I’m Naomi Kinsman, an Illumineer, creative strategist, and story-based facilitator.
I design experiences that help individuals, teams, and organizations think more clearly, collaborate more creatively, and reconnect with purpose, especially in moments of change.
My work blends storytelling, creative systems, and reflective practice to support people who are navigating complexity: new ideas, new roles, new questions, or new directions.
About Me
I work with deep-thinking creatives, educators, and leaders, often when they are standing at thresholds.
Some are returning to long-held creative work.
Some are guiding teams through uncertainty or transition.
Some are building programs, classrooms, or organizations that need space for imagination as well as structure.
Whether I’m working one-on-one, with a classroom, or with a leadership team, my role is the same: to help people slow down enough to see what matters, and then move forward with clarity and care.
How I Work (& Play): Illumineering & Writerly Play
My work lives at the intersection of story, imagination, and creative development.
I help people, from young writers to adults and leaders, learn how to step into their stories with clarity, courage, and curiosity.
Over the years, I’ve developed a framework I call Illumineering. It is a way of understanding creativity and personal growth through story.
Illumineering offers a shared language for navigating imagination, reflection, experimentation, and insight. It invites us into a world of rooms, thresholds, and pathways where creative thinking becomes tangible and navigable.
To bring Illumineering to life, I use a practical toolkit called Writerly Play, a playful, embodied approach that blends writing, drawing, improvisation, and guided reflection. Writerly Play helps people do what Illumineering describes: step into moments, explore perspectives, notice patterns, and discover new possibilities.
Together, Illumineering and Writerly Play offer a grounded, imaginative way to grow as a creative thinker, whether you’re a young writer finding your voice or an adult reconnecting with their creative capacity.
Everything I teach begins with this belief:
Your voice matters.
Your imagination is a reliable guide.
And when you learn to step into your story, everything becomes possible.
Illumineering helps people:
- Make sense of ambiguity with creativity rather than urgency.
- Surface shared values and perspectives through story.
- Design work that is imaginative and sustainable.
Rather than pushing for quick answers, my work creates conditions for insight using narrative frameworks, simple creative tools, and facilitated conversation to support meaningful progress.
If you’d like a clearer sense of this landscape, including the spaces, pathways, and ideas that shape my work, you can explore the Illumineering Atlas, a guide to the world behind the work.
My Story
I’m the author of the From Sadie’s Sketchbook middle grade series, which explores creativity, empathy, and identity through story. I’m also the founder of Society of Young Inklings, a nonprofit that supports young writers as they develop voice, confidence, and community.
Across books, workshops, and creative tools, my work is grounded in one belief: when people understand their own story—and listen well to others—they can build wiser, more humane systems together.
When we reconnect with our voice,
we can build something beautiful from the inside out.
Wondering Where to Start?
If you’re exploring new ways to support creativity, collaboration, or reflective practice in yourself, your classroom, or your organization, I’d love to connect.
You don’t need to hustle your way forward.
You need a clearer compass.
Prefer to Explore a Little More?
The Creative Lift toolkit includes books, creative tools, 1:1 coaching, team workshops and more.
Creative thinking tools, workshops, and personalized coaching programs for individuals.
Writerly Play games and strategies, classroom workshops, and coaching for grade-level teams.
Innovation, problem-solving, and team-building workshops for corporate and nonprofit teams.
