Who we are

Every big idea starts with a small spark.
Ours began with a story — The Big Thinking of a Small Knight.

When author Brian DeVries wrote the tale of William, a young knight learning to face challenges with courage and curiosity, he never imagined it would grow into a full movement of brave thinkers. But when Allison DeVries, a creative designer and lifelong Lean and Continuous Improvement professional, saw how the story inspired both kids and adults to think differently, the two began to wonder…

What if “brave thinking” wasn’t just a story — but something people could experienceere

Description text gThat question became The Big Thinking Box — a hands-on, story-led experience that helps participants (young and old) build the 3 Cs:

• Courage to take on challenges

• Curiosity to explore new ideas

• Critical Thinking to solve problems

From classrooms to boardrooms, The Big Thinking Box bridges the worlds of play and performance. Kids discover confidence and leadership through imaginative quests, while corporate teams reconnect with creativity, collaboration, and purpose.

Because brave thinking doesn’t stop at childhood — it grows with you.oes here

Description teWhat started as one story about a curious knight has become an ever-growing world where kids, educators, and teams all learn to Think Bravely.

• For Kids: The Big Thinking Box Adventure Pack transforms STEM and social-emotional learning into story-driven quests that make critical thinking fun.

• For Teams: The Big Thinking Box Team Edition helps organizations strengthen culture, leadership, and communication through the same imaginative, hands-on approach.

• For Everyone: Brian’s newest book, Brave Thinking: The Quest for the Aha! Moment, takes the lessons from William’s world and applies them to real-life leadership and innovation — reminding us all that courage and curiosity still matter.xt goes here

Brian DeVries

Author • Speaker • Continuous Improvement Leader
Brian has spent his career helping people and organizations discover their own “Aha!” moments. Through storytelling and experience-based learning, he turns Lean principles into human lessons that stick. His books — The Big Thinking of a Small Knight and Brave Thinking: The Quest for the Aha! Moment — invite readers to see improvement as an adventure, not an assignment.

Allison DeVries

Creative Director • Designer • Founder of The Big Thinking Box
Allison brings the imagination behind William’s world to life. With over a decade in marketing, design, and process improvement, she blends creativity with strategy to turn ideas into experiences. Her work connects visual storytelling with hands-on learning — helping both kids and adults rediscover the fun side of leadership and problem-solving.

Together, Brian and Allison are on a mission to help the world Think Bravely, Grow Boldly, and create a generation of brave thinkers — one quest at a time.

The heart of The Big Thinking Box is family.

William the Knight isn’t just a character, he’s inspired by Brian and Allison’s youngest son, Willie, whose boundless curiosity and fearless imagination sparked the story that started it all.

And the creative engine behind all their ventures, Grey Castle Digital, carries the name of their oldest son, Greyson, the original “builder” in the family and the namesake of the castle where every great idea begins.

Together, the DeVries family reminds us that Brave Thinking starts at home, with curiosity, courage, and a little bit of chaos!