The scissors compass by Amritha Michelle allows you to cut along accurate directional routes. Photo credit:Phillip Retuta.

The Creatomatic is a piece of software designed to accelerate the imagination and prompt new inventions. It works by randomly juxtaposing diagrams of two everyday objects from a selection of hundreds. Through free association, the two objects can prompt the invention of an entirely new object, which can be practical or nonsensical. Inspired by the accidental nature of creativity, the Creatomatic uses the technique of surprise to overcome habitual ways of thinking and short circuit rational control.

In this workshop participants learn how to freshen up their neurons and get their creative juices flowing by practicing the Creatomatic Method. I co-taught the first workshop with guest artist Jacob Tonski. We guided participants step by step from the initial spark of inspiration through the iterative stages of prototyping in order to realize their inventions, successfully condensing the period of creation that would under most circumstances span a few months into just 10 hours.

Funded with a generous grant from the Black Rock Arts Foundation.
Code by Leonard Tirulnikov

Photo credit: Michelle Calabro and Phillip Retuta

Select Participant Projects in order of appearance:
“Die Lit” by Oylum Boran
“Tabulb” by Miriam Castillo
“Hammer Rack” by Jessie Reyes
“risHta ?” by Sajan Ravindran