Curiosity over conformity: The Maker’s Palette – a case for hands-on learning

The Maker’s Palette is a creative model delivering hands-on learning and teaching. Devised in 2007 in response to increasingly risk-averse students within the Manchester School of Art, its craft centred approach empowers the individual to take ownership of their personal creative development. Informed by the creative thinking theories of J. P. Guilford and the professional practice of the author, the implementation of the model into the undergraduate curriculum resulted in unexpected impact beyond the university. Consciously designed with flexible parameters that enabled a variety of delivery modes it offered opportunities to address teacher development and the challenges of embedding process focused creative methodologies into the classroom. This article argues that the Maker’s Palette provides a compelling model for hands-on learning and offers evidence that could be further developed and used to support, validate and underpin an approach currently at threat within academic establishments at every level of education.