AWEN helps individuals and teams work with greater insight, intention, and creativity.

Academic Publications

Smith, K., Pickering, A., & Bhattacharya, J. (2022). The creative life: A daily diary study of creativity, affect, and well-being in creative individuals. Creativity Research Journal, 34(4), 460-479.

Mykoniatis, S., Smith, K., Drake, J. E. (2024). The drawing effect: Does drawing really enhance memory for verbally presented information? Empirical Studies of the Arts.

Curious about working together?

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

AWEN was founded by Kaile Smith, a cognitive scientist and creative director with a background in both the arts and sciences. After years of working at the intersection of creative practice and psychological research, she saw a need for deeper, more sustainable ways to support the people behind creative work. Drawing from cognitive science, neuroaesthetics, and lived experience, she created AWEN as a space where evidence-based frameworks and meaningful practice come together—bridging insight and experience to support creativity that is both fulfilling and enduring.

Kaile has a deep passion for the psychological and neuroscientific study of creativity and aesthetic experiences, and how these relate to well-being. She incorporates her knowledge of psychology, neuroaesthetics, and creativity studies into her creative and consulting work.

Inspired by her experience working with and managing creative teams, her empirical research focuses primarily on the psychological complexity of creative individuals within their workplaces and everyday lives—especially regarding creatives’ well-being, emotions, motivation, and identity.

She has presented at international creativity and empirical aesthetics conferences and worked as a research consultant for the Creativity and Emotions lab at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Kaile holds a M.Sc. Psychology of the Arts, Neuroaesthetics, and Creativity from Goldsmith’s, University of London, and is currently a doctoral researcher in cognitive psychology at The Graduate Center, CUNY in NYC.

Academic CV →

Psychology Blog →

Creativity Research Study →
Smith, K., Pickering, A., & Bhattacharya, J. (2022). The creative life: A daily diary study of creativity, affect, and well-being in creative individuals. Creativity Research Journal, 34(4), 460-479.

Mykoniatis, S., Smith, K., Drake, J. E. (in press). The drawing effect: Does drawing really enhance memory for verbally presented information? Empirical Studies of the Arts.

“Creativity is how we think, feel, and navigate the world. Our most essential capacity for growth and connection.”

WANT TO EXPLORE FURTHER?

AWEN invites you to learn, reflect, and connect—through our Library of resources, the Lab’s research, the Studio’s creative work, and the Forum’s public conversations.

  • THE JOURNAL → our publication, Second Nature

  • THE LIBRARY → book recommendations and creative tools

  • THE LAB → current research and scientific publications

  • THE STUDIO→ creative projects and collaborations

  • THE FORUM → talks, panels, upcoming events

Active Research

Developing and Validating a New Scale for Measuring Inspiration

  • TEAM: Kaile Smith, Aleksandra Zielińska, Paul Silvia, Edward Vessel, Wei Wang, & Jennifer E. Drake

  • PARTNERS: The Graduate Center, CUNY, University of Wroclaw, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, The City College of New York, CUNY, Baruch College, CUNY, Brooklyn College, CUNY

  • FUNDING: America Psychological Association: Division 10 Early Career Micro-Grant