Archive

Creative Thinking and Social Innovation

Janneke Brouwers

CONFERENCE
MAY 20TH OF 2025, 5.30PM
ROOM 33 OF EP1 – ESAD.CR

Janneke Brouwers’ talk will explore the power of creative thinking as a tool for social transformation. Drawing from her extensive experience as a lecturer and coach in artistic and institutional contexts, Janneke offers a practical and inspiring approach to social innovation, combining design thinking, collaborative processes, and human development. She will share real-world examples of projects that bridge creativity and community impact, focusing on how to activate networks of care, imagination and responsibility in educational and cultural environments.

Janneke Brouwers

Over the years I grew into the fields of creative thinking, brand identity and (social) innovation. Now guiding students in exploring the intersection of art, business and societal challenges. Currently with a special focus on wellbeing, personal leadership and visual identity.

“I believe that the capacity to empathize with ourselves and with others is a human skill that is essential for future-facing creative work.” A workshop about creativity, empathy and human connection.

Janneke Brouwers is a course leader, lecturer and coach at HKU (Utrecht University of the Arts, Netherlands), where she teaches in the Art and Economics BA programme. With a transdisciplinar background in strategic design, social innovation and talent coaching, she has worked for over a decade in institutions such as Avans Hogeschool, ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, and the Coaching Academy International. She specialises in creative thinking, design thinking, wellbeing in education, and applied innovation in transformative processes. Her work combines personal development practices with participatory methods and artistic experimentation.