75 Tools for Creative Thinking

75 tools for creative thinking

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Category

A

the w train

Get Started

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3+

the w train

To explore all sides of a situation, idea or problem in an in-depth, systematic way.

How?

1. Answer the following questions: 2. Who is the main agent in that situation or problem (e.g. teenagers, my son)?

3. What is the main concept, object, product or action that the main agent uses or performs (e.g. toothbrush, studying)?

4. Where is the main agent located when performing or using the main concept, object or action (e.g. bathroom, school)?

5. When or how often does the situation or problem occur (e.g. every night, twice a week)?

6. Describe each answer more in depth (e.g. describe the personality of the main agent).

7. Conclude by asking Why? to all the four previous answers. (e.g. Why does “x” take place in the park?).

Result

A sequential descriptive information about the situation and insightful reasoning behind each element.

Category

B

sniffing dog

Check Around

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±2

sniffing dog

You can get truly interesting insights about a problem or a situation if you study what people have left behind. You can get “honest answers” that people otherwise wouldn’t have told you.

How?

1. Think of a situation and visit the surroundings you want to sniff around in. For example, at the cinema or in a library or after cooking in the kitchen.

2. Get your camera or video camera and start recording. Feel free to add all the comments about the signs you see left over from what has just taken place.

3. Make a list of questions like: What happened here? Who was here? Why did someone leave this here?

4. While still on the actual location, try to find out the answers to all the questions.

Result

A set of evidence and your interpretations about it.

Category

C

fill in the gaps

Break It Down

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±3

fill in the gaps

A visual and written account of connected events can help you understand a situation or a problem more clearly and to identify interesting associations or new events.

How?

1. In sequential order, make a list of insights or data you’ve gathered about a situation or problem.

2. Highlight the most important insights and number them.

3. Make a storyboard template: take various A4- or letter-sized sheets of paper in landscape format. Draw three columns. In each column, define a space for the title of a scene, the scene box (drawing, photo, collage), a short description below the main dialogues and the timing.

4. Start filling in the storyboard template using the insights from the list in sequential order.

5. Leave blank scene boxes for the insights you would like to improve.

6. Focus on the blank scene boxes to generate ideas.

Result

A storyboard based on insights or data about a situation or a problem with ‘blank’ scenes ready for idea generation.

Category

D

trick questions

Break Free

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3+

trick questions

To transform negative short-sighted statements about a situation or a problem into possibilities or opportunities.

How?

1. List all the insights or data you’ve gathered about a situation or a problem.

2. Highlight the “negative forms”, e.g. “don’t feel comfortable”, “poor results”, low sales”.

3. Transform every negative form into positive ‘How to’ questions. E.g. “How to increase sales?”

4. Complete every ‘How to’ question by adding Who, What, Where, When and How. E.g. “How can client “x” increase sales in South America in the next three months without involving high investments?

5. Select one or two of the most interesting ‘How to’ questions.

6. Answer each ‘How to’ question with as many ideas as possible.

Result

A ‘How to’ question posing all the elements to consider when generating ideas.

Category

E

the jury

Evaluate & Select

Get Started Check Around Break It Down Break Free Evaluate & Select Âą 60 min

6+

the jury

To consider various perspectives and avoid bias when evaluating ideas.

How?

1. Select 6 ideas you consider have good potential.

2. Write down 6 evaluation points or requirements that the idea should comply with, e.g. costs, features, time, etc.

3. Select 6 persons from your team. One of them will present one idea while the rest act as the jury.

4. Right after the presentation, the jury ranks the idea from 1 to 6 (1 being the best, 6 being the worst) based on individual evaluations and group discussion.

5. The person that presented the idea and one random jury member should switch places in order to repeat the process.

All members present their ideas and are part of the jury once.

6. You can also assign a particular personality to each member of the jury (emotional, realistic, business-minded, etc.).

7. Sum up the final ranking to identify the best idea.

Result

Argumentation and evaluation of 6 potentially good ideas.

75 Tools for creative thinking

Creative tools for everybody: all the creative tools used by professionals translated in a simple and clear way, regardless your profession or background.

Applicable in any situation: the tools will guide any process where new ideas are required. This toolbox contains 5 card decks, each suitable for different goals, teams and time scopes.

Explained step by step: each card displays a series of steps to follow in order to help you get inspired, organise your ideas and boost your creative thinking skills.

Written and designed by: Booreiland www.booreiland.nl