Congrats on making it through another week! I think it’s fair to say that the collective energy in the U.S. right now is tense. As we inch closer to the election, COVID cases are on the rise, more countries in Europe are returning to lockdown and a hurricane has just battered the Gulf Coast. All the more reason to take creative breaks during your day.
Even though I’m in a creative business, I still try to take breaks that allow me to wander into a different space creatively. Treating creativity as a wellness practice has benefits proven benefits. A randomized trial that involved people undergoing HIV treatment showed that expressive writing helped participants to boost their immune system. A benefit we could all use as we head into the winter months during a pandemic.
I began to wonder last week how creativity has played a role in elections. It led me on a fascinating trail of ballot design, creative problem solving for a human-centered voting experience and inspiring civic engagement.
I voted early this week and am happy to report the process was smooth. I can’t help but wonder what I will be writing this time next week! Stay tuned and please exercise your right to vote!
Have a good weekend,
Suzanne
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- This new book by Alicia Yin Cheng studies U.S. ballots throughout history to analyze what design choices reflected about the time period of the elections
- 14 graphic designers and other artists took on the challenge of inspiring voting through creative expression
- Read how these consultants used design thinking to create a human centered voting experience.
- The history of the “Rock the Vote” celebrity campaign- and how it’s adapted over the past 30 years to reach young voters
- 20 quotes to put you in the voting spirit- and graphics to update your phone background
- An NGO is using the video game Minecraft to teach kids about the process of registering to vote and submitting their ballot, focused on nonpartisan educational outreach and issues instead of politics
- While there are restrictions for some partisan apparel at the polls, you can demonstrate how excited you are to vote through other fashion choices
- Stories of chefs using their culinary talents to provide food and drinks to voters waiting in long lines, hoping to fight hunger and support voter turnout for all
- Creative ways educators and parents can inspire students to civic engagement
Things to Do Around the World
- The original cast of “Hocus Pocus” and celebrity guests are hosting a virtual Halloween party with proceeds benefiting the New York Restoration Project
- The Walt Disney Museum will host a virtual tour of its galleries, focused on all of Disney’s spookiest productions
- Multiple Halloween events are available for free online this year from The American Museum of Natural History, including a virtual costume contest and events focused on fossil bones and a celebration of the Day of the Dead.