A couple weeks ago, we came across an article about IdeaPaint, written by someone at Wistia, a small startup in Somerville, MA. Not only did they sing our praises, they also candidly commented on the quality of IdeaPaint in comparison to competitive products. Needless to say, they got our attention.
We tweeted a hello, and they were generous enough to invite us over. We found their office tucked behind a busy bus stop in Davis Square, at the end of the Minuteman Bike Path. Upon opening the door, we realized we were walking into some kind of work place wonderland. First thing we saw? A dual-player basketball shooting game.
You’ll recognize some familiar features during the tour of Wistia’s office: natural light, an open floor plan, people brainstorming in groups, some sitting, some standing, the pattering feet of a friendly office dog. Their office is inviting and simplistic. It is uncluttered, and while it doesn’t look over thought, it has been strategically planned to leave enough room for the big ideas when they come, and varied spaces to explore the smaller ones still in their early stages.
Much of the credit goes to Joe Ringenberg, Wistia’s Creative Director, who has been tasked with curating their place of business. Above all, he said, “We try to inhabit the space.” And to be honest, it really feels that way. There’s a lofted hideaway in the back room, a rope swing, a ping-pong table, a keg. There are beanbag chairs, brick walls, and turf floors. It’s by no means traditional, but that’s what makes it special. The motivation behind all of Joe’s choices is that work doesn’t have to feel like work. In fact, the brick and mortar itself can feel like home. Achieve that and you’re already strides ahead of the competition.
Wistia’s bread and butter is video hosting. They create controlled and branded environments for online videos, which means no annoying ads and pop up windows that tend to bombard platforms like YouTube. With clients in disparate fields, Wistia uses IdeaPaint to support their in-house collaboration. As Joe told us, some of their best solutions come from brainstorms that involve people from various departments, including accounting and IT.
It helps that there is IdeaPaint in the office's communal places. (Soon there will be even more!) “It’s important for us to feel like there is a creative spot anywhere you turn in this office,” Joe commented. “If you’re sitting at the lunch table with somebody, and the discussion turns into something really creative, the tools that you need are right there. That’s where we feel we are harnessing the best characteristics of the team that’s working here.” After a quick game of ping-pong, we’d been sold. Without any pitches or briefs, they’d convinced us that in their small office satisfying any client’s need was possible. From one blog to another, thanks for having us!
High school is notorious for an excess of black and white xeroxed worksheets. You know, the ones that were stuffed in lockers and then strewn about hallways and thrown down stairwells come June. As Cathy Risch told us, they don't leave much room for creativity, or color. She has been teaching at West Aurora High School, just 50 miles west of Chicago, for 27 years and had all but perfected the art of the worksheet/PowerPoint lesson combo when West Aurora's Assistant Principal approached her with something new. How would she feel about adding IdeaPaint to her science classroom?
Cathy was in. A self-proclaimed "chatty" highschooler herself, Cathy knew full well that attention spans run short when lessons get repetitive. Adding IdeaPaint meant she could diversify her lesson plans while supporting her students' various learning styles. Once she shared the news with her students, she created a serious buzz. They were excited about being able to work together and collaborate on the desks. Some even admitted to being most excited about simply being able to draw. (We know the feeling!) With the help of School Speciality, we gave their classroom the royal treatment.
The addition of IdeaPaint's interactive surfaces has completely changed Cathy's classroom. Not only has it "pumped up collaboration," but it has also helped her students remember more of the class material. Cathy paired IdeaPaint's erasable surfaces with colored markers, and her seemingly small choice has made a huge difference. Jenna, a senior biology student, summed it up nicely for us: "Using colors makes me memorize [the lesson] better." It's clear Cathy's got science down to a science. Add color for best results.
She says, "Any time you let them have markers, colored pencils, they're more exicted about whatever they're doing. It seem like if you put in activities where they can actually use colors, it's more interesting for them. It's not the same old thing all the time." We'll be sure to keep the markers comin'.
A single coat of paint can change the way your students learn and interact with each other and their ideas. To learn more about IdeaPaint or to place an order, give us a call at 800.393.5250 or email us at info@ideapaint.com.
If you're already a School Specialty customer, they've got you covered. Talk to your rep to get the painting party started.
At IdeaPaint, employees often get the opportunity to wear many hats. For example, a couple weeks ago when I was in Chicago for some meetings, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to go back to high school for a day.
A little back story: Mike Curta, who teaches Geography at Eisenhower High School, contacted IdeaPaint a few months ago. He shared some photos over Facebook of his classroom where he has integrated IdeaPaint and Evernote (one of our favorites) into his daily teaching routine. We were excited to see how both products supported his innovative way of teaching, sharing, and capturing ideas. We reached out to Mike and asked if it would be possible to come for a visit. He agreed and on April 11th, I met Evernote's Ron Toledo and Nick Strayer at Eisenhower High School at 7:30am. Bright and early.
After a quick sign-in at the main office, we interviewed Mike in his office for a half hour or so. Then we went to his classroom, listened to morning announcements (after a quick Pledge Of Allegiance), and over the course of the morning observed several geography lessons being taught to students from grades 9 - 12. Mike had planned a day of lessons that showcased the classes' use of IdeaPaint, Evernote, and the two products in tandem.
Mike applied IdeaPaint on the work tables where all of his students sit, as well as on one large section of a wall, which his students refer to as “The Big Wall.” The school provides the students with laptop notebook computers for use during class, and the Evernote technology allows them to use these notebooks and their smart phones to capture the notes, images, and brainstorms that they write on the IdeaPaint. When it comes time to do their homework, they can refer back to their images via a home computer or on their phone. To help you get a better idea of how exactly they are being used, I snapped an album’s worth of pictures which you can view on our Facebook page.
The lesson plan of the day focused around population density in Japan. As if the increased energy of jumping up and adding an idea to "The Big Wall" didn't increase the learning dynamic enough, the students were also encouraged not only to write on their own tables, but also at times were asked to switch tables to review, share, and add to the ideas of their peers.
The combination of learning through lecture, note-taking, illustration, physical involvement - not only verbal but also written participation in lessons - seemed to be a great way to reach every student, regardless of his or her learning style. As Mr. Curta noted, different people learn in different ways. Some of his students know English only as a second language. IdeaPaint and Evernote have allowed him to get through to students of various levels of ability, and have effectively distinguished his classroom as the most inherently interesting and dynamic learning environment in the school. To paraphrase the kids, they like going to Mr. Curta's class because he makes learning fun; the use of IdeaPaint and Evernote have enhanced student interest regardless of the day's lesson. At the end of the day, that’s our goal, and Evernote’s.
In the next month, we will be editing and finalizing a video with Evernote, and hope you'll check it out when it's ready!
We are proud to announce that we’ve added another piece of awesomeness to the mix - IdeaPaint CLEANER! IdeaPaint CLEANER helps keep your IdeaPaint wall performaing at its peak, and is available in an 8 oz. spray cleaner and refill gallon, so you can keep up with your ideas - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
IdeaPaint CLEANER complements our WRITE markers and ERASE microfiber cloths. Used in tandem, they ensure the optimal IdeaPaint experience. What’s more, they’re available at a 20% savings in a USE Kit!
Taking time to take care of your IdeaPaint surfaces and writing utensils is the best way to ensure longevity and peak performance. In general, dry erase surfaces are prone to build up from environmental debris and natural air borne dust. What’s great about IdeaPaint CLEAN is that it removes all of the built-up residue and restores your surface to its ‘like new’ look, giving you more space for more ideas.
Some quick facts about IdeaPaint CLEANER:
• Safe for use on any IdeaPaint and other dry erase surfaces
• Features a fresh cucumber scent
• Non-toxic, solvent-free formula
• Recognized for safer chemistry by the EPA
If you have any questions, we’re here to help. You can reach us at 800.393.5250 or at info@ideapaint.com.
Go ahead – keep writing!
"They're sponges." That's how Annika Levitt affectionately describes her fleet of six and seven-year-old 1st graders at the Kiel School in Kinnelon, New Jersey.
We were first introduced to Annika's classroom during our IDEAPAINT360 Makeover Contest. They were among the hundreds of schools and businesses across the country that applied for a chance to re-think their space with IdeaPaint. As a contest finalist, their video submission was put to a public vote. It was inspiring to see how much enthusiastic support came from the school, the familes and the town of Kinnelon. Candidly, we weren't all that surprised that they'd won the public over with their very convincing (and adorable) IdeaPaint poem, because they won us over too!
After planning how we could best support Mrs. Levitt's goals, we got to work transforming Room 201. As the video showcases, we left no surface unpainted! We wanted to make sure all of her kids' ideas, no matter how big or small, had a place to take hold.
Being in her classroom reminded us of how wide a range of learners there are, especially in early education. They're still learning, if you will, how to learn. One of Mrs. Levitt's goals was to create an environment where each child and their unique learning habits were completely supported - a tall order if you stick to conventional methods. Not so with IdeaPaint. She likened teaching, inclusive of creating the ideal classroom, to someone waiting for an elevator. Some people get stuck in the habit of repeatedly clicking the button and hoping for it to arrive sooner or for something to change. Others, like Mrs. Levitt, try something new.
We're so glad she did! She remembers introducing her kids to their new classroom. "Watching them brainstorm and watching their words and writing come alive. They're coming up with pictures and writing on the floor! To watch them do it for the first time was unforgettable."
To celebrate the makeover, Mrs. Levitt and the Kiel School threw a party and were kind enough to invite us. Upon arrival, we were handed a cupcake decorated with IdeaPaint blue icing (they were delicious!) and a marker. Eager to share every newly painted surface with their families, kids, parents and siblings alike scribbled, doodled, and declared the IdeaPaint installation a complete success! Given the state of the classroom post-party, we think they've got a big year of learning ahead.
Are you using IdeaPaint in your classroom? Drop us a line and you could be up next on the Big Ideas blog!
Have questions? Contact us at 800.393.5250 or send us an email!
Convention says we're in the paint business, but we like to think that we're in the business of creating dynamic spaces. Our ultimate goal is to help you be more creative, more communicative and more collaborative, and quite frankly that doesn't start or finish with a coat of IdeaPaint. Given that, we're always on the hunt for ways to make work spaces work even better (ours included). And who knows better than the people whose companies have produced great ideas? We teamed up with author Brian Coleman, created a list of high-powered, high-thinking creative business leaders, and set out to explore the nuances of creative thinking.
What resulted was this eBook, Managing Creativity, an easy-to-read, candid, and compelling collection of quotes, anecdotes and analysis. It was a treat, really, to talk shop with the likes of Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Same goes for Stacy Madison, the Founder of Stacy's Pita Chips and Operating Partner at Fireman Capital Partners. We found out that both Julia Hu, CEO of LARK, and independent filmmaker Doug Pray consider themselves problem solvers above anything else. Arne van Oosterom of DesignThinkers Group and Stephen Webber of the Berklee College of Music cited curiosity and creativity as key traits. Brian DeCubellis, Creative Director at MTV Scratch, advised us to get our "hands dirty and make stuff on a small scale, often." They told us to dream big and be okay with feeling insecure, among other things - all of which we've taken to heart.
Some of the people we interviewed may sound familiar if you’ve followed along with IdeaPaint since day one. Michael Schaeffer led us through Reebook's headquarters and you met students of Christina Jenkins when we madeover the NYC iSchool. Others we only recently reached out to and are slowly getting to know.
Like Stephen Webber, for example. This quote of his stood out to us and touches upon our reasoning behind trying our hand at a multi-sourced collaborative eBook. He said, with regards to his own works as a professor and music producer:
"In my own life I have always tried to combine disparate things in new ways, like how to bring a classical orchestra and hip-hop music together. The fun and creativity is always at its peak when you are combining things in new ways. So many amazing things have been done in the world because people didn't know that what they were attemping was impossible."
We feel similarly. By surveying creatives from various industries, our hope was to create something new, too. Something that can act as inspiration for you and your team wherever it is you call "work." We hope you enjoy it, and encourage you to share it with a coworker, a friend, a student, or a mentor. What's nice about creativity, is that we all benefit from it. Your next step may influence and inspire someone else's. More creativity means a more efficient, more interesting, and more beautiful world. Let's get going!
One of the perks of our job is getting to visit schools all across the country. After years of painting, we’ve seen a lot, but when we arrived at The Equity Project (TEP), we knew we’d come across something very different.
Before we go into the installation part of this story, take a second and imagine starting a school. Imagine writing a charter articulating why and how your school would be unlike any other because it would fundamentally challenge the way schools are run. That’s TEP.
Called, “one of the country’s most closely watched educational experiments,” by the New York Times, TEP compensates teachers with a $125,000 annual salary, with the opportunity for sizeable bonuses. Grounded in the research-backed premise that, “teacher quality is the most important school-based factor in the academic success of students, particularly those from low-income families,” TEP opened its doors in 2009.
Today, TEP is home to 480 middle-school students, most of whom previously attended public and parochial schools in the Washington Heights neighborhood. Next year, their first 8th grade class will graduate. In a few years, pending an on-going fundraising campaign, they will have a school building to call their own. In the meantime, they’re using what they’ve got.
Classes are held in temporary structures and students walk from trailer to trailer depending on their class schedule. As David Weinreb, TEP’s Business Manager, describes, “There are a lot of things that are aesthetically jarring about being here. It’s super important for us to spend time and energy and money and effort into making our classroom space incredible, homey, warm, interesting and interactive.” Which is exactly what they’ve done. A 5th grader told us, “Teachers are super nice, in the way they teach. When I’m having a problem, I know I can tell them. In two months, they have gained my trust.” The NYC Department of Education also sang TEP’s praises. According to their DOE School Survey, TEP placed within the top 1% of all NYC Middle Schools for Learning Environment.
Anything involving classroom design is left to TEP’s teachers. Each educational tool, accessory and yes, coat of paint, comes after careful consideration. Adding IdeaPaint in two classrooms, one music room and one math classroom (both on the back wall) has helped maximize space, allowing for more students to get up, participate and engage with the material. It has not only contributed to more productive lessons, but emphasized the core of TEP’s philosophy.
“Everything that is put in the classroom is a demonstration to the students that they matter to us, that their education matters to us.” This is something the students have responded to. Attendance at TEP is 96%, which far outshines other schools in the neighborhood. We are thrilled to have been included in their classrooms and cannot wait to see where TEP goes next.
To learn more about TEP, take a look at their website. To learn more about how we can support your teaching philosophy, visit ours at ideapaint.com/school.
It’s always nice when customers reach out to us and say, hey, check out how we’re using IdeaPaint! That’s just how we met Shannon Martin, Director of Communications for EasyLiving, Inc. and Aging Wisely, LLC, two care management services for seniors located in sunny Clearwater, Florida. Thanks to her, we were able to see how IdeaPaint has helped improve the lives of numerous patients.
Last August, they installed IdeaPaint in their new office building, which they share with fellow care providers, EZFingerprints, LLC. Between the three companies, the IdeaPaint gets a lot of attention and is used is various ways, including as a menu for a PB&J sandwich bar during staff orientation (see photo below). It is most heavily used, however, during employee training.
As Shannon explains, the company’s greatest investment is in their staff. “Employee development has been a huge focus at EasyLiving, which is somewhat unique in the home healthcare industry. We use behavioral interviewing, require a higher score on the home health aide test, etc.; and then we focus on a more intense training program than is typical because we feel our front line employees must be prepared to do the best job for the client."
Training and continued education courses happen in-house in the room where IdeaPaint is featured. EasyLiving and Aging Wisely have a highly specialized and diverse staff that leads training sessions to educate colleagues on unique issues. For example, there is a Certified Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders trainer on staff who is available to help answer specific questions about providing care for someone with dementia. Guest trainers and staff members teach lessons in which IdeaPaint is thoroughly integrated.
“The IdeaPaint wall has been great for these trainings, brainstorming and planning. Since we have such a mobile workforce (caregivers and care managers typically travel off site to visit their elder clients), it is imperative to find ways to engage everyone and make them feel part of the team.”
For their efforts, their staff has received numerous designations and awards in their field. Last year, EasyLiving was named a Top Small Business in the South and Aging Wisely won a National Patient Advocacy Award.
It is rewarding to see IdeaPaint play a small but instrumental role in the training that leads to exceptional care. Thank you, Shannon, for sharing!
Our new paint, CREATE, can do the same for you! Visit ideapaint.com to chat with our team of experts.
Clad in a Drew Brees Saint’s jersey, Ty Nguyen looks cool and comfortable amongst his middle school art and journalism students. Their diagrams and notes cover every surface in his classroom, from the desks to the walls. Nguyen teaches art and oversees the production of the school’s yearbook at the Killian Middle School in Lewisville, Texas.
Killian is not like most middle schools. Glance into any classroom and you’ll see students listening to iPods and typing away on tablets and laptops. As Nguyen explains, “Technology is fully incorporated into the curriculum.” Students enjoy the freedom of learning as they choose, on whatever device they prefer, thanks to Killian’s BYOT (that’s Bring Your Own Technology) initiative. More often that not, students are tuned in, and while one might think it could inhibit sharing and collaboration, Ty's unique learning environment proves the contrary.
“We were able to totally revamp our classroom into this really magical environment where everyone can collaborate wherever without constraints,” says Ty. IdeaPaint has helped create a more collaborative, social learning environment by giving his students physical space where their ideas can thrive. While many begin on a screen, they develop and expand in an organic way with the input of classmates on IdeaPaint surfaces.
Layouts for this year’s yearbook cover the wall, as do checklists for what needs doing and what has been finished. It’s evident that Mr. Nguyen has tapped into his students’ most creative and productive sides by bridging the hi-tech and the low. With the end of the school year fast approaching, we can’t wait to see their final product.
A single coat of paint can change the way your students learn and interact with each other and their ideas. To learn more about IdeaPaint or to place an order, give us a call at 800.393.5250 or email us at info@ideapaint.com.
If you're already a School Specialty customer, they've got you covered. Talk to your rep to get the painting party started.
IdeaPaint is a creative company filled with creative people. We're a diverse crew of entreprenuers, chemists, designers, writers and number crunchers who've clocked in at different companies in different industries. Our previous experiences, areas of expertise and eclectic interests have quietly informed our work here at IdeaPaint, until now, when they've found new life. We’ve found a way to share our sources of inspiration and be further inspired by others with, you guessed it, Pinterest.
I know, I know ... there's a whole lot of Pinterest banter going on. But we can't lie, we’ve jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon and are hooked. Line and sinker.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, Pinterest is the latest platform for social sharing. On its most basic level it is an online pinboard. An account provides you with a board, multiple if you so choose, on which to pin images and allow fellow pinners to comment and repin your content to their personal boards. We are still in the exploratory stages, but we already love Pinterest. Here are a couple reasons why.
• It lets us introduce our team and their unique interests to you.
Did you know that IdeaPainter Melanie refurbishes old furniture or that Tim is in the process of renovating a 100 year old house. It's true! Through Pinterest, we all get a chance to see what they're considering for next projects, where they're finding inspiration, and how much progress they've made. Pretty exciting!
• It inspires us.
We say it alot, and firmly believe it, you never know where the next big idea will come from. Looking at photos and reading Pinners' comments lets our mind wander a bit, our ideas develop and be influenced by other people in our community's tastes and interests. Like, how awesome is this clock? Really awesome.
• It lets us acknowledge stuff we think is cool.
We always wanted to paint the Green Monster with IdeaPaint. How likely that is, is a different question. Using Pinterest we can create a board, pin a photo and cross our fingers. We can also curate a collection of things we like, kitchens, toys, fonts, colors, etc. Pinterest is like a department store, musuem hybrid where you can take what you want for your own small store. (Responsibly, of course.) It's the best.
We've created a few boards already and would love to see what you're pinning. Leave us your username so we can follow you! And if you're curious about how IdeaPaint is being used around the world, what we like, or where we'd put IdeaPaint if we wrote the rules, follow us here. Happy pinning!
