List of all blog posts

2023

• 14 July 2023 : ‘Play in the System’ podcast, July 2023
  
  A conversation with Matt Gooderson about creativity and music making.
  
  
• 31 March 2023 : Pecha Kucha video: ‘Finding a path through creative practice’
  
  New video with lots of things in less than 7 minutes.
  
  
• 28 March 2023 : New video: ‘Creativity Is A Thing That You Do’ (talk + music)
  
  Complete event filmed with three cameras and proper sound and everything!
  
  
• 15 March 2023 : New digital single, ‘October (live)’ released 15 March 2023
  
  Recorded live at HQ, Toronto, 8 December 2022.
  
  
• 5 March 2023 : Creating a body of work
  
  Considering your creativity as a body of work makes a difference.
  
  

2022

• 14 December 2022 : ‘Creativity: Seven Keys to Unlock Your Creative Self’ book published!
  
  Paperback: Hardback! E-book! Audiobook! All the formats!
  
  
• 12 December 2022 : ‘Creativity’ book launch + live music
  
  New book launched with music, diagrams, and other surprises.
  
  
• 4 October 2022 : Proximity Effect – Remix + Atmospheres CD package
  
  I do like designing the physical things.
  
  
• 3 October 2022 : Proximity Effect – Remix + Atmospheres released 3 October 2022
  
  New single released on Unfolding Records.
  
  
• 31 July 2022 : Summer Studio brings together diverse creators
  
  Our first creative summer camp for adult makers, artists and creators.
  
  
• 1 June 2022 : Restless EP in fold-out CD digipak
  
  Actual physical product.
  
  
• 24 May 2022 : Restless EP released 24 May 2022
  
  New music, on all streaming platforms now.
  
  
• 13 March 2022 : Drawing just one line
  
  Extract about minimalism from my new book 'Creativity'.
  
  
• 12 March 2022 : ‘Creativity: Seven keys to unlock your creative self’ book finished!
  
  Three years in the making! Out in November 2022.
  
  
• 2 February 2022 : Is this the way to the creativity theory?
  
  Aren't most of the things that people call creativity 'theory' just creativity description?
  
  
• 12 January 2022 : Practice-based research: A simple explainer
  
  A new straightforward explanation.
  
  
• 11 January 2022 : Our Innovation Studio is not what you think
  
  Doing innovation in a better way.
  
  
• 4 January 2022 : On ‘ungrading’ in a creativity course
  
  The statement on 'ungrading' from my syllabus.
  
  

2021

• 8 October 2021 : KMRU on creativity (video + transcript)
  
  Interview with the prolific electronic and ambient music producer.
  
  
• 11 August 2021 : On rankings, grades . . . and actual experiences
  
  Rankings, grades and online performance scores don't reflect reality – but the problem is much worse than that.
  
  
• 1 July 2021 : Seven amazing Connection Fellows announced
  
  Selected from 170 incredible applicants!
  
  
• 21 June 2021 : The Black Mosaic – into the summer
  
  The project supporting Black creators continues!
  
  
• 19 June 2021 : Micro LEGO Serious Play – with pandas – on Zoom
  
  Talking about creativity with Amanda, Heather and Stedman, using Lego.
  
  
• 19 May 2021 : Panic Girl interviewed about creativity, music and DIY
  
  Inspiring ideas and advice.
  
  
• 28 April 2021 : Connection Fellowships launched
  
  Support for BIPOC creators in the Greater Toronto Area.
  
  
• 28 March 2021 : Do *I* do practice-based research?
  
  In which I work out whether I am a practice-based researcher.
  
  
• 26 March 2021 : What is practice-based research?
  
  I wanted a straightforward introduction to practice-based research. So I wrote one.
  
  
• 24 January 2021 : ‘Creativity’ book: How it’s going
  
  Book progress! It's actually going quite well.
  
  
• 24 January 2021 : ‘Advice for Emerging Researchers’ video
  
  If you're a PhD student or an early-ish-career academic, here is a video.
  
  

2020

• 27 November 2020 : A music challenge for myself
  
  I asked my students to do a project across the term, and so I'm doing it too.
  
  
• 12 October 2020 : The Black Mosaic – a new initiative
  
  Supporting Black creators in the Toronto area.
  
  
• 8 September 2020 : Further Creativity Conversations – mentoring and support
  
  Now offered free of charge - advice and coaching on your creative ideas and projects.
  
  
• 27 August 2020 : Your Creative Self 2020 intro video + music
  
  I put a lot of work into this one!
  
  
• 16 July 2020 : Less is more? (The music-making journey continues)
  
  A new music track. Trying not to throw in too much. Failing.
  
  
• 7 July 2020 : New Zoom series: ‘Making it Happen’ on Fridays
  
  Recommissioned for a second Artscape Launchpad series!
  
  
• 18 June 2020 : Creativity Conversations – mentoring and support
  
  Advice and coaching on your creative ideas and projects. All proceeds to Black Lives Matter Toronto.
  
  
• 10 June 2020 : New video on ‘identity’ for UK A and AS Level students
  
  Trying to help out those UK students who have to write about 'Gauntlett' on 'identity'.
  
  
• 28 May 2020 : Getting somewhere (more music)
  
  Progress in the music department.
  
  
• 27 April 2020 : Weekly free creativity workshops on Zoom
  
  Free online workshops, hosted by Artscape Launchpad.
  
  
• 16 April 2020 : Collected observations on making music
  
  Thoughts on music-making, all in one place.
  
  
• 8 April 2020 : The 10,000 hours rule (or: Can I really not be good at music until I am 108?)
  
  What does it mean, "10,000 hours" to master something?
  
  
• 10 March 2020 : Learning from the music-making process
  
  On getting useful feedback.
  
  
• 5 March 2020 : Creativity Everything podcast launched!
  
  It's an obvious idea . . . but that's not going to stop us!
  
  
• 20 January 2020 : Creativity is a thing you do
  
  What we are talking about when we talk about creativity.
  
  
• 6 January 2020 : ‘Your Creative Self’ workshop at Artscape Launchpad
  
  And in a new team-up with Jodianne Beckford!
  
  

2019

• 30 December 2020 : A Drawing A Day – June to pause, 2019
  
  The last drawings before we went on a drawings pause.
  
  
• 24 November 2019 : The ‘dappled world’ and a more diverse perspective
  
  A nicer way of looking.
  
  
• 23 October 2019 : Hours of ‘The Creative Process’ lecture videos
  
  Lots of lectures drop at once, like on Netflix, except, lectures.
  
  
• 9 August 2019 : Research, teaching and everything all interconnected
  
  It all fits together. It's all one thing.
  
  
• 19 July 2019 : Ways to kill creativity, no. 93: Turn it into a ‘discipline’
  
  I worked out why I don't want to be in their bubble.
  
  
• 5 July 2019 : Seeking an art-school ethos for my classroom
  
  On the proper form of a university course
  
  
• 9 June 2019 : A Drawing A Day – May to June 2019
  
  More drawings.
  
  
• 7 June 2019 : Creativity Everything #FreeSchool exceeds all expectations
  
  The #FreeSchool was a delightful and diverse success!
  
  
• 3 May 2019 : Origins of the #FreeSchool
  
  Where did we nick this idea from?
  
  
• 3 May 2019 : Imagination as ideas, empathy and yearning
  
  Is imagination the same as creativity?
  
  
• 3 May 2019 : Creativity Everything #FreeSchool announced
  
  Two weeks of creative everything, open to everyone, running 21–31 May 2019.
  
  
• 16 April 2019 : A Drawing A Day – February to April 2019
  
  More drawings.
  
  
• 22 February 2019 : Canada Research Chair priorities and plans
  
  Establishing what to do and what not to do.
  
  
• 11 February 2019 : An Experimental Culture of All Kinds of Things Made by Everybody
  
  This was going to be my next book, but then it wasn't.
  
  
• 9 February 2019 : ‘Your Creative Self’ course – hello insights!
  
  New course I'm teaching at Ryerson University.
  
  
• 8 February 2019 : Creativity Everything website launched
  
  Launch of new website for new lab!
  
  
• 31 January 2019 : A Drawing A Day – December 2018 & January 2019
  
  Into the new year with more drawings.
  
  

2018

• 6 December 2018 : New short video(s) of ‘Creativity Everything’ talk
  
  Choice of 7-min and 12-min brisk videos on new stuff.
  
  
• 25 November 2018 : A Drawing A Day – October & November 2018
  
  Now up to 803 drawings. Featuring the usual leaves, trees, mugs, seagulls... and leaping beyond the gloom.
  
  
• 15 October 2018 : ‘Creativity Everything’ talk at The Power Plant, Toronto
  
  Free event! 15 November 2018.
  
  
• 10 October 2018 : Elegant workshop process at Artscape Launchpad
  
  A nice simple workshop that works.
  
  
• 30 September 2018 : A Drawing A Day – September 2018
  
  More drawings.
  
  
• 31 August 2018 : From the archives: Media as triggers, as sparks, and the ‘push’ model of making
  
  Good bit from 2015.
  
  
• 31 August 2018 : A Drawing A Day – August 2018
  
  A fresh new batch.
  
  
• 18 August 2018 : From the archives: Media Studies 2.0
  
  This was quite contentious, eleven years ago.
  
  
• 3 August 2018 : New course anxieties and two solutions
  
  It's all about what happens in the room.
  
  
• 2 August 2018 : A Drawing A Day restarts after 3,185-day pause
  
  Return of the drawing project which previously ran 2004-09.
  
  
• 4 July 2018 : Toronto Maker Festival workshop
  
  Maker identities workshop.
  
  
• 4 July 2018 : Video from ‘Making is Connecting’ Second Edition launch
  
  New 33-minute talk.
  
  
• 29 May 2018 : Book launch and talk, Toronto, 26 June 2018
  
  Free event at Artscape Sandbox.
  
  
• 8 May 2018 : Two-minute video about new book
  
  A short introduction to the new book.
  
  
• 4 May 2018 : Research theme #3: Public understanding of creative practice
  
  The third of my three Canada Research Chair themes.
  
  
• 4 May 2018 : Research theme #2: Creative identities and leadership
  
  The second of my three Canada Research Chair themes.
  
  
• 4 May 2018 : Research theme #1: Platforms for creativity
  
  The first of my three Canada Research Chair themes.
  
  
• 4 May 2018 : New Canada research plans and activities
  
  My Canada Research Chair seven-year plan.
  
  
• 24 April 2018 : DIY academia
  
  On self-reliance – a piece that I wrote for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  
• 10 April 2018 : Free preview: Making is Connecting introduction
  
  New stuff from new book, free, online, right now.
  
  
• 9 April 2018 : Deleted section: ‘Some imagined futures’
  
  Rescued from the bin – a 'deleted scene' from Making is Connecting.
  
  
• 8 April 2018 : Helpful people: A guide for researchers
  
  Another in the unexpectedly long series of articles for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  
• 5 March 2018 : Your creative self (course)
  
  A new course I'm offering at Ryerson University, Toronto.
  
  
• 8 February 2018 : The rise of the entrepreneurial academic
  
  Making things happen. An article I wrote for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  
• 16 January 2018 : Toronto: new beginnings
  
  A new job at Ryerson University. Locals are invited to say hi.
  
  

2017

• 4 December 2017 : Nearly here: Making is Connecting, Second edition
  
  Fully revised, with three new chapters! And pink!
  
  
• 11 September 2017 : The researcher’s backpack
  
  Another 'advice' article for aspiring researchers, that I wrote for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  
• 4 September 2017 : News from me: Hello Canada!
  
  I've got a new job at Ryerson University, Toronto, starting in January.
  
  
• 6 July 2017 : ‘Theories of identity’ in the new Media Studies A & AS Level
  
  Resource for Media Studies teachers.
  
  
• 5 June 2017 : BFI Media Conference and me on the National Curriculum
  
  On the National Curriculum: 'both pleasing and weird'.
  
  
• 18 May 2017 : Public speaking for academics
  
  Another 'advice' article I wrote for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  
• 3 March 2017 : William Morris, making things, Kickstarter, and LEGO
  
  Inspiration for makers.
  
  
• 31 January 2017 : Social media for academics
  
  An article of 'advice' that I wrote for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  

2016

• 21 November 2016 : Do things and see what happens: music-making, creativity and collaboration
  
  Reflections after a day in the studio with Matt Gooderson.
  
  
• 11 November 2016 : ‘Being creative’ at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
  
  New diagram of creativity. Public lecture, workshop and more.
  
  
• 16 October 2016 : Making music (2): Reflections
  
  Some thoughts on the creative experience of music-making.
  
  
• 14 October 2016 : Making music (1): Introduction / overview
  
  On me making music. Don't worry, you don't actually have to listen to any.
  
  
• 22 September 2016 : The Ambassador will see you now
  
  They shouldn't give me flattering titles like this.
  
  
• 13 June 2016 : Unsolicited advice on your academic career
  
  Another article I wrote for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  
• 10 June 2016 : Research methods as a site of dynamic innovation
  
  An article I wrote for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  
• 8 June 2016 : My TEDx talk, ‘Building platforms for creativity’
  
  From TEDxUmeå. It's now online.
  
  
• 17 May 2016 : Stairway to impact
  
  Introducing my 'staircase' model of impact, which was devised to show researchers how they can achieve research 'impact'.
  
  
• 26 April 2016 : The Rotherhithe Shed – video
  
  The video they made when I visited the Shed.
  
  
• 16 April 2016 : Countdown to TEDx Umeå, part two
  
  I made a one-minute intro video in a Danish forest.
  
  
• 20 February 2016 : The Rotherhithe Shed – making is connecting in South London
  
  I visited a workshop where older men work together, making things.
  
  
• 10 February 2016 : New 7-minute Making Media Studies cut-down video
  
  Less is more.
  
  
• 9 February 2016 : Digital DIY and ‘creative society’
  
  Our part of the European project gets under way.
  
  
• 29 January 2016 : Countdown to TEDx Umeå, part one
  
  15 weeks of planning for 18 minutes of talking starts here.
  
  
• 5 January 2016 : Making Media Studies video
  
  A whole 32 minute video with an annoying computer voice asking me questions.
  
  

2015

• 1 November 2015 : Job opportunity: Digital DIY researcher
  
  A job advert! I really do need to find someone great for this. Please help. Deadline is 22 November 2015.
  
  
• 26 September 2015 : Chicago: Libraries as platforms for creativity, day two
  
  The second day of my Chicago trip, including my talk and workshop.
  
  
• 24 September 2015 : Chicago: Libraries as platforms for creativity, day one
  
  I visited Chicago Public Library System, where they are rethinking libraries as places of making and exchange.
  
  
• 11 September 2015 : Making meaningful connections … and the future of universities
  
  University education as conversations, inspirations, making things happen.
  
  
• 27 August 2015 : Making Things workshop, with LEGO Minecraft, and music, in a library
  
  A workshop on making things physically and digitally. Plus an argument for responsive, unobtrusive research.
  
  
• 21 August 2015 : Achieving REF-able ‘impact’ in the arts and humanities
  
  Also written for Funding Insight magazine. Ignore this post if you happen to be oblivious to UK academic worries about 'the REF' – lucky you.
  
  
• 21 August 2015 : Writing a successful funding application in the arts and humanities
  
  An article I wrote for Funding Insight magazine.
  
  
• 17 July 2015 : Milan makerspaces
  
  The #DiDIY team enjoyed informative and inspiring visits to WeMake and OpenDot in Milan.
  
  
• 3 July 2015 : Platforms for Creativity: Eight principles revisited
  
  Newer, tidier version of my 'eight principles' piece, which can be read alongside my new blog post 'Platforms for Creativity: Introduction'.
  
  
• 3 July 2015 : Platforms for Creativity: Introduction
  
  Explaining what I mean when I talk about 'platforms for creativity'.
  
  
• 17 June 2015 : Chicago ‘Platforms for Creativity’ event featuring all-new tinkerbox workshop concept
  
  Chicago event on 23 September 2015.
  
  
• 1 June 2015 : Museums and libraries as platforms for creativity
  
  What happened when I went to the International Centre of Graphic Arts in Ljubljana.
  
  
• 14 April 2015 : The most important thing is making meaningful connections
  
  On meaningful connections rather than frictionless content.
  
  
• 3 April 2015 : Research Through Design #RTD2015 reflected in LEGO
  
  From an amazing conference in Cambridge.
  
  
• 24 March 2015 : Making Media Studies – 2‑minute intro video
  
  New video about new book.
  
  
• 10 March 2015 : Digital Folk – launch event, 1 April 2015
  
  An exciting free event in London.
  
  
• 10 February 2015 : What is Digital DIY? – part two
  
  We're still working on it.
  
  
• 6 February 2015 : What is Digital DIY?
  
  Some starter thoughts about our EU-funded project.
  
  
• 30 January 2015 : Storify summary of ‘Platforms for Creativity’ events
  
  Pictures, tweets and blog posts from the Dundee events.
  
  
• 13 January 2015 : Dundee event: Platforms for Creativity
  
  A talk and a workshop about creativity with Amy Twigger Holroyd, on 29 January 2015.
  
  
• 4 January 2015 : Open Access: Articles by me about everyday creativity, making, and digital media
  
  Things by me that you can read for free.
  
  

2014

• 30 December 2015 : Collaborating with businesses and organisations for research
  
  Part two of the two-part series on collaborations.
  
  
• 16 December 2014 : Building collaborative relationships for research
  
  An article on collaborations I wrote for 'Research Professional'.
  
  
• 13 November 2014 : Digital DIY – new EU funded project
  
  New project starts in early 2015.
  
  
• 7 November 2014 : At the World Innovation Summit for Education, WISE 2014
  
  On the importance of play, for everyone.
  
  
• 6 November 2014 : De Chocoladefabriek Gouda – Making is Connecting in action
  
  Reinventing the library, in an old chocolate factory.
  
  
• 13 October 2014 : Why ‘share’ and ‘sharing’ are often the wrong words
  
  More thoughts on inappropriate words.
  
  
• 12 October 2014 : Never said ‘prosumer’ in my life
  
  I don't like made-up words.
  
  
• 3 October 2014 : Technology and learning – panel discussion with Ashoka and LEGO Foundation
  
  Video of a Google Hangout.
  
  
• 24 September 2014 : Making Media Studies: book finished and blurb done
  
  I finished writing my new book!
  
  
• 14 August 2014 : Micro LEGO Serious Play: How small can a useful tool for thinking be?
  
  Can you do LEGO Serious Play with just 37 pieces?
  
  
• 16 July 2014 : Making Media Studies: What kinds of knowledge do we need now?
  
  Extract from crowdsourced interview in my new book.
  
  
• 24 June 2014 : What do you know about?
  
  Final post in the self-reflective four-part series.
  
  
• 23 June 2014 : Some things that I like to emphasise
  
  ...that people in my kind of field don’t always emphasise. Part 3 of the 4-part series.
  
  
• 20 June 2014 : What I’m trying to work out
  
  What can I usefully do? Part 2 in a series of 4.
  
  
• 19 June 2014 : What’s the point of you again?
  
  What am I trying to do? Part 1 of a 4-part series.
  
  
• 10 June 2014 : Making Media Studies: Extract from new book
  
  What is 'The creativity turn in media and communications studies'?
  
  
• 5 June 2014 : Infographics!
  
  Wordy conversations turned into graphic graphics!
  
  
• 22 May 2014 : Questions please, for new crowdsourced interview
  
  Send me a question please!
  
  
• 15 May 2014 : Amy Twigger Holroyd and David Gauntlett in conversation, #3: On small steps
  
  Last in the series.
  
  
• 15 May 2014 : Digital Folk – new project
  
  New AHRC funded research.
  
  
• 8 May 2014 : Amy Twigger Holroyd and David Gauntlett in conversation, #2: On sustainability
  
  Number two in the series of three.
  
  
• 7 May 2014 : Playful creative learning: adults first
  
  The cart before the horse.
  
  
• 1 May 2014 : Amy Twigger Holroyd and David Gauntlett in conversation, #1: On design, and systems
  
  First in a series of three!
  
  
• 24 March 2014 : Media Studies 2.0: a whole new book!
  
  A good book.
  
  
• 11 March 2014 : Actually doing the thing
  
  Hands-on making.
  
  
• 4 March 2014 : ‘Participation Culture, Creativity, and Social Change’ full video
  
  New old long video.
  
  
• 5 February 2014 : Previously unpublished ‘Making is Connecting’ opening
  
  Featuring William Morris and Martin Creed.
  
  

2013

• 10 December 2013 : MTWMAM#6: Process and pieces
  
  Contributed by Kay Steven.
  
  
• 10 December 2013 : MTWMAM#5: Knitted paper sock
  
  Contributed by Megan McPherson.
  
  
• 28 November 2013 : MTWMAM#4: Introvert avatar
  
  Contributed by VK.
  
  
• 28 November 2013 : MTWMAM#3: ‘I am a maker’
  
  Contributed by Gemma Latham.
  
  
• 28 November 2013 : MTWMAM#2: Embroidery for Janice
  
  Contributed by Anne Liddon.
  
  
• 28 November 2013 : MTWMAM#1C: Nature in the home
  
  Contributed by Yun Mi Antorini.
  
  
• 28 November 2013 : MTWMAM#1B: Kitchen collage
  
  Contributed by Yun Mi Antorini.
  
  
• 28 November 2013 : MTWMAM#1A: Paper stars
  
  Contributed by Yun Mi Antorini.
  
  
• 27 November 2013 : Making is Connecting in Korean
  
  Am I dreaming?
  
  
• 11 November 2013 : Six theses about making things in a digital world
  
  A new article by me.
  
  
• 4 November 2013 : Maker Faire videos
  
  Videos from New York and Rome.
  
  
• 31 October 2013 : My foreword to ‘New Noise’ by Simon Lindgren
  
  An interesting book.
  
  
• 21 October 2013 : Making, DIY, and disrupting the professionals
  
  An interview with Zoe Romano.
  
  
• 17 September 2013 : Making things with makers about making (introduction)
  
  New project!
  
  
• 18 July 2013 : Countdown to the Maker Faires
  
  New York! Rome! Exciting!
  
  
• 9 July 2013 : Systems for unpredictable creativity
  
  On creating a 'climate of possibility'.
  
  
• 5 July 2013 : Building the future of Parliament
  
  From March 2009: on political participation.
  
  
• 2 July 2013 : LEGO Cultures of Creativity report launched today
  
  From my collaboration with the LEGO Foundation.
  
  
• 11 June 2013 : Tools for thinking: Introduction
  
  Introduction to an ongoing theme.
  
  
• 28 May 2013 : ‘Making is Connecting’, Richard Sennett and my dad
  
  From May 2011: after a Radio 4 programme.
  
  
• 15 May 2013 : Building platforms for creativity: Eight principles
  
  From April 2012: eight core principles.
  
  
• 4 May 2013 : Digital transformations and open access
  
  From May 2012: on 'publish, then filter' and more.
  
  
• 29 April 2013 : A tale of two books
  
  From May 2012: how I made my own Kindle book.
  
  
• 25 April 2013 : Hello! New site, new blog
  
  A new website and a new blog.