEAR

Creativity in the kitchen can lead you to creating a new dish, or a new breakthrough in footwear.