In “Why Collaborate?” an essay written by Ellen Lupton in 2005, she talks about the types of group work she enjoys. She likes voluntary and impromptu collaborative efforts in the classroom, but frowns upon arbitrary forced group work. She goes on to talk about how the friends and social networks you create can stick with you for life. These social networks can be a source of artistic inspiration, healthy competition, and informal education. All of which could be more useful than anything you learn in school. She talks about how outside of forced group work and school, many groups of people have voluntarily worked together to do amazing things. New software designers such as the team behind Open Office, are able to create amazing products by pooling together their financial, social and intelligence resources. These young teams of creators are collaborating to create great things. They are able to achive far more than the individual. They also allow the individual to achive much more by giving them exposure. An example is a group of MICA students who collaborated to create a book full of DIY (do it yourself) instructions. They were able to collectively release a book, but also give every author an individual spotlight. So collaborating is one of the skills that actually transend the classroom. Successful collaborations are essentially small democracies. Collaborations help people come to consensus. They help to create greater thinkers and better things