Creative Machines is a massive design and fabrication firm located in Tucson, Arizona. It was founded by Joe O’Connell to build everything from public art installations to products for disaster relief.
When he first started out building in his garage in 1995, he coined the mission statement, “We create objects and environments that encourage creativity, support social interaction, and inspire self-confidence.” Over the years, Joe has grown Creative Machines to do just that — and then some.
While Joe may not be an activist in the usual sense, everything he creates is carefully designed to bring people together and strengthen social bonds.
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Here are some of the takeaways and examples from the show:
- Art has the power to transform the way people interact with one another by designing the environment in a specific way.
- Joe considers his projects most successful when they transform the way they perceive themselves in relation to an Environment.
- The impact of art can be measured when working inside a measurable environment.
It is amazing how far Joe O’Connell has come with Creative Machines, and his work is a testament to the impact that a clear vision and collaboration can have on art and communities around the world. The pieces mentioned above aren’t even a fraction of the work they have done. To hear more about his story, the pieces mentioned above, or how to approach your efforts to give back, tune in to the podcast. To check out more of Creative Machines’ work, visit their website here and follow their Instagram and Facebook.
Be sure to subscribe to Impact Everywhere for more stories like this one. Next up: Joshua Belhumeur of the creative group BRINK, offering his thoughts on corporate social activism, binary thinking, and bringing your causes to companies.
