#iovineandyoung

[fightonjohn22]

Acceptance

The ability to change a person’s life with a cheap, functioning, and obtainable prosthetic is substantial. I have personally never had to use a prosthetic, but I do have acquaintances that rely on prosthetics to have the ability to complete simple daily tasks. This realization that a very complex and expensive mechanism is needed for some people to come remotely close to being able to do half of the things that I can do is unsettling.

Being able to build a prosthetic that achieves all of the goals that we want would be a massive accomplishment for building a community that focuses on acceptance. Depression and anxiety are proportionally higher among people that need prosthetics to complete daily tasks. Creating and distributing a product to these people can take away the stresses of cost and obtainment, allowing them to feel more accepted within the general population. So much of the prosthetic community has no options, since these products can become as expensive as $100,000 and might have to be replaced somewhat often. Our product will be available at a much lower cost and will be much easier to obtain, thus narrowing the gap between people that need prosthetics and those who do not. We plan to help millions of people be more comfortable in their own skin on a daily basis.

[ashleywolpertmiller]

On creativity

“True innovators, true entrepreneurs, are not puzzle-makers—they’re quilt-makers.”

- Tina Seelig

Creativity transcends the rote, prescribed, plug-and-play methodology that defines much of our daily lives. Undoubtedly, the constructs by which we live and move are beneficial and purposeful. For example, the systems we adopt for cooking our food, navigating city streets, trading in the marketplace—are valuable and necessary. But creativity pushes and pulls at normative ideas and actions to form new ways of operating within, perceiving, describing, and experiencing life. Whether for enjoyment, social progress, political engagement, connection, or some other end, creative enterprises hold the potential to enhance the human experience and push us toward new ways of relating to ourselves, one another, and our world. Creative enterprises call into question (at times controversially so) normative ways of being. They push us toward new ways of existing both collectively and individually. They may overturn established systems and long-held ideas and produce new processes, ideas, and products by which we experience life—and then, at times, this new experience becomes the norm, and the creative process begins anew. What a gift it is to contribute to the human experience in this way! What a gift to be a collaborator. A disrupter. A co-creator.

[ashleywolpertmiller]

It’s a good day

to start grad school.

[dannypugh]

Exploring Creativity

My thoughts on the philosophy of creativity:

Creativity relies on the innovations of those who came before. I’m a firm believer in learning the rules before breaking them.

If you’re not introducing something new into your artwork, I can’t say it’s creative; a true creative endeavor must add a fresh element to the equation.

A true creative project reflects the signature of the creator: your work should demonstrate who you are—otherwise it may be perceived as “generic.”

Anyone has the capacity to be creative within their field of study. Creativity in this regard is reflective of the ability to synthesize ideas and create something that has not been achieved before.

Use the right tool for the right job—and don’t get started with a project without understanding the parameters of your current reality. If you don’t think you have the tools for what you want to accomplish, start asking questions and validate if what you want to do requires further technical investigation. 

Know your strengths… and collaborate. A team project often invites more insight than a personal project. Understand what your strengths are: design, development, management, legal—and execute.

Follow through. If no one sees your concept, how will it ever be realized?

Know your goal from the start. Whether a physical piece of art or a digital, immersive experience—it’s critical to understand exactly what you are trying to accomplish.

How do you want your viewers to feel? Maybe you don’t care—or maybe you want them to question a current reality. In either case, it’s important to clarify how your art might impact others.

Don’t fret. My biggest “pet peeve” is when someone won’t even touch their pen to paper because they are too worried. You have to start somewhere—and starting at all is more important than anything else. 

[neildalikezeldaatusc-blog]

Process Journal: Contingency Management (Group Assignment)

Understand your limits. What are your capabilities and the collective capabilities of your team?

My capabilities lie in UX design, interaction design, organization, product management, and presentations.

My limits are more towards scheduling and time. Since I currently run a startup at the same time, I need to allocate my time appropriately to perform my tasks and contribute what I can to the group.

Establish reasonable and feasible goals and standards. What are your and your team’s intentions and are they in line with your abilities? Where does your team have gaps and how will you mitigate that?

My team’s intention is to reimagine the grocery store experience. I feel that what I can contribute is creating the presentation we will use to tell the story of our process and solution at the end of the project. If an app is needed, I can contribute my prototyping skills. I can also contribute my interviewing abilities when we need to talk to users and understand who and why we’re solving this problem.

Be strict and consistent. Do not promise what you cannot deliver. Talk with your team on how to stay within scope and meet and exceed expectations within your collective means.

Once we decide on a solution and need to execute, we can create product requirements document so we can avoid scope creep. We can also create a timeline when we need to accomplish each task. It’s important that we be specific who accomplishes certain tasks.

Rewards?

Drinks (or preferred reward) via Zoom just to hang out and celebrate together!