This weekend, the New York Times Magazine featured Marc Newson, the most well-known and prolific living industrial designer. Though I’ve been a fan of his work for years, I never knew much about his back story or design methodology. If anything, we seemed to me to be someone who operated on his own plane, operating from his own inner compass rather than through anything he learned in school or through his childhood. While this perception is largely correct, he opened up to journalist Chip Brown about the mechanics of his mind and creativity.”The way I work is to try to get the idea out of my head,” said Newson.
Beginning Friday night, I started to wrestle with an idea for a yoga and meditation workshop I’ll be giving in March for 160 hospice volunteers at MJHS. I consulted books, my teacher training materials, and personal experience. Nothing seemed to strike me as inspired or valuable enough for this incredibly opportunity. So I took Newson’s advice and I forgot about it.
Sure enough on Sunday morning I woke up brimming with ideas. All of a sudden the world of possibility cracked open, and I came up with ideas for this workshop as well as how to craft a set of workshops that could be offered in medical school, healthcare conferences, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools of social work, and yoga studios. I’m all for focused effort, but sometimes it helps to just take a break and have faith that the answer will rise in its own time.
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
2 thoughts on “Leap: How to solve a problem with the style of designer Marc Newson”
The problem is, Christa, that we try too hard. Growing up, society indocrinates us: we should form logical and coherent ideas by conscious thinking. Thus, we are programmed to use force to come up with new ideas. In the event, our subconscious mind feels hurt for receiving step-motherly treatment. Why play favorites? it seems to ask us. I am beautiful too, you know, I can be Cinderella too, if you give me the chance. It is about time our subconscious receives the red carpet treatment. It is only when we are in a state of “restful alertness” that our subconscious mind can be activated and persuaded to perform its wonders. In my case, I “receive” ideas every time I venture outside for a casual stroll. Out of the blankness of my mind, new ideas are born.
Even when we are asleep, our subconscious mind gently nudges us through dreams. Now if we could only find a way to capture dreams!
It’s so true, Archan. We push and push and push, when many times it would be so much better to just let go. The answer inevitably is with us all along, if only we will take the time to hear it. It’s something I’m working on in my own life. So far, so good!
Christa Avampato 
The problem is, Christa, that we try too hard. Growing up, society indocrinates us: we should form logical and coherent ideas by conscious thinking. Thus, we are programmed to use force to come up with new ideas. In the event, our subconscious mind feels hurt for receiving step-motherly treatment. Why play favorites? it seems to ask us. I am beautiful too, you know, I can be Cinderella too, if you give me the chance. It is about time our subconscious receives the red carpet treatment. It is only when we are in a state of “restful alertness” that our subconscious mind can be activated and persuaded to perform its wonders. In my case, I “receive” ideas every time I venture outside for a casual stroll. Out of the blankness of my mind, new ideas are born.
Even when we are asleep, our subconscious mind gently nudges us through dreams. Now if we could only find a way to capture dreams!
LikeLike
It’s so true, Archan. We push and push and push, when many times it would be so much better to just let go. The answer inevitably is with us all along, if only we will take the time to hear it. It’s something I’m working on in my own life. So far, so good!
LikeLike