If humanity ever colonizes Mars, its bound to need some sort of recreational outlet similar to the sports played here on Earth. But in a zero-gravity environment, what kind of sports can be played? What kind of weight and angle measurements will come into play when designing Mars-appropriate sports?

If those questions have sent you into a head-scratching brainstorm session, then Clayton Ferguson can call Crayola IDEAworks a success. Problem-solving exercises like this one are just one of the components to the new 17,000-square-foot Crayola exhibition opening on Saturday at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition is a sprawling interactive experience making its premiere this weekend, and its designed for participants to maximize their creativity and tap into their unique talents to solve problems and complete imaginative activities.

Ferguson, the executive producer and co-owner of the exhibition, and his company Agency 808 have been working with Crayola for about two and a half years on IDEAworks, focusing on the goal of tapping into the creativity people use every day.

You make thousands of creative decisions every single day, he said. Were really trying to teach kids and families to really tap into the process of it. Creative problem-solving skills are something that really are building blocks to every single pillar of individuals.

The exhibition is broken up into two sections: the IDEA (which stands for Identify, Define, Explore and Assess) Workshop and the Colorverse. The IDEA Workshop, Ferguson said, is basically creating a profile of the participant (which is geared towards kids, of course, but people of all ages can exercise their creativity muscle) and how they approach solving problems and decision-making. That approach is then used in the Colorverse through imaginative challenges such as the Mars colony.

Those involved in this partnership between the world-renowned Franklin Institute and globally beloved Crayola feel its a no-brainer. Ferguson, whos worked on different exhibitions with the institute before, credits the museum with always thinking ahead of the curve. The team at the institute jumped at the chance to be involved in the launch of IDEAworks when Ferguson brought the idea to some major museums.

Theyve been a part of the entire process with us from even the creative development a year and a half ago, he said.

While it helps that each institution is essentially in the others backyard, with more or less an hour and a half drive separating the institute and Crayolas Easton headquarters, Franklin Institute President and CEO Larry Dubinski cites their similar missions as another binding factor.

Were rooted in this spirit of invention and innovation and entrepreneurship, he said. I think thats essentially this great synergy between Crayola and the Franklin Institute.

Opening an exhibition like this during the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly provided its challenges. But both Ferguson and Dubinski expressed their confidence in the safety measures in place so that IDEAworks can be a completely safe adventure.

Regular cleaning and mask-wearing has been a constant since the institute opened back up in July. And with the sheer size of IDEAworks, operating at 25% capacity means there can be about 85 people in a 17,000-square-foot space. Plenty of room for problem-solving in peace.

IDEAworks opens on Saturday to the general public and is scheduled to close on July 18. Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended, and tickets are $12 per person.

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Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.

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