Journal

Thinking Through Making

My research explores what happens in the space between encountering an idea and producing an outcome — how we make sense, experiment, reflect and develop a creative voice through the process of making.

What helps us think, make sense, develop ideas and retain a creative voice when technology can increasingly produce the outcome for us?

These reflections revisit ideas that first emerged through my research into handwriting, sketchnoting and creative self-discovery, and reconsider them in the context of contemporary creative practice, design education and generative AI.

They are not intended as formal academic papers. They are short explorations of the questions that continue to shape my research, teaching and creative practice.

The reflections

9 pieces
  1. 01Writing by Hand in an AI WorldWhat does handwriting still offer when generating ideas has become almost effortless?Read →
  2. 02Sketchnoting Is Sense-Making, Not DrawingThe drawing isn't really the point. The thinking is.Read →
  3. 03Creative FrictionWhy making things harder can sometimes help.Read →
  4. 04Express Rather Than ImpressWhat happens when polish becomes easier to produce?Read →
  5. 05Little c Creativity in the Age of AICreative identity grows through small acts of making.Read →
  6. 06Creative Identity When Tools Can Imitate StyleIf style can be generated, where does creative identity live?Read →
  7. 07Slow Thinking in a Fast Creative CultureWhat do we lose when there is no pause between question and answer?Read →
  8. 08Play Before PolishWe need space to experiment before we expect resolved outcomes.Read →
  9. 09Teaching Students to Think Before They GenerateWhat needs to happen before the prompt?Read →

These reflections sit alongside the cards, the daily drawing prompts and the sketchnotes — all different ways of thinking through making.