Before we go forward, I'd like to take you back, not years, but decades. Picture yourself when you're 5 years old. >> I know. I'm so cute.What made you feel safe or seen. What made you feel curious or hopeful. We start life full of wonder.And even in that not knowing, we feel the world deeply. We sense when something fits and when it doesn't. When we're five, we have that kind of clarity unclouded by expectation.I'm a developmental psychologist and a professor. And for the past 25 years, I've tried to carry ...

Core Message - The presentation emphasizes the importance of rediscovering and cultivating creativity through observation and engagement with the world around us [1][30][31] - It highlights that creativity is inherent and can be reignited by paying attention to details in nature and urban environments [1][8][9] Sources of Inspiration - Nature is presented as a primary source of inspiration, stimulating creativity and imagination [6][7] - Urban environments also offer creative inspiration through geometries, light play, and rhythms [9] - Personal experiences, interactions with others, and even challenges can fuel creativity [17][27][28] The Creative Process - Observation is key to unlocking creativity, involving all senses, not just sight [24][25] - Sharing observations and creative expressions can inspire others and foster a sense of community [13][14] - The creative journey is often non-linear, drawing from diverse experiences and disciplines [15][16] Applications of Creativity - Public art invites participation, reflection, and connection within communities [17] - Collaborative art projects can empower individuals and give voice to diverse perspectives [18][19][20] - Art can be used to create interactive experiences and bring joy to others, even in challenging circumstances [28][29]

Core Argument: The PAC Framework - The core argument is that effective systems, whether for learning, health, or any aspect of life, must be designed with a focus on Persons, Artifacts, and Context (PAC) [7] - Alignment of these three elements (Persons, Artifacts, and Context) leads to transformative outcomes, whereas misalignment can cause systems to fail or even cause harm [9][14][21] - The industry should prioritize understanding and fitting systems to the lives of the people they are intended to serve, rather than standardizing approaches [21][25] Application of PAC in Education - The "Between the Lions" case study demonstrates the PAC framework in action, showing how aligning media (Artifacts), culturally relevant materials (Context), and teacher support (Persons) significantly improved reading outcomes [9][16] - Initial attempts to implement the program without adapting materials to local cultures (Mississippi) or providing adequate teacher support resulted in reduced impact [13][14] - When all three elements were aligned, the impact jumped to 170%, exceeding the national baseline and demonstrating the power of the PAC framework [16] Application of PAC in Caregiving - A national study of caregivers revealed that their motives and mindsets significantly affect their well-being and ability to cope with caregiving tasks [19][20] - Systems should be responsive to the individual needs and circumstances of caregivers, recognizing that care is personal and contextual [21][22] - The industry should anchor its work in the PAC corners, considering the caregivers (Persons), a system responsive to their motives (Artifacts), and the messy reality of their lives (Context) [21][22] Implications for System Design - The industry should move away from designing for simplicity and standardization, and instead design for complexity, recognizing the importance of individual differences and contextual factors [6][21] - Systems should be built with empathy, focusing on understanding and meeting people where they are [25] - The most important question when designing a system should be whether it fits the life someone is actually living [25][28]

I want to start with a drawing. It's the one I made when I was six. A flying cat, sun with sunglasses, the sky was literally upside down, and the moon was on the grass.And finally, a starfish house. I didn't make it because it was practical. I didn't care about whether it was good or if it was realistic.I made it with the kind of joy that doesn't ask for permission. Now, fast forward, we grow up. We learn to meet deadlines, sit still, and do the right thing.But in the process, we lose something. Not because ...