Exploring the interplay between personal and professional creative pursuits.

As designers, we often talk about how our personal creative practices inform our professional ones, allowing us to think more expansively and create works that resonate with varied user bases. Less often talked about (but equally as interesting, to my mind) is how we can incorporate principles of human-centered design and agile into our personal practices to overcome creative blocks, get into flow more quickly, and ultimately attain more satisfaction as working artists.

In this discussion, we’ll explore both how the personal informs the professional and vice versa, as well as how to navigate challenges in translating tactics between the two realms. Ideally, this discussion will result in a list of tips and tricks participants can use to improve both their personal and professional creative endeavors. If it appeals to participants, we could also consider convening monthly for follow-on discussions.

Best suited for: Designers and researchers at all stages of their careers who are looking to bolster their personal creative practices by drawing on HCD and agile methodologies (and incorporate tactics from their personal practices into their professional work).