I recently watched a video by Hello Erika called My Secret to Being Creative, and it really got me thinking about how I approach my own projects. Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out new ways to present my thesis idea and keep my mind fresh, but sometimes I feel stuck in the same patterns. This video reminded me that creativity isn’t about waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s about curiosity, small experiments, and giving yourself permission to explore ideas without worrying about being perfect.
In the video, Erika talks about routines that help creativity flow naturally. She emphasizes the importance of observing the world around you, experimenting with small ideas, and embracing failure as part of the process. Creativity doesn’t just happen during big moments of insight. Most of the time, it comes from consistent, playful practice and letting your mind wander without pressure. She also mentions the idea of combining structure with playfulness, like keeping a notebook handy to jot down anything that sparks curiosity or trying small creative exercises regularly.
Watching this video gave me a lot to think about in relation to my thesis. I started reflecting on how I could bring these principles into my work on connecting digital and physical memories. One idea that came to mind is using collages as a way to present content. Collages feel playful and exploratory, and they allow for combining different types of media, ideas, and visuals in a way that isn’t rigid. In the context of my project, I could use collages to show memories, emotions, or experiences in a more tactile and interactive way. For example, a digital collage could bring together video snippets, photos, text, and small animations to create a richer story. On the physical side, a collage made of printed photos, textures, or even 3D-printed elements could give users something they can hold and explore.
Around the same time, I had an amazing coaching session with Mr. Horst Hörtner, which gave me even more inspiration for playful interactions. During our discussion, we explored ways to make the website experience more engaging and social without thinking about technical implementation. One idea that came up was tagging other people on the website to create connections between memories. Another concept was combining two objects with NFC tags to reveal shared experiences, like common friends, places visited, or memories created together. It felt like a fun way to bring people into the experience, encouraging them to explore connections and stories in an interactive, playful way.
To organize all these ideas, I also started using mind mapping. This technique helps me get a look from above at everything I want to include in my project, from digital features to physical interactions
Overall, both the video and the coaching session motivated me to keep experimenting and stay open to unexpected ideas. It encouraged me to play, to combine approaches, and to see the process itself as part of the creative journey.
Tony Buzan Mind mapping technique: https://youtu.be/lmvjnyZlR9I?si=Gksb4HuaBNvONLwe
YouTube Video by “Hello Erika”: https://youtu.be/_57fz3ogPMk?si=K_VVG23X1Ag5ss93
Collage Animation in CANVA: https://youtu.be/YZTBRLjBek0?si=yDFXfdnSXu76bcGQ
I used ChatGPT to check the spelling and grammar of this text
