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How can creative research enrich design practice and how it influenced the work of Jim Henson?

When it comes to creativity, it is a natural part of the process to seek inspiration. Creatives are constantly drawing on each other and seeking new ways to expand their own work through any opportunity presented to them. I believe the truly determined creative will find whatever means necessary to pursue their ambition to make it in the industry and establish their own design practise. A key example of this that I find particularly fascinating, and a person I have personally looked to for inspiration, is none other than Jim Henson.

Though he wasn’t directionless, Jim, like myself, was interested and influenced by countless forms and areas of media and would go on to be inspired by numerous other creatives like Frank Oz, Brain Froud and his wife Jane Henson.

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By the time Jim got his start in the Mid-50’s he was already very talented in many different artistic mediums - ‘Jim studied art and graphic design…designed sets, and took courses that ranged from landscape painting [to] costume illustration.’[2] In an interview[3], Jim speaks about puppetry saying how ‘it’s certainly not a career one would plan’. Henson reiterates that he was ‘interested in television, in films and art’ and that by going into puppetry he found he could ‘combine all that stuff’. Henson’s passion for growing his creative practises and his deep-rooted desire to explore the world of television broadened his prospects exponentially.

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It is hugely inspiring for my own practise that Henson was such a large-scale thinker who constantly wanted to try everything and pursue multiple creative paths simultaneously as I often find myself in this position.

Experimentation was a key part of what made Jim Henson such an admired innovator. His ever-present ‘creative research’ gave him the ability to see potential in those around him and bring them all together to build a vision as a creative team.

I think it is very telling of an artist if, by nature, they seek out collaboration and believe in the talents of others. Cofounder and chief creative officer of the Jim Henson Exhibition [5]Brian Collins says how what “Henson was really good at was bringing out the good in the people he worked with year after year after year’ [6]further showing how Jim’s creative research expanded into finding and recognising a certain type of creativity and talent in others and ultimately providing them a creative environment that enriches the design practise of all those involved.

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As a creative, whose ambition in the industry can be drawn directly from the inspiration they find in Jim Henson, I believe it undeniable that creative research enriches design practice. Jim was able to utilise his meticulously curated talents and plethora of interests and bring them all together via an unexpected opportunity to explore puppetry. The many iterations of creative research he gathered throughout his career led him to build a generations strong legacy that has impacted the world and ultimately the landscape of entertainment.

Bibliography

[6] Budds, D., 2022. Everyone Loves Jim Henson, But Few Understand The Scope Of His Creative Genius. [online] Fast Company. Available at: <https://www.fastcompany.com/90134453/everyone-loves-jim-henson-but-few-understand-the-scope-of-his-creative-genius> [Accessed 8 March 2022].

[2] Falk, K., 2012. Imagination illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, pp.10-18, 28, 34, 52, 127-149.

[1] Jim Henson - The Muppet Master. 2022. Jim Henson - The Muppet Master. [online] Available at: <https://jimhenson-themuppetmaster.tumblr.com/post/173399695687/brian-froud-jim-henson-frank-oz-harry-lange-and> [Accessed 1 March 2022].

[5] Savage, A., 2017. Adam Savage Tours the Jim Henson Exhibition!. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdaX96pvI1E> [Accessed 4 March 2022].

[4,7]The Jim Henson Company, n.d. Company TImeline. [image] Available at: <https://www.henson.com/company-timeline/> [Accessed 8 March 2022].

[3] The World of Jim Henson, 1994. [TV programme] Great Performances.