Can I take the course for free?

No, you cannot take this course for free. When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

This Specialization doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Specialization Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more.

Creative Ideation: From Inspiration to Creative Action Specialization

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Creative Ideation: From Inspiration to Creative Action Specialization

Build Creative Confidence and Spark New Ideas.

Turn creative blocks into ideas, expressive art, and meaningful goals through hands-on practice.

Instructor: Skillshare

Included with Learn more

3 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

Beginner level

No prior experience required

4 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

Beginner level

No prior experience required

4 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Apply practical creative ideation techniques to generate original ideas, challenge assumptions, and approach problems from new perspectives.
Use reflection, goal-setting, and visual storytelling to create a personal vision board and turn meaningful goals into actionable next steps.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

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Advance your subject-matter expertise

Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
Earn a career certificate from Skillshare

Specialization - 3 course series

This Specialization is designed for creatives, aspiring artists, and anyone looking to overcome creative blocks, generate original ideas, and turn inspiration into action. Through three courses led by Esteban Gast, Ashton Womack, and Jamie Smith, you’ll explore practical ideation techniques, build a sustainable art journaling practice, and create a personal vision board—developing the confidence and tools to think creatively, express yourself, and make meaningful progress toward your goals.

Applied Learning Project

Across this Specialization, you’ll complete hands-on creative projects that turn ideas and inspiration into tangible results. You’ll experiment with techniques for generating original ideas, create a collection of expressive art journal pages through a seven-day challenge, and design a personal vision board that reflects your goals and priorities. Along the way, you’ll practice overcoming creative blocks, making intuitive decisions, exploring new perspectives, and translating your ideas into achievable next steps.

The Creative Toolkit: 6 Techniques to Spark Original Ideas

Course 1, 4 hours

What you'll learn

Learn how to come up with more original ideas, explore your creative process, and build a toolkit you can use to spark creativity anytime, anywhere. In this course, teacher, author, and comedian Esteban Gast breaks down the science of creativity and shows you how the right systems and processes can help you develop better ideas.

If you’ve ever sat at your desk waiting for inspiration to strike or wondered why the muse seems to visit everyone but you, this class is for you! Esteban shares six practical techniques to help you think differently: Juxtaposition, Problem Tree, Lotus Blossom, Reframing, Bad Questions, and Constraints. The course is divided into three parts to help you explore your creative process, learn these tools, and put them into practice. Designed for creatives of all kinds, this class is for artists, writers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to expand their creative potential. No prior experience, special equipment, or software is required. Some drawing and journaling skills may help, but don’t worry—Esteban can only draw stick figures, so you’ll be just fine! By the end of this course, you’ll be able to apply six creative techniques, challenge your usual ways of thinking, and build repeatable habits for generating unique ideas. No waiting for the muse required!

10-Minute Art Journaling: 7-Day Challenge to Beat Your Block

Course 2, 4 hours

What you'll learn

By the end of this class, you’ll be able to overcome artist’s block, build a sustainable art journaling habit, and create expressive artwork in just 10 minutes a day! Join artist and educator Ashton Womack for a 7-day art journaling challenge designed to help you loosen up, trust your intuition, and rediscover the joy of creating.

Whether you’re an artist feeling stuck or a beginner looking for a new creative hobby, this class will help you make time for creativity without the pressure of perfection. You’ll learn how to put together a small art supply kit, use daily prompts to spark inspiration, and experiment with drawing, painting, writing, and collage. You’ll also practice making intuitive creative decisions and finding inspiration in reference photos, your imagination, and everyday materials. No formal art training is required! All you need is a journal or sketchbook and a few supplies you feel comfortable using. By the end of the 7 days, you’ll have a collection of journal pages, practical tools for working through creative blocks, and a simple routine you can continue long after the challenge ends. Plus, you’ll get 30 bonus prompts to keep your creative momentum going!

Inspiration To Reality: Make A Vision Board For Your Goals

Course 3, 3 hours

What you'll learn

By the end of this class, you’ll have a vision board that reflects what you truly want, a clearer sense of direction, and a plan to start turning your goals into reality! Join Jamie Smith for a guided creative process that combines journaling, self-reflection, and collage to help you get clear on where you are and where you want to go.

Whether you're feeling stuck, ready for a fresh start, or simply looking to be more intentional about your future, this class will help you connect with your goals and create a vision that feels meaningful to you. Through guided writing exercises, you'll explore where you are right now, identify two areas of your life you'd like to focus on, and uncover how you want to feel as you move forward. Then, you'll learn a simple three-step process for creating a visual board filled with images, ideas, and inspiration that represent your desires and dreams. No previous vision board or art-making experience is needed! Just bring an open mind, a willingness to reflect, and your creativity. By the end, you'll have a personal visualization tool and a practical plan for using it to stay focused and take action toward the life you want.

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Skillshare

249 Courses172,308 learners

Offered by

Skillshare

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Frequently asked questions

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.