Why Your Next Team Meeting Should Involve Clay:
Hands-on creativity boosts problem-solving by 35% — here’s why your next team retreat should get a little messy…
Creativity Isn’t a Perk — It’s a Performance Strategy
Did you know that engaging in hands-on art can increase creative problem-solving by up to 35%?
In an era when companies are asking employees to innovate faster, collaborate better, and handle constant change, creativity isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s essential.
At Mud Hut Pottery Studio in Riverside, CA, we help teams reconnect with creativity — not through lectures or trust falls, but through clay. When people create with their hands, they relax, communicate, and think differently. They stop worrying about getting it “right” and start discovering new ways to work together.
It’s fun. It’s unexpected. And it works.
When colleagues have a chance to collaborate in a creative environment, they step outside of routine roles, communicate more openly, and build genuine connections that strengthen trust, teamwork, and innovation long after the experience ends.
The Science Behind Hands-On Creativity
Research shows that hands-on creative activities activate brain regions associated with focus, innovation, and stress regulation.
A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that creative tactile work, such as ceramics, painting, or sculpting, enhances divergent thinking — the kind of thinking linked to innovation and problem-solving.
The American Art Therapy Association reports that even 45 minutes of art-making can significantly lower cortisol levels, the body’s primary stress hormone.
And according to a University of Central Florida study on play and productivity, incorporating creative play into the workplace improves team communication and resilience under stress.
Simply put: when employees are engaged in art, they are less stressed, more open, and better equipped to collaborate.
Why Fun Matters in Stressful Environments
The modern workplace is fast, digital, and often overwhelming. In fact, a 2024 Gallup report showed that 44% of employees experience daily stress — the highest rate in a decade.
That stress impacts everything: communication, morale, creativity, and retention.
But when teams experience shared joy and play, even briefly, it rewires how they relate to one another. Fun in a professional context isn’t frivolous — it’s functional.
Play and laughter release dopamine and endorphins, improving mood and motivation.
Positive shared experiences build psychological safety, which Harvard’s Amy Edmondson identifies as the #1 predictor of high-performing teams.
Group creativity fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, both critical to engagement and retention.
In short: fun reduces stress, boosts connection, and builds cultures people want to stay in.
From the Conference Room to the Clay Studio
Instead of another PowerPoint-filled meeting, imagine your team gathered around a pottery table — shaping, laughing, and learning together in a calm, inspiring space.
At Mud Hut, we design experiences that help teams unwind while building trust and creativity:
Paint-Your-Own Pottery Experiences — A relaxed, low-pressure way to get creative and connect. Starting at $40/person.
On Location Paint-Your-Own Pottery Experiences (at your location) — A relaxed, low-pressure session that sparks conversation and collaboration. Starting at $50/person
Hand-Building with Clay Workshops — Collaborative projects that encourage communication and problem-solving. Starting at $75/person.
Custom Event Packages — Add catering, music, or themed projects to create your perfect offsite or appreciation event.
Each session is guided, beginner-friendly, and tailored to your company’s goals — whether that’s morale, mindfulness, or pure creative fun.
Why Team Retreats Are Worth It
According to Deloitte’s 2023 Global Human Capital Trends report, organizations that invest in team experiences see 2.5x higher engagement and 3x greater innovation than those that don’t.
Team retreats provide a break from routine — and that space to think, laugh, and create together often leads to breakthroughs back at work.
Our clients tell us they leave Mud Hut feeling:
✅ Refreshed and reconnected
✅ Inspired to collaborate more openly
✅ Proud of what they created together
And long after the event, that shared sense of accomplishment carries into the workplace.
Ready to Rethink Team Building?
Your next meeting doesn’t have to happen in a boardroom.
Bring your team to a place where creativity meets collaboration — and watch what happens when people get their hands in the clay.
Mud Hut Pottery Studio
· 9950 Indiana Ave Unit 12 Riverside, California 92503
· Corporate team-building packages starting at $40/person
· Perfect for leadership retreats, staff appreciation events, and creative offsites
Book your next team experience today: Mud Hut Private Event Studio
