The Creative Tech Lab (CTL) is an open collaboration tool that brings together diverse individuals interested in designing the future of the creative industries. The CTL supports innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems by (I) getting the right people together (such as artists, technologists, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, influencers and civic leaders) in order to (II) collaborate, experiment, and prototype innovative solutions that (III) solve problems faced by the creative industries and (IV) grow creative enterprises (i.e. creating new, innovative outputs and improving productivity and growth amongst creative entrepreneurs and creative firms).

How does it work?

Participants engage in hands on exploration and development of innovative digital technology such as web-based applications, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.

1-investigation

Stage 1: Investigate
This stage involves researching, understanding and framing the problem. Who will be the beneficiaries? Where are they located? What are the barriers they face to growth?

2-networking

Stage 2: Collaborate
This stage involves identifying and getting the right people to the table – the experts, policymakers, artists and technologists.

3-prototype

Stage 3: Design
Here you decide which design methodology you will use to define the problem and to develop a prototype. In the CTL in Jamaica, we used the Design Sprint methodology. In the CTL in Haiti and the CTL in Trinidad and Tobago, we used the IDEO’s Design Thinking methodology.

4-developing

Stage 4: Grow
This is the most difficult stage. Teams need an ecosystem to support them in moving to the next stages of the product management cycle (the development of the full MVP, launch, manufacture, distribute, use, service) and resources (typically investment) to turn these business models into realities or to expand existing business models.

Who can participate?

Anyone! CTL creates a space for artists, technologists, entrepreneurs, investors, influencers and civic leaders, to collaborate, experiment, and prototype.

How do I implement one? What type of resources is required?

You can implement a CTL with: (i) a motivated facilitator, (ii) a diverse team with a common objective/goal, and (iii) a dedicated space with good internet connection. From there, you can tap into your existing network to pull in experts and collaborators. A forthcoming guide will be published in early 2022 to provide more details. Stay tuned!

What are the benefits of the Creative Tech Lab?

Implementing the CTL will expose creative artists to new technologies that will enhance the competitiveness of their creative business model through technological adoption. These shifts in perception can inspire the development of new creative outputs that drive revenue and growth opportunities.

OUTCOMES AT A GLANCE

2017
2019
2020
2021

THE CTL ORIGINS

These stimulating initiatives built on the experience of the Open Music Initiative’s 2017 Summer Lab where three Caribbean artists visited the Media Lab in Boston to contribute to and explore the application of blockchain technology to the music industry. Curious?

  • Watch this video about the Caribbean Experience at the OMI Summer Lab 2017.
  • Check out the OMI Summer Lab 2017 results.
  • Read these blogs on The IDB and the Open Music Initiative, The Open Music Initiative’s New Toys and the Interview with Panos Panay: The Simple Formula Sparking a Musical Revolution.
  • Check out the draft toolkit for implementing Music Summer Labs.

CTL IN JAMAICA

This was the first CTL that the IDB’s Competitiveness, Technology, and Innovation Division (CTI) piloted and involved 45 competitively selected persons (25 male and 20 female) from Bahamas, Jamaica, Suriname, and Guyana.
For the first time in the Caribbean, developers (i.e., coders and web designers) teamed up with creative artists (in this case, musicians) to partake in an engaging four-session design sprint aimed at addressing musicians’ compensation and monetization of intellectual property. The prototypes created and tested by the teams included the following:

  • Team Green – Know your Splits: The Team Green prototyped a mobile application designed to help collaborators easily manage the setup of new song splits.
  • Team Red – Notification Experience: Team Red focused on an application that coordinates the agree/dispute process around song splits.
  • Team Yellow – Airplay Dashboard: Team Yellow prototyped an application that would allow artists to keep track of the performance of their songs based on airplay data.

CTL IN HAITI

It involved approximately 100 hours of online information sessions (regarding design thinking, data science, augmented reality, among others) and prototype building days. It included partners such as Facebook, Google, local Government, and the American Chamber of Commerce (which financed a 3-month incubation for the 4 finalist teams). Following 227 applications, 30 finalists were selected and four prototypes built (check out the virtual pitch and closing event here). The prototypes created and tested by the teams included the following:

  • VILAJ: A virtual space where creators can co-create on the blockchain. Find out more here.
  • AUTODIDACTE: An online education platform using 3D modeling.
  • SPEKTAK: A cinematographic and event platform for streaming in subscription video on demand that produces and broadcasts (blockchain application). Find out more here.
  • TOLO NETWORK: An online gaming education platform for kids.

 

Check out this video about the CTL Haiti.  More details on its launch available here.

CTL IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

This CTL aimed to connect creatives and developers and stimulate innovation and creativity that would lead to the co-creation of innovative online carnival experiences that support the digital economy of Trinidad and Tobago. It included partners such as LoopTT, Facebook, and Cariri’s Idea Advisory Services (IAS) program, and it was led by Cariri and the IDB Lab. The prototypes created and tested by the teams included the following:

  • cARnival: An augmented reality experience and mobile crypto wallet. It puts Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival culture in the global cybereconomy dubbed the “metaverse” while providing employment opportunities and creative ways to bring foreign exchange.
  • Capture Carnival: A one-stop-shop to capture carnival experiences, rewards, and user insights through a mobile app.
  • Artist-ID: An app and platform for promoting events and for connecting artist, promoters, fans, sponsors and anyone in the carnival ecosystem.
    Check out the quick Artist-ID Walkthough for CTL Pitch here and visit the platform here.
  • TTPhoenix Carnival: A VR application for experiencing carnival in the virtual realm.
    Check out this short documentary of the CTL TT and find more out information and details here.

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