Ir. Brouwer, W.

Creativity: the ability of people to be resilient, and resourceful, basically to survive. Creativity is at the heart of design. I'm interested in creativity in political and complex systems, hence my interest for designing in governments. I believe design is a form in which creativity is channeled to concrete results.

I believe in writing in the 1st person, not 3rd person. I believe in beauty, tangibility, and creativity. I believe people are part of nature. As Rhinelander, I believe in connectivity, trust, craftsmanship, and inspiration over the Anglo-American organization terms: command, control, communication, and intelligence.

Academic Background

I've always been interested in 'how do people create?', 'how do they solve problems?', and also in the meaning of work. This is where my interest in creativity in complex organizations comes from.

As IDE-alumni I worked as an independent consultant for over a decade: designing business games, facilitating creativity workshops, and training people in using more creativity. I still do this one day a week.

As a student, I loved the course Creative Facilitation. In 2018 I got the chance to become a part-time lecturer at IDE, also lecturing CF and co-developing the Minor Connected Creativity, I'm the course coordinator of the theoretical course on creativity (CreativiTree).

I love to be part of more reflective courses about design, like the strategic value of design, understanding values and leadership & project organization. If I have a spot, I always take on graduating students.

Since 2020 I'm President of the European Association for Creativity and Innovation (EACI). I'm currently looking into researching design and creativity in governments.

Education

• 2007 – 2009
  MSc Strategic Product Design, Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology
• 2006 – 2006
  Study abroad at École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris, Paris, France
• 2001 – 2007
  BSc Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology

Experience

• 2017 – present
  Researcher on Creativity, Creativityn
• 2011 – present
  Consultant, business game designer, facilitator & trainer of creativity and innovation, Williswijs
• 2010 – 2010
  Service Designer, Sunday Afternoon
• 2009 – 2010
  Trainee, Nederlands Centrum Sociale Innovatie
  

Lectures/Coaches students on

• Strategic Product Innovation
• Creativity