IDEACRAFT the art of well-designed ideas

A course by Sterling Hundley

How to design pictures that speak louder than words.

IDEACRAFT

ī-ˈdē-əˌkraft

noun

1. skill in shaping or constructing ideas.
2. the art of well-designed ideas.

Objectives

Through Ideacraft, you will learn to design pictures that speak louder than words. From client brief to personal projects, you will learn different approaches to ideation that allow you to choose the right tool for the right project to amplify your voice.

I have a deep passion for the creative process and our ability to design the future we imagine. One great idea can change the course of the world. That idea might just live inside you.

I'm thrilled to see what you'll make.

Outcomes

• a clear understanding of multiple ideation processes from concept to completion.
• (12+) Dozens of exploratory sketches, thumbnails and related research
• (9) Nine well-designed value studies for 3 separate projects refined from dozens of concepts
• (3) Three media experiments
• (1) One completed portfolio piece

Sample Video Lecture

Delivery

The six-week Ideacraft course is delivered to your email inbox three days each week. Lessons include articles, case studies, video lectures, media demonstrations and assignments. You will be invited to connect to the Think Louder Discord forum.

Versions

Select the version of Ideacraft you want to take at the bottom of the page.

1. Ideacraft: Independent Study- In independent study, you will start the course on your own timeline. The course is set up to deliver on a 3 day schedule. If you purchase the course on a Friday, you will be emailed you first orientation lesson on that Friday, with lessons following on M/W/F. If you purchase on a Saturday, lessons will be delivered on Saturday, T/Thu/Sa, etc. *In this version, there is no feedback from the instructor and you will not be a part of a cohort.
2. Ideacraft: Live + Recorded. Throughout the year, Ideacraft is offered with weekly live video critiques that are also recorded. In these sessions, join a cohort of other students collaborating through the Think Louder forum on Discord. *If you do not see this version, it is not currently being offered.
3. Ideacraft: Cohort. In this version, you will be a part of a cohort collaborating on the Think Louder forum on Discord. Students will be on the same schedule as other students. In this version, you are welcome to attend the Live critiques as an observer, but your work will not be included in the critique. *If you do not see this version, it is not currently being offered.

Process

Learn how to leverage drama, value, composition, style and hierarchy to communicate your ideas. Most importantly, learn to build ideas that challenge others to Think Louder.

From rocket ships to rock stars, Ideacraft introduces ideation methods that I've used in collaborations with an array of clients including NASA, Rolling Stone, Luma Pictures, Marvel, Criterion Collection, New Yorker, United States Postal Service and Major League Baseball. These methods have been adopted by professionals, schools and educators across the world.

History

From the launch of Ideation Lab over seven years ago, I've taught hundreds of creatives to Think Louder. Illustrators, designers, comic artists, directors, concept artists and animators have joined from all over the world to learn the art of well-designed ideas.

Ideacraft offers creative approaches to problem-solving that can be applied across an array of creative and non-creative industries, as well as professional and personal projects.

I've worked for over twenty years as a designer, illustrator, and creative investigator on projects from film to fashion, operating rooms to autonomous drones. As a Professor and Mentor, I've worked hard to uncover the logic behind the magic of art to guide students on their own path.

What's New?

Over the years, I've thought a lot about ideas and the role of creativity in designing the future we want to see. I'm deeply inspired by the creative process and I've discovered some interesting patterns along the way. Ideacraft expands on the original Ideation Lab and has been completely redesigned to further clarify the complex process of building novel ideas in a rapidly changing world. We need great ideas now more than ever.

New Videos. New Lessons. New Projects. New Design. New Ideas. New Case Studies. New Demonstrations. That's a lot of New. In addition, I've included some of the legacy content from the original Ideation Lab.

A few of the things I've been working on:

You can find more here.

Think Louder,

-Sterling

Join me on the Think Louder substack for additional writing, demonstrations and articles.