What is the biggest enemy of creativity?

The biggest enemy of creativity is fear — fear of judgment, fear of failure, and fear of conflict. When team members don't feel safe sharing unfinished ideas, creativity dies before it starts. Building psychological safety is the foundation of every creative collaboration workshop we run at A Thousand Tiny Sparks.

How do you give effective feedback on creative work?

Effective creative feedback is rooted in strategy, not personal taste. Instead of 'I don't like it,' try 'This doesn't solve the brief because...' Our Art of Strategic Feedback workshop teaches teams a structured framework for giving feedback that builds trust and moves creative work forward.

How do you run a successful brainstorm?

A successful brainstorm starts before the meeting: share the creative brief in advance, set clear constraints, and separate idea generation from idea evaluation. During the session, defer judgment and go for quantity first. A Thousand Tiny Sparks teaches teams a step-by-step brainstorming process called SPARK.

Are the workshops virtual or in-person?

All A Thousand Tiny Sparks workshops are available virtually, making them accessible to teams across the US and worldwide. We are based in Chicago, IL and have worked with creative teams at agencies and organizations nationwide.

Who are these workshops designed for?

Our workshops are designed for creative professionals at all levels — from early-career creatives building foundational collaboration skills, to experienced creative directors looking to unlock their team's full potential. We work with in-house creative teams, advertising agencies, and marketing organizations.

Trainings

No matter what you’re looking for, all curriculum and experiences are customized to your specific needs. If you don’t see what you’re looking for below, please email andi@athousandtinysparks.com.

Designed for early-career professionals, this workshop builds confidence in creative problem-solving and collaboration. Participants will gain practical tools to become more resourceful, proactive, and impactful.
We’ll cover:
- Why we collaborate
- What makes a great teammate
- Setting up projects for success
- Creative-problem solving through SPARK
- Brainstorming best practices
- Introduction to feedback
This workshop is a deep dive into giving feedback that actually works. Participants will leave with practical tools to analyze work, give clear direction rooted in strategy, while building trust with their team. This is ideal for teams who share feedback frequently, and want to sharpen their skills. We’ll cover:
- Reframing feedback for growth
- Establishing psychological safety
- The psychology of feedback
- Feedback structure and delivery
- Strategies to build work together
This comprehensive workshop is the ultimate guide to mastering both creative process and human dynamics that make innovation possible. This experience combines practical tools, powerful psychology with shifts needed to unlock your team’s full potential. We'll cover:
- The creative process and navigating resistance
- Utilizing creative momentum
- Building trust through transparency
- Better Brainstorming
- Evaluating Creative Work
- The Art of Feedback
If one of our existing options is not what you’re looking for, we are happy to create a custom experience.

Inquire

Trainings

Fundamentals of Collaboration

The Art of Strategic Feedback

Creative Partnership Masterclass

Custom Experiences