Falmouth students find inspiration in guest lecture on creative wellbeing

Emmi Salonen, designer, maker and author, recently visited BA(Hons) Creative Advertising and BA(Hons) Marketing Communications students at Falmouth to speak openly about her insightful new book, The Creative Wellbeing Handbook.

A practical guide that explores the topic of staying creatively energised, Emmi’s guest lecture encouraged students to pay attention to their own creative wellbeing using the framework of the model she swears by: the Creative Ecosystem. Built upon the five pillars of connection, wonder, pause, movement and joy, Emmi shared the framework with students to encourage them to hone a creative lifestyle that’s both healthy and sustainable.  

Speaking about the lecture, Emmi shared: “Visiting Falmouth was such a joy. It was lovely to meet the students and share some of my thinking behind The Creative Wellbeing Handbook with them. I think being a student can be one of the most challenging times in our creative lives; we’re still learning about everything while searching deeply for direction and answers. 

“The main message I wanted to impart in the talk was how design thinking is an invaluable tool and can be applied to all areas of life. I wanted to share how no matter which direction we end up going, it’s so important to trust yourself and enjoy the journey.” 

Clare Manser, Falmouth’s Wellbeing Development Lead, attended the event and shared how Emmi’s talk on the Creative Ecosystem model was a “beautifully simple concept, beautifully presented.” 

She added: “The exercises she shared are ones we, in the Wellbeing team, often recommend to students. Both her presentation and book highlight how important these practices are for our overall wellbeing. 

“It is never too soon to look after ourselves proactively. She reminded us of the importance of movement and the benefits of walking; something I’ve promised myself to do more of.” 

Third year BA(Hons) Creative Advertising student, Becca Mortimer, who attended the talk, shared: “It was such an insightful talk. In a landscape where AI is forcing an increasing pressure upon creatives to produce work faster or constantly churn out new ideas, it’s even more important to be mindful of protecting our wellbeing.  
 
“Emmi spoke on her concept of the Creative Ecosystem, the aspects which attribute to a healthier, more rounded creative lifestyle. This includes nurturing connections, bringing movement into our everyday, taking time to pause and embracing the notion of 'wonder'.” 
 
Becca added: “Being in the final term of my course, I’m feeling the weight of needing to produce my best work all the time. It’s easy to lose touch of why I love doing what I do. Emmi's presentation was a really good reminder that it is okay to step back and be kinder to myself.” 

Emmi will now be travelling to Los Angeles in April to deliver the same talk to more than 100 creatives at Apple, sharing her insightful perspective on how to improve wellbeing, and in turn, heighten creativity.  

This guest lecture comes after Falmouth was recognised last year as being the first and only specialist creative arts institution to achieve the University Mental Health Charter Award, a national accreditation recognising sector-leading mental health and wellbeing support for students.  

Explore BA(Hons) Creative Advertising