About Curious Studio Courses
When making decisions, most of us value being efficient, logical, and correct. That works until the problems become unclear, the path forward isn’t obvious, or the answers don’t already exist.
In those moments, what’s missing is not more process. It’s the ability to see differently, make connections, and move forward without complete information.
That is the kind of thinking Curious Studio courses are designed to build.
Why This Work Matters
I’ve spent my career helping organizations define problems, align stakeholders, and move ideas into action. The biggest challenge is rarely the framework itself. It’s helping people think in a way that allows those frameworks to work.
That includes noticing patterns in messy information, making meaning before there is certainty, and exploring ideas that are not yet fully formed. These are creative skills, and they are often underdeveloped in professional environments.
Art offers a practical way to develop them. Working visually or with physical materials shifts you out of the pressure to be right and into observation and discovery. You begin to see connections you might otherwise miss and develop ideas that feel more grounded and original.
This is not about becoming an artist. It’s about becoming more capable in how you think and work.
What Makes Curious Studio Different
These courses sit between art and business, but they are not quite either one.
Each course begins with a hands-on creative process using images, patterns, or materials. From there, we connect what you discover to real work, including making sense of complex information, identifying insights, understanding experiences, and shaping ideas.
Many of these skills align with design thinking and innovation practices, but we do not start with the method. We start with the experience, because once you understand how the thinking works, it becomes much easier to apply.
Who These Courses Are For
Curious Studio courses are for people who want to think more creatively in their work, even if they would not describe themselves as creative.
They are especially useful if you feel stuck in overly structured ways of working, are navigating ambiguity, or are developing new ideas.
They are also valuable for people who feel creative but are not sure how that creativity can be an asset at work.
The common thread is curiosity and a willingness to experiment. No prior art experience is needed.
About Emily Holmes
Emily Holmes is a design thinking consultant, educator, and artist. She has spent over a decade helping organizations approach complex problems with more clarity and creativity, working with clients including The Nature Conservancy, NASA, and SAP.
She is a Senior Instructor with the LUMA Institute and a former Director of UX and Innovation, where she led design sprints and helped bring new products from early concept through launch.
Alongside her consulting work, Emily maintains an active art practice and was awarded a North Carolina Artist Grant. Her work explores perception, pattern, and visual thinking, which directly inform the approach used in Curious Studio courses.