The Maker Revolution

CHAPTER 7Creativity

We have entered a new renaissance. Tools, materials, processes, training, funding, community, communication, knowledge, instruction—most of the inputs for being creative have changed. As a result, we are beginning to see creativity explode. Again, the question becomes: have you prepared yourself to experience, enjoy, participate in, drive, support, and love it?

My favorite example, currently, of the potential for creativity across domains is in the fashion world. And my favorite designer in that world is Anouk Wipprecht. She was an Autodesk Artist in Residence in 2017. I've only met her a couple of times, but I love her work. I had heard about her from a few mutual friends. I met her at Autodesk's Design Night, a must-experience event held the first Thursday of most months. She had outfitted a model with a dress that mixed and dispensed a gin and tonic into a small plastic cup sitting between the breasts of the model. Pumps, tubes, batteries, and fluid all combined in a provocatively revealing leather and hard-shell plastic miniskirt.

Anouk was the creator of the “Spider Dress.” This dress has proximity-detecting leg armatures that start out folded against the wearer's shoulders, but as someone begins to approach or invade her space the armature slowly extends its legs, creating a larger and larger protective zone around her. Nice, provocatively dressed, yet aggressively defensive.

I've been to several tech fashion events and have been seriously underwhelmed. ...