By Angela Peavey
The Saugatuck Center for the Arts will host a “Creativity Revealed” program featuring artists, designers, and inventors Jon and Sarah Vanderbeek of Sweet Spot Studio on Monday, April 3, at 7 p.m.
Jason Passata, Development Director for Career and Technical Education at the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, is guest host for this evening that explores creativity, product design, the process of inventing toys, and building the perfect light sabre.
Jon and Sarah Vanderbeek have designed toys for major companies including Mattel, Hasbro, and Fisher-Price. They’ll share their sources of inspiration and talk about the design process including some of their trickiest design problems.
Sweet Spot Studio is a Saugatuck-based company offering a range of services from toy concepts to product packaging. Sarah Vanderbeek started Sweet Spot Studio in February 2006 after many years employed in the giftware industry. Prior to founding Sweet Spot, she worked at Design Central, The Obb (Kiscom), and Salomon. Jon Vanderbeek has a background inventing toys with renowned companies like The Obb and Bang Zoom. He brought his expertise in industrial design, mechanisms, electronics and model making to Sweet Spot Studio in the summer of 2006.
Kristin Armstrong, Executive Director at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, said, “Sweet Spot Studio has worked with national and international firms to develop toys we all know and love to play with. We’re really thrilled to have this opportunity to talk with Sarah and Jon about their design backgrounds, what gets them excited, and what they’re working on now.”
Guest host Jason Passata developed and champions the OAISD’s futurePREP’d Program, an initiative that connects education, business, and the community to provide relevant learning options for both educators and students. Passata is passionate about creativity, design thinking, and project based learning.
The Saugatuck Center for the Arts is located at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. Admission to the program is free of charge. For additional information visit sc4a.orgor call 269-857-2399.
