Developing Creative Thinking through Art

Developing creative thinking skills that empower you to create your own future in uncertain and complex times.

Overview

This course uses a method that has been taken by many entrepreneurs and corporate leaders and has proven effective in human resource development and entrepreneurship development at over 200 companies, government agencies, universities, etc. Through the creation of art (abstract paintings) based on a theme and appreciation of other companies’ works, students  will improve their “creative thinking skills” and “creative communication skills” and acquire the basic skills to creatively carve out their own future while collaborating with a diverse range of others. In this course, you will develop six core 21st-century skills to empower you to create your own future and co-create a world of human flourishing with diverse people from all walks of life. 

📂 Category	Motivation
📌 Keywords	Self-awareness, Intrinsic Motivation, Verbalization, Creativity, Communication
🎯 Objectives	Acquire the foundational skills to help you realize your potential and carve out your own future, and collaboration skills to work effectively in diverse teams.
🌐 Language	Japanese & English
👥 Target Participants	Undergraduate Students (priority), Graduate Students
🗓 Format	4 sessions（100 min each, attendance for all sessions required) (in-person)
✅ Past & Upcoming Sessions	Day 1: 23/Jun/2026 (Tue) 17:15-18:55 Day 2: 30/Jun/2026 (Tue) 17:15-18:55 Day 3: 7/Jul/2026 (Tue) 17:15-18:55 Day 4: 14/Jul/2026 (Tue) 17:15-18:55 Held annually since FY2023
📍 Venue	S4-202, Ookayama
🌟 Recommended for	– want to discover their personal values and driving forces, what they want to do, and what their possibilities are – want to understand and acquire the essence of creative thinking necessary to solve complex problems – want to improve their “creative communication skills” necessary to collaborate with diverse people – want to understand and cultivate the mindset needed to build an authentic and rewarding career aligned with their values in these uncertain times – are anxious about the future or feel trapped in the status quo, and struggle to adopt a future-oriented mindset
📊 Points	8 points in total (2 points x 4 days) (Points to be awarded to students enrolled in the courses for credits. Please refer to the syllabus for details.)
🎟️ Capacity	40 participants

主な内容

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Facilitator

Past Event Records

Voices from Past Participants

• This is a great opportunity to reflect deeply on yourself and others. I recommend it to anyone looking for new challenges and encounters. Joining an English group is also very meaningful, as it allows you to practice expressing your opinions in English. (B1)
• Regardless of your artistic ability, this workshop allowed me to naturally reflect on my inner self and my future. I particularly felt that the “time spent drawing” and the “process of awareness” were valued more than the finished product, and I appreciated being able to work at my own pace. (B1)
• This is a class where you don’t need to be intimidated by the word “art.” All you have to do is express your feelings with color. It’s fun to chat about the pictures you drew in a group, and snacks are distributed, so I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a way to relax and do something active. (B1)
• I recommend it to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of themselves and others in ways they don’t usually do. (B2)
• This workshop was great for me to practice my art skills and really allowed me to explore myself and self reflect in a way I had not done before. I recommend this workshop for those who want to figure out more ways to get in touch with themselves. (M2)
• Whether you are into art or not, this is a must workshop. It allows you to have a couple of hours of introspection, where you can explore how art might help to channel your emotions. The instructors are extremely nice, and since some of us don’t speak Japanese, it is very appreciated their translation. Thank you for the snacks as well. (M2)
• In the midst of our busy daily lives, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to step into a different space- one where we can truly reflect on who we are and what we’re working toward. I highly recommend that everyone experience this at least once. Through the unexpected language of colors and shapes, you’ll have the chance to reconnect with yourself in a creative and meaningful way.(M2)
• The act of drawing is a good opportunity to rediscover the essence of yourself that you may not have known before. (D1)
• If you are willing to explore how creative you are beyond what you know, consider taking this workshop. It will help you discover what’s hidden inside of you and make a sense of the world by bringing your ideas alive through arts. (D2)

Event Report

Contact Faculty

Keisuke Yamada, Specially Appointed Professor, Academy for Leadership
📩 yamada.k.9f82 [at] m.isct.ac.jp