Creative Evaluation

A colorful banner with the words "We utilize the power of art & community to facilitate deep discussion, co-create equitable solutions, and be the change.

What is Creative Evaluation?

Creative Evaluation is grounded in and inspired by the Creative Evaluation & Engagement Approach (Johnson & Johnson, 2022). It offers a non-linear way to align, learn, adapt, and embody the complexity of data and sensemaking. While also promoting equity, trust, healing, and transformative change.

At Coco Canary, we use this approach with our clients to design, measure, and critically engage with their work. And we do this using arts-based methods, principles-based approaches, and community-centric practices.

We break down the process below.

Mixed media drawing of an infinity sign with arrows going from Align, Learn, Adapt, and Embody

A visualization of the Creative Evaluation & Engagement Approach by Nora Murphy Johnson & A. Rafael Johnson. Drawn by Molly C. O'Connor

Our Process

Our process is intuitive. With any project grounded in equity—and has the outcome of shared liberation—it is necessary to have your heart and mind open to emergent change.

ALIGN

This is why our usual first step is Alignment. For example, before making a project plan, we start with relationship building, values alignment, principles development, and a context review.

LEARN

Once we have a shared vision and guiding principles, we begin the Learning phase. This part prioritizes bringing community together and using creative approaches to gather feedback and collect data. This can be by using arts-based methods or by hiring Teaching Artists to facilitate community convenings.

ADAPT

We take what is learned and begin the sense-making process. This is when we analyze the results, preferably in and with community. Analysis can look like number-crunching (quantitative analysis), word-smithing (Thematic Analysis), and art-making (Creative Sense-making). From this analysis, we take what was learned and Adapt the learning into tangible action steps.

EMBODY

Usually, we end the project with Embodiment. For true change and progress to happen, individuals and organizations must hold themselves accountable. This is done by reflecting and deciding how things will look differently. We usually facilitate this conversation through a Data & Art Showcase ("Evocative Playback"), where everyone from the creative evaluation process comes together to experience the learning through an artistic medium. This event is usually facilitated by teaching artists and hosted by the creative evaluators and project team.

A visual depiction using a sunrise pattern of what creative evaluation looks like

An image of a list of arts-based approaches in a grid format.

A visualization description of Coco Canary's Creative Evaluation Approach and a Non-Exhaustive list of art-based approaches. Designed by Molly C. O'Connor

Creative Evaluation Resources

Need more context or information? Here are resources where you can learn more about our process and the Creative Evaluation & Engagement Approach.

1. An Example of a Data & Art Showcase (Video)

Check out this video we made. It is called What is Evocative Playback? A Creative Evaluation Story, and it is based on a real-life project. We share this video with our clients and community members to give them an idea of what to expect when working with us. This video is available in English and Spanish.

A title page for a video titled What is Evocative Playback? A Creative Evaluation Story. To the right of the words are 6 cartoon artists.

The title page for the informational video titled "What is Evocative Playback? A Creative Evaluation Story"

2. A Creative Evaluation Case Study (PowerPoint)

Review our Case Study presentation to learn more about a Creative Evaluation and Community Engagement project Sully Moreno from Culture Shift Consulting and I consulted with Public Health of Seattle & King County (PHSKC). First, you can review a presentation co-created by Sully and I documenting and showcasing the work we did with PHSKC.

The title screen of a PowerPoint slide titled, Creative Evaluation & Engagement: What is it and how does it look like in practice?

An image of the first page of the Public Health of Seattle & King County Case Study Powerpoint titled, " Creative Evaluation & Engagement: What is it and how does it look like in practice?

3. Case Study Narratives (PDF)

Coco Canary wrote their own case study summaries for our 2022 - 2023 Annual Narrative. We highlighted the Public Health of Seattle & King County project mentioned above, as well as a Creative Evaluation & DEAI project with Donte Curtis from CYD Consulting and Habitat for Humanity - Twin Cities.

An image with two screenshots of the front pages from the Coco Canary Case Study Narratives

The title pages for two Coco Canary case study narratives

4. Watch a Video of Molly C. O'Connor and Sully Moreno Presenting about CE&E

Want to dive deeper into our Case Study? Watch a virtual presentation Molly C. O'Connor and Sully Moreno did in November 2023. This is the same presentation that was given in-person at the 2023 American Evaluation Association Conference: The Power of Story

5. Buy Creative Evaluation & Engagement by Inspire to Change (Book)

Want to do a deep dive into the theory? Well, buy the book that is the foundation of my process. It is called Creative Evaluation & Engagement, Volume 1: The Essentials. It is written by Nora Murphy Johnson and Andy Rafael Johnson from Inspire to Change.