Creativity & Expression · Topic

Idea Generation

Produce more varied ideas before narrowing or judging them.

• Use AI to Widen the Idea Set Before You ChooseWhen you are stuck on the first obvious idea, use AI to generate alternatives across different assumptions or constraints. Experimental evidence suggests generative AI can raise ju
• Link Different Concepts, Like Biology and Business, to Discover Innovative SolutionsLink different concepts, like biology and business, to discover innovative solutions.
• Translate a Problem into a Nature-Inspired Design PrincipleDescribe the function a solution must perform, inspect a biological example, extract a transferable principle and test one safe application without copying the organism literally.
• Use an Extreme Seed, Then Return to RealityStart an idea session with a deliberately unrealistic seed, explore its consequences without defending it and then translate useful fragments back into real constraints.
• In a Group, Write Down Ideas and Pass Them Around for Others to BuildIn a group, write down ideas and pass them around for others to build on.
• Regularly Review How Things Are Typically Done and Question If There's a Better WayRegularly review how things are typically done and question if there's a better way.
• If You're Stuck, Pause for a Relaxing Activity Like Walking or CookingIf you're stuck, pause for a relaxing activity like walking or cooking.
• Use One Constraint to Produce a Different Creative DraftWhen open-ended exploration is producing more browsing than making, choose one reversible constraint on scope, tools, format, or time and use it to create a concrete alternative yo
• Add a Daily Ritual to Prime Your Mind for CreativityAdd a daily ritual to prime your mind for creativity. Whether it’s a quiet cup of tea or organizing your space, set the stage for innovative thinking.
• Start by Understanding a Person or a Group ofStart by understanding a person or a group of.., then brainstorm and prototype ideas, and refine them based on feedback.
• When You Encounter a Problem, Ask 'whyWhen you encounter a problem, ask 'Why?' five times to dig deeper into the root cause.
• Write Without Stopping to Edit or JudgeWrite without stopping to edit or judge.
• Explore How Problems Were Solved HistoricallyExplore how problems were solved historically.
• Set a Goal for How Many New Ideas You Need to Come up withSet a goal for how many new ideas you need to come up with each day or week.
• Begin with a Main Idea and Expand Outward with Branches Representing Related ThoughtsBegin with a main idea and expand outward with branches representing related thoughts.
• Use One Random Constraint to Break a Creative StalemateWhen familiar approaches keep producing the same result, draw or select one bounded prompt, create a reversible alternative for a few minutes, and keep only the part that improves
• Sketch Out Your Project Steps with Drawings or Images, Helping You Visualize the ProcessSketch out your project steps with drawings or images, helping you visualize the process and identify any gaps early on.
• Use the Scamper Technique to Creatively Improve Your Projects: Substituting, Combining, Adapting, Modifying, PuttingUse the SCAMPER technique to creatively improve your projects: Substituting, Combining, Adapting, Modifying, Putting to another use, Eliminating, and Reversing elements.
• Look at Problems from Six Perspectives: Facts, Feelings, Positives, Negatives, Creative Ideas, and PlansLook at problems from six perspectives: facts, feelings, positives, negatives, creative ideas, and plans.
• Use Three Different Thinking Styles: the Dreamer, the Realist, and the CriticUse three different thinking styles: the dreamer, the realist, and the critic.
• Build on Ideas with 'yes, andBuild on ideas with 'Yes, And..' to expand rather than shut down creativity.