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.comfor a modest donation of Ł35.
MORE RESOURCES:
 Bangor Daily News | Presque Isle arts center reopens with mission to foster creativity Bangor Daily News “We didn't have easels and paint sets and fun places to go and do creative things,” she said Saturday. “Unless it was during art class at school. ... |
 Seattle Post Intelligencer | Ruben Navarrette Jr.: Divisive issue of immigration calls for creativity Sacramento Bee By summoning creativity and courage, lawmakers can repair a system that is out of order. And America will be better for it. Ruben Navarrette Jr. writes for ... Today's Immigration Reform Rally begins a New Era for America |
 Baltimore Sun | Peabody players strike a note of volunteerism Baltimore Sun The class, Community Engagement and Creativity: 21st Century Skills for Professional Musicians, was created by alumnus Dan Trahey, who also coordinates the ... |
 Wilkes Barre Times-Leader | St. Jude School students get creative with household items Wilkes Barre Times-Leader Second-grade students at St. Jude School, Mountain Top have been working on a reading unit about being creative. They decided to put their creativity to the ... |
Holland Area Arts Council judges, shows off high schoolers' creativity MLive.com HOLLAND — Lee Huizenga took up photography as a hobby several years ago because he was interested in its ... |
Problem solving as a tool of creativity TODAYonline I'VE left problem solving to the last of the seven vital elements of creativity. It is more a consequence than a cause of creativity. ... |
Canon Partners LeSportSac On Creative Output TAXI Design Network ... all over the world, has applied the same fashion-forward design creativity to create this exclusive camera case for Canon PowerShot Digital cameras. ... |
Panther Pride: Creative problem solvers head to state my.hsj.org I am so proud of Dakota Valley for putting such an emphasis on creative problem solving. This teaches students to think critically, which will help them in ... |
 Sydney Morning Herald | Lack of creativity handcuffs 'Bounty' Milwaukee Journal Sentinel AP Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler have a love-hate-love bond in “The Bounty Hunter.” By Sue Pierman, Special to the Journal Sentinel Journal Sentinel TV ... Metro Morning Movie Reviews |
Canon U.S.A. Joins Creative Forces with Fashion Brand LeSportsac MarketWatch (press release) ... all over the world, has applied the same fashion-forward design creativity to create this exclusive camera case for Canon PowerShot Digital cameras. ... |
How to Make Time for Art
The key to making time for art is the ability to say "NO".If you say "yes" to everything that is asked of you, you will not have time to be creative.
Creative Dreams - What Winter Driving Taught Me
We had a winter storm the other day here in Toronto. And as I was driving, I started thinking about what my winter driving had in common with my creative dreams.
Mindfulness and Creativity: The Wow of Wonder
You are so creative.Don't deny it.
Unleash Your Creativity and Think Your Way Out of the Box
The brain is a strange organ. It works in ways we don't yet understand and manages to create everything we see.
Innovation Through Concept-Combination
There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors to come up with new solutions to old problems. For sheer innovation, though, it's hard to beat the technique of concept-combination.
Recharge Your Battery
It was 4:15PM on a Thursday when I arrived at the hair salon to get my haircut. My hair appointment was at 5PM but I arrived there quite early.
Lucid Dreaming: Discover a Whole New World
Did you know that all of your most cherished dreams are just a good night's sleep away?Lucid dreamers share one of the greatest secrets of modern living. They have discovered a whole new universe-a universe within.
Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?
The next time you're moodily sitting in your office, wishing you were living your dream instead, answer the following questions? or answer them now! They'll give you a sense of whether or not now's the time to make the break.My job is making me crazy; so crazy I'd do anything to quit.
Art, Artists and Money
Practical money tips for people in the arts.1.
Becoming Radiant: Boost Your Teams Creativity with Mind Mapping
I don't take notes anymore. Instead, I create one wildly colorful, creative and inspiring page whenever I need to make a decision, prepare a presentation, or plan an event.
Creativity Management and Team Size
Effective team structure is critical when managing creativity and creative output.It appears that many individuals are effective alone - Einstein, Marco Polo etc - however, what is usually overlooked is that these people often collaborated regularly.
Top Five Reasons to Cultivate Your Creativity
Cultivating your creativity is more than spending time with a hobby or performing and displaying your work. Cultivating your creativity takes time, awareness and deliberate action.
Art of Creation with Attention
Attention is the greatest creative power in the world. If you command your attention, you command your creation/life.
Improve Your Bottom Line, Kens Idea Saved over $100,000
Engaged employees can show us the way to continuously improve. Customers want our products and services to be better, delivered faster, and produced less expensively.
Gift of a Letter
"What cannot letters inspire? They have souls; they can speak; they have in them all that force which expresses the transports of the heart; they have all the fire of our passions." Letter from Heloise to Abelard (from Gift of a Letter by Alexandra Stoddard)Just returning from the National Stationery Show in New YorkCity, I was struck by the energetic "forward motion" of thethousands of vendors still enthusiastic about the power of thehand-written note.
The Healing Powers of Journaling
For the past several years, I have found joy working as a motivational writer and speaker. One of my greatest passions has been the gift of sharing my deep love and respect for the written word.
Achieving Limitless Creativity
There are many out there who wish to help individuals achieve limitless creativity. Such a noble endeavor to help fellow man; some creativity coaches are indeed working to set out simple principles which can help any individual get to that space.
Creative Memory Tricks
What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use them, of course. There are many memory techniques that work well, but you'll forget them when you need them most - unless you make using them a habit.
Magic In Your Spice Rack
Variety is the spice of life, but spices, historically are the stuff of magic! A spell, after all is really just a recipe and traditionally many of them involve plant life or herbs. Magic doesn't have to be complicated to work.
A Question of Time and Memory
I have been struck recently by a number of questions which have found their way into my mind. One of these is the question of memory.
