Investigative design through creative practice

The Creative Art Toolkit is grounded in three years of academic research at the University of the Sunshine Coast. This Master’s project set out to explore a simple but important question: How can creative practice help reduce anxiety in young people?

To answer this, a combination of methods was used. Interviews with art therapists, educators, and youth workers provided insights into what works best in safe, supported spaces. Alongside this, reflective practice was employed, with the researcher engaging in her own creative art-making and documenting each process. This mix of professional feedback and lived experience created a strong foundation for testing methods, materials, and activities that could genuinely support emotional wellbeing.

The research showed that approaches such as drawing, collage, clay-work, paint to sound, photo walks in nature and multimedia projects can calm the mind, encourage self-expression, and build confidence. It also revealed that teenagers benefit most from flexible, engaging activities that balance freedom with enough structure to feel safe.

Most importantly, the study was never about art for art’s sake, but about creating a practical, non-clinical outcome that young people can use. The result is the Creative Art Toolkit: a tangible, research-backed resource to support teenagers in managing anxiety, finding calm, and connecting with their creativity.