Make Yourself Creative: Two Easy Idea-Generating Methods

Here are a couple of exercises to force yourself to come up with some brand new ideas. These methods can be used to give your business an edge, to overcome creative blocks, or just for fun - to prove to yourself that you can have some great ideas.

Method 1: "It's X meets Y"

Many movie critics use the "It's X meets Y" formula to help them quickly and accurately describe what a movie is all about. For example, the film Open Water was described by one critic as "It's Jaws meets Blair Witch". Anyone can now guess that the film involves sharks (or other water-dwelling monsters), and is a horror film filmed in a realistic way.

You can also use this formula to create brand new products, which can be easily understood by the potential market.

Choose 2 products from your industry (or choose 2 at random), with different features and audiences. Combine the two and consider the result. This is your brand new product. Do this a few times to create 5 different new products and then evaluate them to see which to go with. For example "It's Pop Tarts meets AllBran" could give you the idea to make a toastable breakfast health snack, or mini-Poptarts that you pour into a bowl and eat as a cereal.

Funnily enough, this method works really well with new movie-script ideas.

Method 2: "Redesign This"

This method allows a product to be developed very quickly. Consider an existing everyday item and improve it. Write down the item's main essential features - no more than the essentials. Then write down all the extra features you would personally like to see in the perfect version of this item. Then sketch out some ideas which have all the features you have though of.

If we consider a Kettle, what essentials features does it need? The ability to heat liquid, to be safe, easy to pour, easy to fill. If we think of it like this we could design a kettle that can have variable settings for different liquids - one to boil water, one to heat baby's milk, one to make hot chocolate (though it would have to be easy to clean!). Or we could make a more traditional style kettle, but with an extra wide spout to allow it to be filled without having to remove the lid.

These new ideas appear only when we strip an item down to its absolute essentials and start again from scratch.

Is your business as targeted as it could be, or are you providing unwanted features? Could you bring out some new redesigned products to complement existing ones?

It is very satisfying to improve an old classic.

Profile: You can be a Saint - right now - at the author's web business. Become a Saint at http://www.yousaint.com for a modest donation of £35.

---

Overcoming Artists Block (Part 1)

How many times does an artist stare down at that... Read More

Produce Creativity: 4 Ways To Motivate Your Melon

It was 8:00 PM and I'd hit a creative wall... Read More

Mind Mapping

Ever been on a project where you had trouble keeping... Read More

Codifying Creativity

Can we codify creativity? Within these few words are a... Read More

Tapping into Your Super Creative Power

Do you consider yourself creative? How about super creative? Most... Read More

7 Things Sapping Your Creativity Right Now

This was a very easy article to write. I was... Read More

Trying to Create From Distorted Perceptions?

We've all met people who are "negative" ? negative thinkers... Read More

Creative Thinking The Secret Key To Lasting Success

What is creativity anyway? Well, let us look at the... Read More

A Book About Faith and Love

With news about Iraq and London and even our own... Read More

Creativity Management ? Synergy of Craft and Art

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Unlock Your Creative Secret Weapon

It seems like this week a ton of people have... Read More

Creativity, Innovation, and Science ? Separate and Distinct or Not?

There is a pervasive belief that creativity and innovation are... Read More

A New Discovery Of An Old Secret

Some years ago, when the world seemed to close in... Read More

The Source of Growth and Creativity

Bare attention (to objects, people and circumstances) is what brings... Read More

Three Ways Journaling Can Boost Your Creativity and Your Business

I have a friend who has struggled with her creativity... Read More

Creativity and Broken Eggs

In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered... Read More

Breathing Out Stage Fright

You're stepping onto the stage, amidst opening night flurry and... Read More

12 Ways To Boost Your Creativity At Work

As workplaces continue to rightsize and downsize, we all find... Read More

Why Creative Visualization Works

Experience has shown that creative visualization works. It is quite... Read More

Fear & Creativity

My fears are most powerful when they're simmering just under... Read More

Think & Grow Rich

All wealth is a product of mind. Some economists will... Read More

The Healing Powers of Journaling

For the past several years, I have found joy working... Read More

Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?

The next time you're moodily sitting in your office, wishing... Read More

Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks

"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I... Read More

Top Five Journal Exercises

Keeping a journal is a form of creative expression that... Read More

Creativity Stereotypes ? Are They Holding You Back?

Here's a quick quiz:1) When I see a see a... Read More

Creativity Management ? Its All About Routine

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Push The Right Button

You can live a much more successful life than you... Read More

Being Creative is Essential for Online Success

Do you have a strategy that ensures your online business... Read More

The Elements of Creativity: What-ifs?

What if there is no toilet paper and I am... Read More

Creativity Management ? The Value Of An Idea?

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Characteristics: Creative Types VS Clods!

Here are some odds & ends I have observed in... Read More

Turning Obstacles Into Blessings

"Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life... Read More