The Top 5 Creative Tools and Techniques

All the techniques I'm about to describe focus on encouraging and stimulating lateral thinking - taking loose, spontaneous observations and bringing them together to generate new thoughts and ideas.

There's a lot of stuff written about different tools and techniques. I reckon these are the most powerful and the ones I tend to start from when trying to structure innovation sessions.

1. Mind Mapping

Invented by Tony Buzan, mind mapping is a visual device that creates ideas by association. By displaying thoughts and using symbols and colour, new connections are made highly visible.

How it Works
1 Write down the subject you are trying to create around in the centre of the page
2 Allow ideas to expand into branches and sub-branches via free association
3 Emphasise the associations: use arrows, colours and codes
4 Work quickly, keep moving
5 Generate, don't judge
6 Develop your own personal style

Get individuals to do it themselves an then ask them to highlight and share key ideas

2. Introducing Randomness

One of the simplest and most powerful techniques is called Random Word.

How it Works
1. Choose a random word from a bag. I find that those magnetic words used for creating poems on your fridge work really well
2. List its attributes and associations
3. Connect back to the problem: use as a springboard for idea generation

A variation on random word is to use a random image (I like the postcards from Paperchase), toy or object that happens to be lying around the room

3. Related Worlds

A technique that examines how other people / professions have solved a similar problem to the one you're facing and then applying the learning back to your own situation.

How it Works
1. Think about who else has had to face / deal with a similar problem to the one you're facing
2. Capture the approaches they took, the solutions they came up with
3. Consider how these could be adapted and re-applied to your situation

The secret is ensuring you choose the most appropriate and fruitful related world. For example, if the subject is about ‘improving navigation' then look to the world of pilots, the navy, etc for inspiration. Once you've chosen the right world, the ideas really flow

4. Rule Breaking

A great technique for challenging conventional wisdom and giving yourself permission to break boundaries

How It Works
1. On one side of a flipchart write down the ‘rules' beliefs and assumptions that relate to the subject under discussion
2. On the other side, generate ideas that break / challenge them

This is particularly useful when you're looking for radical solutions or breakthrough innovation

5. Role Playing

A good start point for any creative workshop. Most people find this an easy and productive exercise. It involves looking at the problem through the eyes of others and using their perspective as a way of generating ideas.

Version 1 Consumer Role Play

1. Imagine you are the target audience for your product / service. Describe your needs, wants, desires, problems
2. Generate ideas that would address them

Version 2 Famous People

1. Imagine a famous person (celebrity, leader, etc) has taken over your brand / organisation
2. What ideas would they generate / really love?

This is a just a flavour of the kinds of tools that can be used to generate new ideas. There are many more of them which can be used to address your creative challenge. If you want to know more, please get in touch