How I Discovered Solution Projects And Themed Projects Are Better When Combined

I love solving problems.

In my full-time job, I am constantly identifying why a particular financial model isn’t working and creating solutions so they work as expected. At home, I enjoy figuring out what is causing an issue and fixing it. Even in video games, I gravitate to puzzle games like Portal where I have to figure out a solution to move on to the next level.

When I started Making things, I naturally began identifying where our home was missing something that I could build to fill that void.

Making Solutions to Problems Wasn’t Fulfilling

As much as I like creating solutions to problems, simply solving the problem just wasn’t cutting it for me anymore.

The first project I made was a simple key-holder next to our garage door, which could have been purchased at Target for less time and money than it took for me to make it and would have looked better (as my wife reminded me when I hung it up). A few summers ago, I built a simple deck so our kids wouldn’t get muddy playing in the backyard, but it looks like any other deck. When I needed more workspace in my workshop, I built a simple 2x4 workbench that functions well, but is boring.

Each project precisely solved the problem I wanted to address, but I don’t like those projects anymore because they look like 1,000s of others.

Switching to Creative Projects ALSO Wasn’t Fulfilling

Sensing a lack of creativity simply solving problems, I went the completely opposite direction and tried building projects that were cool, but served no purpose.

I decided I needed more Star Wars in my life and loved The Mandalorian series. Naturally, this meant I should power carve a giant Mythosaur Skull from 2x4s to really showcase my creativity. I put countless hours and immense effort into selecting the 2x4s, breaking them down, gluing them up, carving the shape with power tools and hand tools, and selectively burning parts of it.

I put everything I had into the project for weeks and absolutely fell in love with the finished result…for 2 weeks.

The Lightbulb Moment: Solve Problems with Themed Solutions

Simply solving a problem didn’t allow me to be creative.

Creating useless, but pretty things created 70lb paper weights.

Before the Mythosaur Skull, I had stumbled into the solution, but it took a few months to realize it.

Enter Captain Deadpool

A different problem I needed to solve was where to keep my big, over-ear headphones at my desk.

For some unknown reason, I decided to power carve a Deadpool head so my headphones would have a home and not get broken when not in use. Could a simple hook or stand solve that problem? Absolutely! But we both know a Deadpool head is way more fun.

Months later, when I was figuring out what kind of deal I needed to build for my home office, I looked at Deadpool and realized what had been staring me in the face, but I hadn’t realized it.

I Wanted To Build Projects That Solve A Problem AND Are Themed

The next idea I built was my Star Wars standing desk that I love.

To steal a concept from Inside Out, the realization while staring at Deadpool and solidification from installing my desk created a new Maker Core Memory Island. I don’t want to pick between solutions and themes. I want both, so that is how I’m going to approach every project I can.

If you’re stuck solving problems, but want to be creative or are already being creative, but want your projects to have more value, let me know which you’re struggling with. I love hearing how others can also combine these two and make better things as a result.