About
We create, teach, and help organizations navigate complex challenges through inquiry, making and discovery.
Products, installations, public health initiatives, artworks, and experiences. From 3D printed lamps to 3.5 million medical face shields, we make ideas tangible.
From K-12 students to university educators, we teach the Creative Discovery Method through hands-on making, rapid prototyping, and collaborative experimentation.
We help businesses, cultural institutions, and community organizations integrate applied curiosity into their strategic work through innovation sprints and custom programs.
The cabinet
Specimens from fifteen years in the unknown on purpose.
The method
The Creative Discovery Method is a systematic practice for turning curiosity into tangible outcomes: transforming open-ended questions into explorations, experiments, and reflections that end in real, working things. We didn't invent it and then execute it; it emerged from the pattern of what actually worked.
The Creative Discovery Method →
Meet the Budmens
At the heart of Budmen Industries are Stephanie and Isaac Budmen, the dynamic duo whose shared curiosity fuels our mission. Together, they transform "What if?" into "Let's make it happen," leading the charge into uncharted territories with boundless enthusiasm.
Stephanie Budmen is the visionary artist who sees the world not just as it is, but as it could be. With a flair for design and a passion for innovation, she turns ordinary concepts into extraordinary creations. Stephanie believes every question is an opportunity, and every opportunity is a step towards a brighter, more imaginative future.
Isaac Budmen is the inventor who finds possibilities where others see obstacles. His relentless curiosity drives him to push the boundaries of technology and explore new horizons. Isaac embraces the unknown with open arms, confident that each discovery brings us closer to unlocking the universe's hidden potentials.
Together they wrote Applied Curiosity, published September 18, 2026: the illustrated field guide to their practice. tryappliedcuriosity.com →
The work
Scarab Vase When the scan seemed impossible, an assumption surfaced; the answer was to try again in the dark. 
Curious Critter Corner Fifty students, two weeks, eight questions, and the moment failure became fuel. 
Watts the Spot Students went to their communities to find where access to power was a safety issue. 
Game Tower One question: what could games teach us about decision-making? 4,500 people played the answers. 
Stephanie and Isaac Budmen are on a mission to inspire curiosity and exploration. Their passion for discovery has lead them to give talks, workshops, and lectures at venues like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harvard University, SxSW, Haystack Mountain School for Craft, the AIGA and many more. They are always eager to share the Creative Discovery Method with those eager to unlock their own potential.
Have an impossible question or a project that sparks curiosity? Want to bring Budmen Industries to your community? Connect with us on our inquiry page to start your journey.
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