“There are cathedrals everywhere for those with the eyes to see.”

Inspiration is a very personal thing. What inspires you may or may not connect with a peer. Your taste and viewpoint is a reflection of what has inspired and influenced you.

Your travels, your education, and your algorithm all expose you to various new ideas, places, and personas that can subconsciously or consciously inspire your next big piece of work. A single class project my sophomore year of high school changed my perspective on architecture with the introduction of the nonconformist style of Frank Gehry.

We are going to lean into these singular inspirations and influences this week and shape our project around that.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission: Think about the people, places, or works of art that have shaped your creative voice.

• Choose one of these inspirations: someone you admire, a place that changed you, or a piece of art that stuck with you

• Reflect on how it influenced the way you create or express yourself

• Use that inspiration as a springboard to create something new

• Let your final piece reflect both their influence and your unique perspective

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Visual Artists

Reimagine a favorite piece of art in your own style or create a work inspired by an influential artist, movement, or place.

Writers

Write a piece inspired by a writer you admire—mimic their style for a paragraph, then let your voice take over.

Designers

Incorporate design elements from a style or era that inspires you (e.g., Bauhaus, Art Deco) but make it uniquely yours.

Musicians

Remix a song that has inspired you, or compose a piece that evokes the same emotions as a track you love.

Optional Add-On: Reflect of Your Process

After you’ve created your piece, take a moment to reflect:

• What was the original source of inspiration, and why does it resonate with you?

• How did that influence show up in your creative decisions?

• In what ways did your unique voice emerge and shift the direction of the piece?

• Did connecting with your inspiration help you better understand your own style?

Closing Encouragement

Inspiration can come from anywhere. A single piece of work can stick to your mind at any moment and dictate your next piece of work—whether you are actively seeking out that inspiration or let it come to you organically. We are choosing a singular piece of inspiration and letting ourselves use that piece to dictate our next project.

When you’re ready, share your piece with the community by tagging @SimplexCreativeClub and using #SimplexChallenge. We’d love to see what inspired you—and where it led.

My Inspiration:

Celtics Social Post

My Take:

Each one of us has lived a life where we have become the sum of all things that have happened before us. We are a combination of the relationships we’ve built and broken. We are the books we’ve read, the playlists we’ve looped, the TV shows we’ve cried through, and the hobbies we’ve outgrown or returned to.

All of these inputs, conscious and unconscious, have shaped the way we see the world and how we express ourselves creatively. They’ve woven themselves into our styles, our choices, our rhythms.

This week, we want you to slow down and tune in. Get to know your creative voice a little better. Not by inventing something new, but by looking inward and noticing what’s already there.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission: Take a moment to reflect, what makes your creative voice unique?

• Revisit old projects, notebooks, recordings, or files

• Look for recurring themes, techniques, emotions, or color palettes

• Notice how your voice shows up across different pieces

• Create something that brings those elements forward intentionally

Think of it as creating your quintessential piece—something that feels deeply, recognizably you.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can explore this challenge depending on your medium:

Visual Artists

• Look at past work and identify your go-to colors, motifs, or subjects.

• Create a piece that amplifies your favorite techniques or emotional tone.

• Try creating a "signature style" self-portrait, literal or abstract.

Writers

• Read through your previous work and find patterns in tone, pacing, or recurring themes.

• Write a piece that incorporates your most “you” elements, voice, structure, mood.

• Create a short manifesto poem or narrative that reflects your worldview.

Designers

• Explore your old design files, what colors, fonts, or layouts keep showing up?

• Build a branding piece or poster that reflects your design identity.

• Create a personal “style guide” for your visual voice.

Musicians

• Revisit older tracks or voice memos and find your signature sound or rhythm.

• Compose a new piece using your go-to instruments, tempo, or moods.

• Remix your past work into a new piece that reflects your evolution.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Process

Once you’ve created your piece, pause to reflect:

• What stood out when reviewing your past work?

• Were there traits you didn’t realize were consistent until now?

• How does it feel to intentionally express you in your work?

Consider journaling your insights or sharing them alongside your final piece.

Closing Encouragement

Your creative voice isn’t something you invent, it’s something you uncover. It’s already in your sketchbooks, your scraps of writing, your playlists, your half-finished ideas.

This week, give yourself the space to notice it. To celebrate it. To create with confidence and clarity in who you are and how you express.

📢 When you’re ready, share your piece with the community by tagging @SimplexCreativeClub and using #SimplexChallenge. We want to see what your voice looks like in full color.

Look back, look inward, and create something that’s undeniably yours. Let’s define our voices, one piece at a time.

Collaboration is built on trust. It’s about handing over your ideas and letting someone else interpret, build, or transform them.

This week, we’re taking that trust one step further: Create something—and pass it on without any explanation.

No context, no expectations, no directions.
Just pure, creative handoff.

This challenge is about letting go of control completely and allowing someone else’s imagination to take the lead. Let’s see what happens when we trust the creative process and each other.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission: Start a piece of creative work, then hand it off to someone else—without explaining what you intended.

• Create a sketch, record a melody, write a line, design a concept, or build the first layer of a project.

• Send it to a creative partner without any notes or instructions.

• Let them interpret, expand, and finish it however they see fit.

The goal is to allow total creative freedom and see how someone else's vision collides with yours.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can approach this challenge depending on your creative medium:

Visual Artists

• Sketch a random shape, line, or half-finished character—then let your partner complete the piece without knowing your idea.

• Start a color palette or background and let someone else add the subject.

• Draw abstract forms and invite another artist to define them.

Writers

• Write an opening line, a mysterious paragraph, or even just a random phrase.

• Let another writer take it and craft their own story, poem, or scene without asking what you meant.

• Or, hand off a journal entry for someone to fictionalize.

Designers

• Create an unfinished layout, logo, or poster skeleton.

• Send it to someone else to add the typography, imagery, or final concept without explaining the original purpose.

• Start a branding idea and see how someone else visualizes the identity.

Musicians

• Record a raw loop, a beat, or a snippet of a melody.

• Share it without telling your collaborator the vibe you imagined.

• See how they layer, expand, and reinterpret the piece in their own style.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on the Experience

Once your piece is finished, pause to reflect:

• How did it feel to hand off your idea without control?

• Were you surprised by what your collaborator created?

• What did you learn about your own expectations or assumptions?

Sharing both the original starting point and the final piece side by side can show just how far creative ideas can travel when you let them go.

Closing Encouragement

True collaboration isn’t about forcing someone to see your vision—it’s about trusting them to bring their own.

This week, let go of the outcome, trust your partner, and celebrate the unexpected. Some of the best creative moments happen when we leave space for surprise.

📢 Ready to share your blind collaboration? Tag @SimplexCreativeClub and use #SimplexChallenge so we can see the amazing transformations.

Start something. Pass it on without explanation. Trust the process. See where it takes you.

What happens when two completely different creative styles collide?

This week, we’re inviting you to partner with someone whose creative approach is nothing like yours. Maybe they work in a different medium. Maybe their style is louder, softer, messier, or more structured than yours. Either way, the goal is to blend your differences into something new.

Collaboration doesn’t always mean similarity. Sometimes, the most powerful creative breakthroughs come from contrast—from tension, friction, and unexpected combinations.

Let’s find the magic that happens when opposites meet.

The Challenge Prompt

Your challenge: Team up with a creative whose style or medium contrasts your own, and co-create a piece together.

• Combine different perspectives, tools, and techniques

• Allow space for both styles to exist—don’t try to match, try to merge

• Let the tension between your approaches guide the work

This is about honoring contrast, celebrating difference, and seeing what emerges when two creative worlds overlap.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can explore this challenge through contrasting collaborations:

Visual Artists x Writers 🎨✍️

• Illustrate a poem or short story, letting the text inspire mood, color, and form

• Turn a written scene into a visual narrative, or vice versa

• Design a zine together, with text and visuals intertwined

Musicians x Designers 🎵🖥

• Create an album cover or poster that reflects the tone and energy of a song

• Build a visual identity for a music project, blending sound and style

• Compose a short piece based on a visual mood board provided by your collaborator

Painters x Sculptors 🎨🗿

• Create a mixed-media installation that plays with both surface and form

• Use sculptural textures on a painted canvas—or paint directly onto a 3D object

• Contrast 2D expression with physical space in a shared piece

Photographers x Poets 📸📖

• Pair a photo series with poetry that mirrors or contrasts the emotion

• Write a poem based on a single photo prompt, or shoot images inspired by a single line

• Display the visual and written work side by side as one cohesive story

Optional Add-On: Document the Process

Take some time to reflect together once your piece is complete:

• How did your differences shape the final work?

• Did you find it challenging to merge your styles or media?

• What did you learn from working outside your usual comfort zone?

Consider documenting the process through notes, photos, or short videos. Sometimes the way the work comes together is just as powerful as the work itself.

Closing Encouragement

When you bring opposites together, you make space for something unexpected. This challenge is about trusting the creative tension, listening to each other, and letting your differences be your greatest strength.

📢 Share your collaborative creation with us by tagging @SimplexCreativeClub and using #SimplexChallenge, we want to see how your worlds collided.

Find a creative who’s nothing like you—and make something only the two of you could create together. Let contrast guide you. Let opposites collide.

Creativity is deeply personal. When we create, we bring an idea from intangible concept to something tangible—something others can feel, see, hear, and experience. It’s a beautiful process that, for many of us, can feel too personal to share control over.

But this week, we’re doing exactly that: letting go.

We’re asking you to start a creative piece and then hand it off to someone else. Or, take something someone else started and bring it forward in your own way.

This challenge is all about loosening our grip on perfection, control, and ownership—and exploring what happens when creativity becomes a shared journey.

Let’s see how our ideas evolve in someone else’s hands.

The Challenge Prompt

\Your challenge: Start a piece of work and pass it on—or pick up something that someone else has started.

• Begin with a sketch, a sentence, a melody, or a rough concept

• Pass it off to another creative to interpret, expand, or finish

• Let the process evolve naturally, without rigid expectations

This is about creative trust, openness, and the magic of co-creation.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can explore this challenge based on your medium:

Visual Artists

• Paint or sketch the first layer of a piece and let someone else respond to it

• Start a collage or texture-rich background and have a collaborator complete the image

• Share a half-finished drawing and see how they finish it in their style

Writers

• Write the opening line or paragraph of a story or poem, then hand it off

• Start a script or monologue and let someone else take it in a new direction

• Collaborate on a piece where each of you alternates sections blindly

Designers

• Create a basic layout, wireframe, or brand concept and let someone else finalize it

• Start a poster or graphic with placeholder elements and pass it off for visual refinement

• Build out part of a visual system (like a logo or color palette) and invite a collaborator to complete the rest

Musicians

• Record a loop, melody, beat, or chord progression

• Share your rough idea with someone else and let them layer, expand, or remix it

• Build the foundation of a song and let your collaborator finish the structure or lyrics

Optional Add-On: Reflect on the Transformation

Once your collaboration is complete, take a moment to reflect:

• What changed between the original and the final version?

• How did it feel to let go of control?

• Did the final result surprise you in any way?

Consider posting both the starting point and the finished piece together. The transformation itself is part of the art.

Closing Encouragement

When we let go of control, we make space for collaboration, evolution, and creative growth. Passing your work on to someone else isn’t about giving up—it’s about opening up to what your idea could become in someone else’s hands.

This week, trust the process. Be generous with your ideas. Let someone else bring their voice into your vision.

📢 Ready to share your shared creation? Tag @SimplexCreativeClub and use #SimplexChallenge so we can celebrate your collaboration in motion.

Start something. Or finish something someone else started. Let the creativity flow between hands, voices, and visions. Pass it on.

Creativity doesn’t have to be a solo act.

This week, we’re leaning into the magic that happens when two creative minds come together. Whether it’s with a friend, family member, or someone from the Simplex Minds community, your challenge is to collaborate on a single creative piece.

Collaboration means combining strengths, sharing ideas, and letting your styles influence each other. It might be messy, surprising, or wildly energizing—and that’s the beauty of it.

Let’s create something we wouldn’t have made alone.

The Challenge Prompt

Your challenge: Partner with another creative and make something together.

• Choose a collaborator and agree on a format or concept

• Share the process, pass the work back and forth, or create side by side

• Focus on combining your unique perspectives into something new

Whether you blend your styles seamlessly or let your differences shine, this is about connection through creativity.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can explore this challenge based on your medium:

Visual Artists

• Work on one canvas together, layering your marks and techniques

• Create a diptych where each of you completes one half

• Respond to each other’s sketches or brushstrokes in real time

Writers

• Co-write a poem or story, alternating lines, stanzas, or scenes

• Create two characters and write from their opposing points of view

• Start with a shared prompt and build your piece like a conversation

Musicians

• Collaborate on a track, with one of you building the beat and the other layering in melody or lyrics

• Record a call-and-response style piece

• Trade audio files back and forth, building it in layers over time

Designers

• Co-create a poster, brand concept, or digital illustration

• Combine your aesthetics—minimal meets maximal, vintage meets modern

• Build a visual identity together, drawing on both of your styles

Optional Add-On: Reflect on the Process

After your collaboration, take a moment to reflect:

• How did working together influence your ideas?

• What did your partner bring out in you creatively?

• Did the process feel energizing, challenging, or surprising?

Consider sharing a few thoughts alongside your collaborative piece. You never know who might be inspired to reach out and collaborate next.

Closing Encouragement

Collaboration is about connection, conversation, and co-creation. It reminds us that creativity isn’t just about individual voice, it’s about what can happen when voices come together.

Ready to share what you made? Tag @SimplexCreativeClub and use #SimplexChallenge so we can celebrate your collaborative work.

Reach out to someone. Pick an idea. Start creating together. Let’s kick off this month of collaboration by making something as a team.

Everything is a Remix

What you create will always be a remix of your experiences and interests. We take inspiration from so many things in life—why not take inspiration from a past version of yourself?

As we grow and develop, our creative archives become more and more rich with artistic expressions of who we are and once were. A lot of the time we seek inspiration from around us, forgetting about the pieces we’ve already made, the ones that might even inspire someone else.

This week, let’s dig into our portfolios, hard drives, notebooks, and sketchbooks. Find a project that still sparks something. Then, remake it. Reimagine it. Explore how your voice has evolved since the first time you created it.

The Challenge Prompt

Your challenge: Go back to something you’ve created and redo or reimagine it.

• Look through your creative archives and find a project that sparks interest

• Re-approach the project from a different angle or medium

• Allow yourself to try something new or unfamiliar

• Use what you’ve learned about process and progress to see it with fresh eyes

This is less about fixing something and more about reconnecting with your creative evolution.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can explore this challenge based on your medium:

Visual Artists

• Take an old sketch or painting and reinterpret it using your current style, tools, or techniques

• Transform a 2D piece into something dimensional—like collage, sculpture, or mixed media

• Revisit a concept and push it further than you did the first time

Writers

• Rewrite a story or poem you once abandoned, using your current voice or perspective

• Turn a personal essay into a fictional short story or vice versa

• Keep the original title or opening line and take it in a completely new direction

Designers

• Rework an old design project using updated tools, a new aesthetic, or stronger conceptual direction

• Take the same content (like a poster or layout) and design it in a different style

• Use your improved sense of typography, color, or composition to elevate the original idea

Musicians

• Re-record an old song, using new instrumentation, production techniques, or arrangement

• Take a melody or lyric idea and transform it into a new genre

• Use a raw voice memo or rough demo as the starting point for something bigger

Optional Add-On: Reflect on the Shift

After you’ve completed your reimagined piece, pause to reflect:

• How did it feel to revisit your past work?

• What surprised you about your old creative voice or approach?

• In what ways have you grown since then?

Your growth isn’t just in the finished product—it’s in the way you approach it differently now.

Closing Encouragement

Your old work isn’t outdated, it’s evidence of where you’ve been and a map of how far you’ve come. Revisiting it with fresh eyes can uncover ideas worth exploring, strengthening, or reshaping.

So this week, dig into your archives. Celebrate who you were, and remix it into who you are now.

📢 Want to share your creative remix? Tag @SimplexCreativeClub and use #SimplexChallenge so we can see how your voice has evolved.

We often share the polished final product, but what about everything that leads up to it? The messy drafts, the trial-and-error, the behind-the-scenes choices that make the final piece possible? That’s where all of the magic happens.

This week, we invite you to slow down and document your creative process. Show the in-between moments, the tiny decisions, the parts no one usually sees. Whether it's through photos, notes, or audio clips, focus less on what you’re making and more on how you’re making it.

Because creativity isn’t just about the outcome. It’s about the journey.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission this week: Document your process as you create something.

• Capture a series of photos, a time-lapse video, or a step-by-step breakdown.

• Focus on progress, not perfection.

• Share what it looks like to build your work from the inside out.

Whether your process is messy, structured, intuitive, or experimental, there’s something powerful in letting it be seen.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can explore this challenge based on your medium:

Visual Artists

• Take progress shots as your work develops—layers, textures, color shifts.

• Film a short time-lapse while you draw, paint, or sculpt.

• Share a side-by-side of your piece from start to finish.

Writers

• Post a snapshot of your brainstorming or messy outline.

• Share the evolution of a paragraph from rough draft to revision.

• Show margin notes or early freewriting that sparked your idea.

Designers

• Create a “before and after” or show your layout evolving in stages.

• Share iterations of a logo, poster, or layout as it comes to life.

• Highlight your sketchbook or initial wireframes.

Musicians

• Record snippets of your songwriting process—early melodies, lyric drafts, or rhythm experiments.

• Layer your composition one track at a time and share a behind-the-scenes mix.

• Show how your ideas shift between the first take and the refined version.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Process

After documenting your process, take a few moments to reflect:

• What did documenting your process reveal about how you work?

• Did it help you slow down or appreciate the steps more?

• Were there moments of surprise, struggle, or creative flow worth noting?

Sharing your reflections alongside your documentation can give others insight into your unique approach—and help you better understand it, too.

Closing Encouragement

Your process is part of your voice. It’s what makes your work yours. This week, instead of hiding the mess, the indecision, or the in-progress moments—show them. There’s so much to learn, share, and celebrate in the doing.

📢 Want to show your creative journey? Tag @SimplexCreativeClub and use #SimplexChallenge so we can celebrate the process with you.

Let’s pull back the curtain. Document your process, share the story behind your work, and find beauty in the making—not just the result.

We often focus on beginnings, when a new idea feels exciting, or endings, when everything is polished and complete. But what about the middle? The messy, uncertain, work-in-progress stage?

This week, we challenge you to pause and celebrate where you are right now.

Instead of waiting for the perfect, finished version of your work, share something unfinished, in-progress, or even stuck. Take a moment to appreciate the effort you’ve already put in.

Creativity isn’t just about the final product. It’s about the process.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission this week: Share something that’s halfway done.

• Choose a project that is still in progress.

• Resist the urge to polish it or make it perfect.

• Reflect on the work you’ve done so far. What’s working? What’s challenging?

Give yourself permission to celebrate your unfinished work.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can approach this challenge based on your creative discipline:

Visual Artists

• Share a half-finished painting, a rough sketch, or an early concept.

• Show the first layers before the details come in.

• Capture your workspace mid-process, mess and all.

Writers

• Post an excerpt from a work-in-progress story, poem, or essay.

• Share a paragraph or dialogue that is still rough but has potential.

• Show handwritten notes, brainstorming sessions, or crossed-out ideas.

Designers

• Reveal the wireframe or early drafts of a design project.

• Share an unfinished layout before refining the details.

• Show color palette explorations or typeface tests.

Musicians

• Record and share a first draft of a song or melody, even if it’s rough.

• Show early lyrics or chord progressions.

• Share a voice memo or raw recording from your songwriting process.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Process

After sharing your unfinished work, take a moment to reflect:

• How did it feel to celebrate something unfinished?

• What does progress look like for you?

• Does sharing your work mid-process help you appreciate the journey more?

Consider sharing your thoughts alongside your piece. Your insights might help others embrace their own creative process.

Closing Encouragement

We spend so much time chasing perfection that we forget to celebrate the progress we’ve already made. This week’s challenge is about recognizing that creativity is a journey and every step matters.

So don’t wait until it’s perfect. Share your work in the middle. Show the messy, the incomplete, the in-progress. Every masterpiece was once unfinished.

Want to share your work-in-progress? Tag @SimplexCreativeClub and use #SimplexChallenge to celebrate the beauty of the unfinished.

Let’s celebrate the middle. Find something in progress, share it as it is, and take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come.

Have you ever tried to make something purposefully ugly?

Not something that you aimed to look good and it just ended up being ugly due to whatever reasons. But something where your aim was to create something just bad. Like really bad. Like so bad you want to apologize for ever creating it. (I’m sorry).

This week, we want you to aim for bad. Aim for ugly. Aim to make something that makes you cringe when you look at it. Make something that you’ll want to shred by the time you’re done with it. And the best part? It doesn’t matter, because this is all about letting go.

When you stop worrying about making something “good,” you might just unlock something unexpected.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission this week: Make the worst version of something you’ve ever created. On purpose.

• Let go of perfection.

• Break the rules.

• Embrace the mess.

This isn’t about failure. It’s about freedom. Give yourself permission to create something bad just for the sake of creating.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can approach this challenge based on your creative discipline:

Visual Artists

• Paint or sketch without worrying about composition or detail. Make it wild, chaotic, or bizarre.

• Smudge colors together randomly, use clashing shades, or draw something totally unrecognizable.

• Draw or paint with your non-dominant hand and see what happens.

Writers

• Write the most ridiculous, poorly structured story, poem, or dialogue you can imagine.

• Make your grammar horrible, your plot nonsensical, and your descriptions over-the-top.

• Try writing in a style that feels completely wrong for you.

Designers

• Use clashing colors, chaotic layouts, or “wrong” typography choices.

• Deliberately make a design that breaks every “good design” rule.

• Overload a page with fonts, contrast, and completely unnecessary elements.

Musicians

• Record a goofy, experimental track without any pressure to sound polished.

• Play instruments in a way that doesn’t “fit,” add offbeat sounds, or intentionally mess with timing.

• Make a song full of wrong notes, weird harmonies, and unexpected key changes.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Process

Once your ugly draft is complete, ask yourself:

• How did it feel to create something without worrying about it being "good"?

• Did this process help you loosen up or reveal something about your usual approach?

• What, if anything, did you learn about your perfectionist tendencies?

Consider sharing your reflections alongside your “ugly” creation. Your insights might help someone else embrace imperfection, too.

Closing Encouragement

Perfectionism can be a creativity killer. This challenge is your permission slip to break free from that mindset and just make something without overthinking. I definitely did not over think this week’s graphics.

The best part? Sometimes, when we stop trying to make something good, we end up stumbling onto something unexpectedly brilliant. As you can see above.

So go ahead and make something ugly. Make something messy. Make something bad on purpose. And most of all, have fun with it.

Want to share your gloriously terrible creation? (please don’t) Tag @SimplexMinds and use #SimplexChallenge—we want to see your best worst work 🤢

Ready to make something awful? Lean into the chaos, embrace the cringe, and make something that breaks all the rules. Let’s create without fear this week.

Creativity thrives when we give ourselves permission to just create without overthinking, over-planning, or getting stuck on perfection.

But let’s be honest: it’s easy to get caught up in the details. We revise, we hesitate, we tell ourselves, it’s not ready yet. This week, we’re challenging you to let go of that mindset and embrace speed over perfection.

Your only task? Set a timer for 1 hour and create. That’s it. No obsessing over every detail. No endless revisions. Just pure, unfiltered making.

Let’s see what happens when we stop thinking and start creating.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission this week: Create something in 1 hour; no more, no less.

• Set a timer for 60 minutes.

• Dive into your creative process immediately. Don’t wait for the perfect idea—just start.

• Let go of perfection. The goal is progress, not a masterpiece.

Remember: It’s not about finishing. It’s about freeing yourself to create without hesitation.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you can approach the challenge based on your creative discipline:

Visual Artists

• Sketch, doodle, or paint something quickly without worrying about fine details.

• Use bold strokes, loose lines, or fast color blocking. Keep your hands moving.

• Challenge yourself to fill a page with ideas instead of focusing on one “perfect” piece.

Writers

• Free-write a short story, poem, or journal entry. No stopping, no editing.

• Set a word goal (e.g., 500 words in 1 hour) and push yourself to reach it.

• Use a random word or phrase as your starting point and just go.

Designers

• Create a quick poster, layout, or concept without over-polishing.

• Experiment with composition and color schemes rapidly.

• Challenge yourself to design something completely new without second-guessing.

Musicians

• Improvise a short melody, song, or beat in under an hour.

• Layer instruments and sounds without worrying about perfect mixing.

• Record an idea spontaneously. Don’t overanalyze the notes.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Process

Once your hour is up, take a moment to reflect:

• How did it feel to create with a time limit?

• Did focusing on speed free you up creatively?

• What did you discover about your process?

Consider sharing your reflections alongside your work. Your insights might inspire someone else to let go of perfection, too.

Closing Encouragement

Creativity doesn’t have to be slow, meticulous, or exhausting. Sometimes, the best ideas emerge when we stop second-guessing ourselves and just create.

This week, we invite you to trust your instincts, embrace the messy, and see what unfolds when you focus on progress over perfection.

Want to share your 1-hour creation? Tag @Simplex.Minds and use #SimplexChallenge. We’d love to see what you come up with!

Ready to break free from overthinking? Set your timer, hit start, and just create. Let’s make something in an hour, together.

Rules are there to guide us, but sometimes, breaking them is where true creativity happens.

This week, we’re challenging you to embrace rebellion—break a rule in your creative process. It could be a technical guideline, a personal boundary, or even a well-established artistic convention.

Stepping outside the lines might feel uncomfortable, but it can also lead to surprising breakthroughs, fresh ideas, and new perspectives. Let’s see what happens when we embrace imperfection and defy the norms.

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission this week: Break a rule in your creative process.

• Choose a rule you’ve always followed—it could be technical, personal, or conventional.

• Defy it boldly. Let the process take you somewhere unexpected.

Remember: This is about exploration, not perfection. Breaking rules is how we discover new possibilities.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here’s how you might break the rules in your medium:

Visual Artists

• Use “forbidden” colors you never mix—clash hues boldly and see what happens.

• Ignore the rule of thirds or symmetry in your composition.

• Paint with unconventional tools like sponges, sticks, or even your hands.

Writers

• Throw grammar and punctuation out the window. Let the flow of your thoughts take over.

• Write a story that ends in the middle or begins at the end.

• Experiment with a style or genre that feels completely “wrong” for you.

Designers

• Create a messy, imperfect design—embrace chaos instead of clean lines.

• Use clashing fonts or an unusual color palette you’d never consider.

• Deliberately over-design your piece or break balance rules to make it stand out.

Musicians

• Break a traditional chord progression or scale structure.

• Layer sounds in unconventional ways or add “offbeat” elements that feel disruptive.

• Create something dissonant, experimental, or completely outside your usual genre.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Process

Take time to reflect on your experience after breaking the rule:

• What rule did you choose to break, and why?

• How did it feel to go against it?

• Did it spark new ideas or techniques for you?

• What did you learn from the process?

Sharing your reflection can inspire others and show the value of creative rule-breaking.

Closing Encouragement

Breaking rules isn’t about being reckless. It’s about finding freedom, growth, and innovation in places you’ve never explored. When you step outside the lines, you give yourself permission to create without limits.

This week, be bold. Embrace imperfection. See what surprises come from defying the rules you’ve always followed.

We’re excited to see your rebellious creations! Share your work and reflections with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge.

What rule will you break this week? Push the boundaries, explore the unknown, and create something unexpected. Let’s break some rules together!

Creativity thrives on change, but we all have habits that shape how we create. While routines can be comforting, they can also limit us if we never step outside them.

This week, we’re inviting you to break your creative routine and see where it takes you. Whether it’s experimenting with scale, style, or process, shaking things up can open the door to new ideas, unexpected results, and growth.

It might feel uncomfortable at first, but that’s where the magic happens. Let’s embrace the unfamiliar together!

The Challenge Prompt

This week’s challenge: Step outside your comfort zone by breaking a creative habit.

• If you always plan meticulously, try improvising.

• If you usually work small, go big.

• If you prefer quiet, precise methods, get messy and bold.

  

Shake up your process and see what happens. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s discovery.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here are some ways to break your routine:

Visual Artists

• Use a larger or smaller canvas than usual.

• Experiment with tools you don’t typically use, like palette knives, markers, or even your hands.

• If you’re drawn to realistic art, try abstract techniques—or vice versa.

Writers

• Write in a genre you’ve never explored before, such as horror, romance, or sci-fi.

• If you typically write in long form, experiment with flash fiction or poetry.

• Break your usual routine by writing at a different time of day or in a new location.

Designers

• If symmetry and precision are your comfort zone, try creating chaotic, asymmetrical designs.

• Use a color palette or texture that feels completely outside your norm.

• Challenge yourself to design without using any of your go-to tools or techniques.

Musicians

• Switch up your usual tempo or key.

• Try composing in a genre you’re unfamiliar with, or incorporate an unexpected instrument.

• Record a live improvisation session and let spontaneity guide you.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Experience

After completing your piece, take a moment to reflect:

• What creative habit did you break, and why?

• How did it feel to step out of your comfort zone?

• Did this challenge lead to new insights, techniques, or ideas?

Sharing your reflection can deepen your understanding of the experience and inspire others to step outside their routines too.

Closing Encouragement

Breaking a routine can be intimidating, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to grow creatively. The process of trying something new—whether it feels messy, freeing, or even frustrating—can uncover hidden strengths and push your creativity to unexpected places.

This week, let go of your usual habits and embrace the thrill of experimentation. Who knows what you’ll discover?

We’d love to see how you break your routine! Share your work and reflections with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge.

This week, try something new. Break a habit. Step outside your comfort zone. Let’s see what happens when we shake things up!

What sparks your curiosity?

It could be a question you’ve always wondered about, a random object that catches your eye, or a new idea you’ve just discovered. Curiosity is a powerful creative tool—it invites exploration, fuels imagination, and leads us to unexpected places.

This week, we’re challenging you to follow your curiosity and see where it takes you. Let it be your guide as you create something inspired by the question, “What if?”

The Challenge Prompt

Your challenge this week is simple yet open-ended: Follow your curiosity.

• Find something that intrigues or fascinates you.

• It could be an idea, a question, a place, or even an ordinary object.

• Ask yourself, “What if?”, and let the answer shape your next creation.

This is your chance to turn curiosity into a spark that ignites your creativity.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here are some ways to dive into this challenge:

Visual Artists

• Study an everyday object closely, like a coffee mug, tree branch, or piece of fabric. What happens if you interpret it in a surreal or imaginative way?

• Explore “What if?” questions visually: What if trees could float? What if shadows had color?

Writers

• Write a story or poem inspired by a “What if?” question. Examples:

  • What if time moved backward?

  • What if animals could talk?

  • What if the stars were tiny worlds?

• Use curiosity to uncover a new perspective in your writing.

Designers

• Research a design style you’re unfamiliar with (e.g., Bauhaus, Art Deco, Minimalism).

• Create something inspired by its shapes, colors, or principles while adding your personal twist.

Musicians

• Ask a “What if?” question about sound: What if you layered natural sounds with electronic beats?

• Let your curiosity guide your choice of instruments, structure, or tone.

Optional Add-On: Share Your Source of Curiosity

After completing your piece, take a moment to reflect:

• What sparked your curiosity? Share a photo, a short blurb, or a quick sketch of your inspiration.

• How did it guide your creative process?

• Did curiosity take you somewhere unexpected?

Sharing these details alongside your work adds depth and connects your audience to your journey.

Closing Encouragement

Curiosity is a doorway to endless creative possibilities. It invites us to ask questions, explore new paths, and discover things we might otherwise overlook. This week’s challenge isn’t about finding the “right” answer—it’s about embracing curiosity as a guide and seeing where it leads.

Let’s explore together. Follow your curiosity, and don’t be afraid to ask, “What if?”

We can’t wait to see what you create! Share your work and reflections with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge.

This week, let your curiosity lead the way. Find something that intrigues you, ask “What if?” and turn it into your next creation. Let’s dive in!

Every creative has their comfort zone—the tools, techniques, and styles that feel like second nature. But growth often happens when we step outside of that familiarity and embrace the unknown.

This week’s challenge is all about exploring uncharted territory. What happens when a painter picks up a pen? Or a writer experiments with photography? Trying something new can shift your perspective, spark unexpected ideas, and even breathe new life into your favorite medium.

Let’s get curious and see where the unfamiliar takes us!

The Challenge Prompt

Your mission this week: Pick a medium you’ve never worked with before (or rarely use) and dive in.

• If you’re a visual artist, try your hand at writing or collage.

• If you’re a writer, explore photography, painting, or even music.

• If you’re a musician, experiment with a new instrument, app, or sound.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s discovery. Let the unfamiliar guide your process and see what surprises emerge.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Visual Artists

• Try digital tools if you usually work traditionally, or create a small sculpture with found objects.

• Experiment with collage using magazine clippings, fabric, or random materials from around the house.

Writers

• Write a blackout poem by redacting words from a printed page to reveal something new.

• Try stream-of-consciousness writing and see where your unfiltered thoughts lead.

• Explore microfiction—a story in six words or under 300 characters.

Musicians

• Use an instrument or sound library you’ve never tried before.

• Explore a music app that lets you manipulate beats or loops in a new way.

• Challenge yourself to create a piece in an unfamiliar genre.

Designers

• Experiment with hand-drawn sketches or typography if you usually design digitally.

• Use an unconventional medium like chalk or fabric to create a tactile design.

Optional Add-On: Reflect on Your Experience

After diving into your new medium, take a moment to reflect:

• What was it like working with something unfamiliar?

• What surprised you about the process?

• Did this spark any new ideas for your main medium?

Writing or sharing your reflections can deepen your understanding of the experience and inspire others to try the same.

Closing Encouragement

Creativity thrives on exploration, and this week’s challenge is an invitation to embrace play and discovery. It’s not about mastering a new skill—it’s about shaking things up, taking risks, and seeing what happens when you approach creativity from a fresh angle.

The beauty of trying something new is that it often reveals unexpected strengths, ideas, and possibilities. So grab your tools (or something entirely new), and dive in.

We can’t wait to see what you create! Share your work and reflections with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge.

This week, step into the unfamiliar and explore a new medium. What will you try? Let’s find out together!

Inspiration doesn’t always arrive with a flash of brilliance. Sometimes, it hides in the ordinary, the overlooked, or the downright unexpected.

This week, we’re inviting you to seek creativity where you least expect it. A mundane object, a simple phrase, or a familiar setting, these everyday elements hold untapped potential. All it takes is a little curiosity to uncover their magic.

Let’s step out of our comfort zones and let the unexpected guide our creativity.

The Challenge Prompt

This week’s challenge is all about embracing the unexpected:

1. Find unlikely inspiration—pick an object, phrase, or setting that wouldn’t typically spark creativity for you.

2. Let it guide your next creation—use this inspiration as the foundation for your work.

Whether it’s a coffee cup, a grocery store trip, or a toothbrush, push yourself to reimagine the familiar. Let the challenge take your creativity somewhere new and exciting.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here are some ideas to jumpstart your exploration:

Visual Artists

Pick a mundane object—like a chair, a keychain, or a streetlight—and create an imaginative interpretation. How can you transform the ordinary into something extraordinary?

Writers

Write a story or poem inspired by an everyday moment. It could be a conversation overheard at the store, the contents of a forgotten drawer, or a scene from your morning commute.

Designers

Experiment with an unconventional color palette, texture, or typography style you wouldn’t usually explore. How does it change the mood or impact of your design?

Musicians

Turn everyday sounds into music—incorporate the hum of an appliance, the rhythm of footsteps, or snippets of overheard dialogue into your piece.

Optional: Share Your Unlikely Inspiration

Take a moment to reflect:

• What was your unexpected spark of inspiration?

• How did it shape the way you approached your work?

• Did stepping out of your comfort zone help you discover something new about your process?

Sharing your inspiration and reflection can make your work even more relatable and engaging.

Closing Encouragement

Creativity thrives in the unknown, and this week is your chance to lean into it. Finding inspiration in unlikely places helps us grow as creatives, it challenges our habits, reshapes our perspective, and opens the door to innovation.

Take this challenge as an invitation to pause, observe, and let curiosity lead the way. There’s beauty waiting to be uncovered in the most unexpected places.

We can’t wait to see what inspires you! Share your creations with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge.

Ready to dive in? Find something unexpected and let it spark your next piece. Step out of your comfort zone and explore the magic of unlikely inspiration this week.

What does your wildest dream for 2025 look like?

A gallery wall of your artwork? Publishing your first novel? Launching a groundbreaking creative project? Having your own brick and mortar space for creative events? 😶

This week, we’re challenging you to think big, really big. It’s time to channel your hopes, goals, and the boundless excitement of the year ahead into something bold and imaginative.

2025 is just beginning, and the possibilities are endless. Let’s embrace that limitless energy and turn it into art.

The Challenge Prompt

This week’s challenge is simple: Dream as big as possible.

Create something inspired by your wildest ambitions, hopes, or goals for 2025. Think about what excites you most about the year ahead and let that energy guide your work.

Your dream could be:

• A bold vision for a creative project.

• A glimpse into your ideal life.

• A fantastical interpretation of what “success” means to you.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

Here are some ideas to get started:

Visual Artists

Illustrate a surreal, imaginative scene that reflects your dream world. Maybe it’s a vibrant cityscape of opportunity, or a symbolic journey through your goals.

Writers

Write a fictional story about someone chasing an impossible dream—or journal about your own hopes in creative prose. What emotions, challenges, and triumphs define your pursuit?

Designers

Design something bold, colorful, and playful. Think big, use daring shapes and bright tones, and let your work embody a sense of boundless possibility.

Musicians

Compose a piece that builds momentum—start small and quiet, and let it crescendo into something powerful and triumphant.

Optional: Reflect on Your Creative Goals

Take a moment after completing your piece to reflect:

• What’s one creative goal you want to accomplish this year?

• How does your work this week represent that dream?

Writing this reflection can help clarify your vision for 2025 and connect your creative process to your personal growth.

Closing Encouragement

Big dreams can feel overwhelming, but they’re also the spark that keeps us moving forward. This week’s challenge isn’t about achieving those dreams right now, it’s about visualizing what’s possible and letting that vision inspire you.

Take this moment to embrace the excitement of dreaming big. No limits, no hesitation, just the bold energy of what’s ahead.

We’d love to see where your imagination takes you! Share your work with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge.

Let’s dream big together.

Ready to create? Pick up your tools and let your biggest dream for 2025 guide your work this week. Let’s make something extraordinary.

Week 2 Challenge: Opposites Attract

Small and large.
Fire and water.
Up and down.
Simple and complex.

Opposites are all around us, shaping the way we see, feel, and experience the world. They may live on opposite ends of the spectrum, but they are forever tied together—one cannot exist without the other.

This week’s challenge invites you to explore the relationship between opposites and let their tension spark something new in your creativity. When we embrace the interplay between extremes, we discover a rich space for growth, experimentation, and unexpected inspiration.

The Challenge Prompt

Combine two opposites in your next creation—light vs. dark, soft vs. sharp, or chaos vs. order. Let the energy between these extremes inspire something fresh and dynamic.

Think about:

• How do opposites interact and influence each other?

• Can one emphasize or even transform the other?

• What happens when they coexist within your work?

This is your opportunity to push boundaries and create something uniquely yours.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

No matter your medium, opposites can breathe new life into your creative process:

Visual Artists

Play with bold contrasts—explore high-contrast black and white, or mix soft textures with harsh, jagged lines. What emotions can you evoke by combining extremes visually?

Writers

Write a story or poem where two opposing forces meet. This could be characters with clashing values, emotions that contradict, or even a concept like peace within chaos. How do they coexist, and what comes from their tension?

Musicians

Compose a piece or create a playlist that alternates between calm and energetic moods. How can the interplay of opposites guide the listener on an emotional journey?

Designers

Experiment with juxtaposition in your layouts or typography—think modern vs. vintage styles, structured grids against freeform elements.

Optional: Reflect on Your Process

After completing your piece, take a moment to reflect:

• What opposites did you choose, and why?

• How did exploring their relationship influence your creative choices?

• Did this challenge take your work in a new or unexpected direction?

Sharing these insights alongside your creation can add depth and invite others into your process.

Closing Encouragement

Opposites create balance, harmony, and sometimes even sparks of brilliance. By embracing tension and contrast, you can unlock new possibilities and push your creativity to unexpected places.

Remember: the beauty of creativity lies in exploration. Let this challenge guide you into uncharted territory, and don’t be afraid to take risks.

We’d love to see what you create! Share your work with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge.

What opposites will you explore this week? Let’s find out together.

Call to Action:

Your challenge this week is simple: Pick two opposites, explore their dynamic, and see where they take you. The journey starts now!

Week 1 Challenge: A Fresh Start

New Years is a magical thing. It is the one time of the year everyone across the whole world pauses, symbolically closes a chapter, and begins anew. What has happened in 2024 is behind us and we have a fresh new canvas to build upon.

The new year is filled with so much potential. It gives us the ability to reset, reflect, and reimagine everything and anything within our lives. It’s the perfect time to ignore the noise and focus on what truly matters. And that’s what the first creative challenge of the year is focused on. We are embracing simplicity and exploring our creative fresh start.

The Challenge Prompt

For the first challenge of 2025, we invite you to create something that represents a fresh start. This could take many forms:

• A clean slate.

• The beginning of a new chapter.

• The first small step toward something bigger.

Use simplicity or minimalism as your guide—strip everything down to the essentials and let that be your creative anchor.

Creative Examples to Inspire You

No matter your medium or creative practice, here are a few ideas to help you get started:

Visual Artists

Create a minimalist piece using only one or two colors. Think of it as a visual reset—what story can you tell with less?

Writers

Write a short story or poem about a character taking their first step into the unknown. How does it feel to embrace the unfamiliar?

Designers

Explore a “clean slate” aesthetic. Experiment with white space, a limited palette, or stripped-down typography to convey clarity and intention.

Musicians

Compose a simple melody with just a few notes or instruments, evoking a sense of calm and new beginnings.

Optional: Reflect

Once you’ve created your piece, take a moment to reflect:

• What does a fresh start mean to you, personally or creatively?

• How does simplicity or minimalism shape the way you approached this challenge?

Consider sharing your reflection alongside your work to add depth to your creative expression.

Closing Encouragement

As we step into this new year, remember: you don’t have to have everything figured out all at once. Creativity, like life, is a journey of small, intentional steps. This week’s challenge is your invitation to take that first step, embracing the beauty of starting fresh.

We can’t wait to see where this challenge takes you. Share your work with the Simplex Minds community by tagging us and using the hashtag #SimplexChallenge. Let’s celebrate this fresh start together.

What does your fresh start look like? Pick up your tools, clear the clutter, and create something new this week. The journey begins here.

Huge shoutout to Elijah, Nico, and Tiyana for allowing us to occupy the space.

I always wanted to host events. The first event I tried to put on was in 2023, no one showed up. The second event I did, only my family showed up. Then I took a break from hosting events. My anxiety would go up and the lack of attendance made it tough to want to keep going.

Then after a creative meet up in July from the creator, Koysun, I saw that there was a need for more creative events and meetups. I then decided to just go for it and start doing events.

Sorry I didn’t send invites here… I was really anxious and nervous 😅.

We started with once a month, to then twice a month, to now I can now say that we will be going weekly!!

Every Thursday from 4-7PM you can catch in person Creative Club events at Quiet Storm Roasters! (3590 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103)

At these events, you will be given the space to create for the sake of creating. We will be having collaging supplies if you’d like to collage. You can also do the Creative Challenge of the week there if you’d like. You can bring your own supplies and create using our Creative Roulette cards that we are currently developing (you can only try them out here 👀).

The main reason I want to do in-person events is to create a community of creatives who’s main purpose to being there is to create and have fun. Not there with the purpose of “networking” even though I do encourage meeting new people. I just want to create a genuine community of creatives who just love being creative.

So if it is a Thursday and you feel like coming down to create something, come on down! We will be here!

I’m so excited for the future of Creative Club and Simplex Minds as a whole. 2025 is going to be crazy, I can tell you that much.

Thank you for being here early. I appreciate you more than you know. See y’all on Thursdays!