Creativity and idea generation are an important part of CEED exam. You might have seen me mention many times (in this blog) that - "sketching is just a way of communicating your ideas what actually matters is the design concept". If you don't have any idea/concept, then all your sketching talent is waste (at least in the design part of CEED exam). So, you are required to create as many alternate ideas as possible. Well, idea flashing happens sometimes, but many times it's the requirement that drives to new creative thoughts.
"Necessity is the mother of creativity"
The more you feel the need, the better ideas you will get, also restricting the resources lead to best ideas. You know what - villagers are more creative than any of the city people ! The fact is we have many resource for every small thing, but villagers need to live with limited resources (even for big things), that's why they develop ideas with what they have - indirectly being creative !
Going through others ideas is also a great way of developing and exposing to many new ideas. Keeping this concept in mind, I have collected good number of useful creative ideas from around the web for your reference. Go through them and observe how they created different concepts.
In this session, we will go through Habitual practices to develop creativity as well as lateral thing. As usual, we will be discussing the topic under separate sub-headings as follows :
The best way of developing lateral thoughts (fastly) is by brainstorming. Brainstorming exercises such as Puzzles and math games have to be practiced regularly and of course repeatedly. It was proved by research that one can develop lateral thoughts when he/she spends most of his/her time with patterns. Observing the trend of the pattern or framing a new pattern are all some good ways of brainstorming. It's easy to see many designers (or) creative people around, but it's difficult to find designers with mathematical ability, and I can say - a creative person with good/average mathematical ability (puzzle solving capability) performs superbly in his career. If you don't have any mathematical background, then I strongly recommend you to go through some basics. Trust me, puzzles really puzzle you, as well as keep you entertained !
"Solving puzzles and patterns are one of the best habit one can have"
2. Do multiple activities
Every time, handling a single job/work reduces your diverse capabilities and hence diminishes your creative thoughts. It's good to work in focused and concentrated manner, likewise it's even more good to master multiple thoughts by doing simultaneous things. Cultivate the habit of doing multiple activities. For example, listen to music while say browsing. Think for ideas while you are travelling by bus/trains or even while you are jogging. Engage yourselves busy with lateral thoughts. Otherwise your mind will get rusted like iron gets rusted when it's idle !
"An empty mind is always dangerous"
3. Supportive environment
The surroundings on which you live/work will greatly affect your lateral thinking ability. Make the surroundings of your living place most comfortable to you. The following nature of environment will greatly boost your creative thinking :
Calm and noiseless environment
Away from negative people
Active state (without feeling sleepy)
Free from stress/tension conditions
Access to natural pleasure - fully ventilated room with fresh air flowing, greenery etc.
As far as possible, spend less time on TV. Television is the best dis-tractor of all time, as we usually get addicted once we start watching that. If interested, spend time on interesting channels like Nat Geo, fun and humor channels etc
4. Productive - not wasting time
A 'Time waster' can be more or less considered as a 'Loser'. Time is the most precious of all. Spending time Idle is the worst thing one can practice. Instead try to analyze the surroundings, analyze whatever appears to your eyes or instead stick to some music. Spare greater time to think ! spend more time for internal thinking rather than wasting time on chats, television, dating etc.
You could utilize your time by any of the following activity.
Puzzles
Gaming
Reading - stories, comics
Browse web for new topics
Visit places
Animations etc
5. Play Games
Research confirmed that playing games - especially mind, action and puzzling video games are the best source of lateral thinking. These days children are active and creative, right ? that's because they spend considerable amount of time for games. Offline games like sudoku (and many more to mention) also helps one to develop mentally. Remember; age is not a restriction for playing games, many feel that "am I child, to play these games ?" and so they don't even put their hands on games. I can say there's no wrong in playing mind games except for the case when you get addicted to it. If possible; play online games on lumosity as well as some other brainstorming exercises. Lumosity is a great place to practice as well as to improve our capabilities. Give a try !
"Think like a child but act like an adult !"
6. Crafts/art and DIY
Creativity can be best demonstrated through sketches, paints or any other art works. Sketching and painting are the best ways of exploring our thoughts. Try to do these, even if you are not good at sketching ! Cultivate the habit of going through crafts, creative art works as well as paintings of others (as many as you can). These kind of works go beyond imagination and if one observes these with utmost care, then one can learn new dimensions in creativity.
Today's internet world is filled with countless number of websites, where we can find many creative people - those people whom are unique, thinkable and of course guide-able. Find those people and get connected with them. Keep updated with their creative works by analyzing their ideas. This process will definitely help you in learning the new possibilities in creative field. Of course, this will also reduce your fear of being different, because you will be involved in the environment of such crazy and different people !
The following list shows some of my favorite websites, where you can find good number of creative people -
DIY stands for "Do it yourself". The following pictures shows some of the DIY works that I found in Pinterest. As you can see, most of the works were carried with already used or waste things. Utilizing already used/waste things to make something new is the best possible way of opening our doors to lateral thinking. Our mind will run in all possible ways to generate ideas of alterantive uses. In fact DIY objects might be helpful to you. So, try to develop DIY thoughts at leisure especially with unused or waste things. Like you observed crafts and painting works of others, observe the DIY ideas of others too. The first two social networks (that I listed above) are the best place to find those. You could find me in Pinteret here.
To be creative, one should find time to develop ideas. So, you need to cater a part of a day for yourself. Remember, when you are always with some company, then you would be getting very less time for self thinking as you would be engaged with them either discussing on something or simple chatting etc. So, there's no time for your thinking ! Research says that one who keeps alone for quite a time develops lateral thinking fastly !
8. Learn new and unrelated topics
Like I discussed in 'Exposure' section in behavioral practices, learning is a continuous process and the more we learn, the more we get ideas. Try to learn or go through the topics that you never came across. Going through unrelated topics demands once presence and therefore he/she would concentrate more on that subject.
Did you ever tried making chapattis/rotis with an iron box ? Crazy you know, I too never tried that before, it just flashed while writing. OK, to get such ideas, you should know that something like an iron box exists and that is meant to heat and iron clothes. Without aware of the iron box, you couldn't have framed this idea, right ? What i'm trying to say is - you should expose yourself to as many things as possible by learning about them, their working principle etc (preferably day to day used things/products), in order to incorporate/use them in other ideas.
9. Mistaking rocks
Do you ever felt guilty of doing some fault designs or decisions ? Well, never feel like that. Mistake doesn't mean a failure, it is the process of learning, an art. But make sure that you learn from whatever mistakes you do - In other words; don't repeat the same mistakes repeatedly. If you fear for committing mistakes, then you won't be taking the initiative of starting the thing. And like I said earlier, when you don't try, you won't get to know whether your thoughts are true or not.
10. Listen to aspiring music
Music boost our mood and helps in creating ideas ! I can say 98% of this world's population loves music. That may be of different genre's, everybody has their own tastes. Experiments confirm that slow melodies and classical music are best for soothing mind (calming mind) while rock/pop songs boost the confidence and hence keep the mind active. Make the habit of enjoying music as much as possible.
11. Open up
The world is filled with good and bad people. There will be many people - who try to pull you when you are about to grow to higher level. In this process, you may come across people whom criticize you or laugh for what you have done, or proposed. Eliminate the fear of being criticized by others. Let the world laugh today only to find the importance in it tomorrow !
"When you move away from the regular track, then whatever you do will assume creativeness and will be different to the surrounding people !"
12. Photography guides you
Carefully observing each and every part of the photography is also a good mind exercise. Capturing things in different/unique views or observing others photography are all some of the best ways of improving visualization or observation skills. Remember, the more you observe, the more creative thoughts you will get. Here is a list of best social networks that will help you find creative photographers
"If you are doing interesting tasks, then you might complete 80% of the task in just 20% of the time, but when you are doing uninteresting tasks, then you might complete only 20% of the task in 80% of the time."
That's the huge difference. Your productivity is directly proportional to your interest. It's really difficult to tackle a task that doesn't entertain/interest you. Therefore try to focus on areas where you feel like never (or least) bored with good interest. Take some inspirations to speed up your tasks. Creativity can be expected only when you are interested ! Work with satisfaction.
14. Illustrate a story board
Story making is one creative way of delivering your ideas. If illustartions (sketches) join them, then that would be even better. Try to frame an interesting story. Preferably concentrate on a particular character (call him/her/it the hero of your story) and communicate your story in the form of either writing or sketches (just like you see in Tinkle books or manga).
15. Visit knowledgeable places
Sounds interesting, right ? but it's true, places like museums, paint galleries, science exhibitions and of course historic places would teach you a lot. Most of the ideas are framed by taking inspirations from earlier works. Those works might give you some ideas or at least make you aware of what the historic are up-to. Science exhibitions is one knowledgeable place for technicians. For others (say photographers, writers, directors etc.) museums and paint exhibitions serves a lot. Go ahead and visit such places at times.
16. Physical practice
Well to activate your brain for lateral thinking and creativity, mental exercise alone can't contribute to the fullest. Physical exercises are also required to some extent. Physical activities make all the muscles of the body move and hence avoid laziness of the body, directly eliminating procrastination. The following are some good physical activities that might help you exercise your body as well as your brain :
Meditation
Walking or cycling for at least 15 minutes a day
Swimming
Outdoor games like tennis
17. Being humorous - jokes
Laughing is both physical and mental exercise and that's why doctors recommend that to keep us free from tensions/stress etc. Joking often is the best way of getting laugh. Watching comedy is another way of relaxing mind. Those who are humorous are in fact creative ! framing a laughable content for whatever situations arise demands once brain to work quickly in all possible ways - in other words think laterally.
18. Teach people
Teaching is an art, not all can teach at first instance ! it requires practice. If you are teaching something, then you will be thinking in all possible ways on
How to make it deliverable
How to make that understandable by listeners
What questions has to be answered
When a listener poses a questions, then it requires your lateral thinking on how to come-up with concepts so as to make him/her understand the concept. You will be thinking in all possible ways and solutions. That in fact is a good exercise to your brain ! Isn't it ?
19. Food habits
Surprisingly, maintaining a good food habit would support your thinking ability. Nutritious food intake is required to activate the most important nerves of the body. Experiments confirm that consuming liquid drinks (especially water) helps to keep us active. Therefore, consume water as much as you can.
20. Cartoons and animated movies
Watch cartoons or creative animated movies to understand how impossibilities were shown possible - the biggest booster for lateral thinking ! Animals talking, showing imaginative places, crazy characters etc are all the imaginative things that we come across in such movies. You can see how the film makers were thinking beyond the limits without limiting their boundaries. So, do watch good number of animated movies frequently, rather than just wasting time on normal movies.
21. Culture - meet different culture
This seems a bit out of subject topic, but this might help you at least a little. The whole world is filled with different cultural people. Unfortunately; most of us stick to a particular culture and we are not interested in knowing about others. Exploring others culture is just like visiting a historic place and so it's not a bad idea in doing so. Cultural explorations are particularly useful for designers and photographers.
22. Read short stories
Short stories that leave some morals at the end are good for developing and learning new ideas. Stories with illustrations/cartoons are more preferable (manga type and books like Tinkle) than ordinary writings. Make it a habit of reading stories. Learning is a never ending process. New things can be grasped either by exposure or reading. So keep reading as much as you can, that can be either online or with the help of books.
Welcome back friends, before discussing the actual topic, let me state the definition of 'Creativity' in my own language.
"Creativity can be defined as an art of thinking/imagining/writing/acting/doing or even speaking something NEW - that differs from the rest and that is probably :
Unique
Astonishing
Appreciable
Acceptable
Adoptable and in fact
Practical"
The definitions of Creativity and Lateral thinking are closely related, more or less both can be assumed same. Therefore, I will be discussing about them synchronizingly. For the convenience of readers, I divided the topic on 'how to improve creativity' under two separate categories :
Both of the above listed articles are best suited for the following categories of people :
Students
Designers and design aspirants
Photographers
Artists
Film directors
Content writers and bloggers
Teachers
Engineering and software professionals
You may also watch the video tutorial of this article at the end of this page. Lets dive into the topic !
1. Feel the need for changes & requirements
Necessity or requirement is the main source of creativity. Once we feel the need for a change or feel like we were uncomfortable with the present, we will be in a position to innovate. In other words - make ways to new ideas. We won't eat unless we are hungry, right ? same principle applies to lateral thoughts. So, in order to boost our lateral thinking, we should frame our surroundings/environment in such a way that we are always left with many requirements, necessities or to-do tasks.
"Necessity is the mother of creativity"
2. Finding faults
Yes, you heard that right ! A creative person (especially a designer and content writer) should find faults in the existing things/designs/writings. Let me clear this with a day-to-day example, We are already having n number of mobile phones in the market, right ? still then - why we are seeing new advanced phones everyday. That's because; in some way or other every phone lacks in perfection. Same funda applies to whatever products we see around. It is to be noted that - the designers 'looks for problems' so as to upgrade the existing one; even if there's no fault in it.
Time to think - what would've happened if 'Thomas Edison' couldn't found any fault in using candle light ? the whole world would've stayed in candle light ! No question of inventing electric bulb. Every innovation begins with requirements and requirements are proportional to fault findings. So, develop the attitude of finding discomforts, mistakes and faults in whatever you come across.
Do you know one thing ? Almost all the posts that I wrote in this blog is based on my findings. I understood that there is a necessity for the topics to be dealt - by noting the requirements from the users. Just as I started writing in this blog, many approached me and made me aware of the topics that they had been searching badly for a long. The design suggestions and other guides that I covered in this blog is based on my mistake finding on others works ! That is the power of finding mistakes/faults. That's why I strongly recommend you to look for faults/mistakes - that are genuine and acceptable.
"Every innovation begins with requirements and requirements are proportional to fault findings"
3. Being different - not satisfying
Most of the people perceive things in usual (normal/same) way, but very few observe things differently - they are the actual creative individuals. Be different, think differently and do differently. Don't get satisfied with whatever others are doing. Find your own way of perceiving things. Don't try to notice casual things, try to analyze/look for unusual things. For example, if you are given a photograph or a cartoon; then try to focus mainly on the background rather than what others does i.e on the character of the picture. This way, explore/perceive things differently and be keen to each and every part of the issue. Always make the habit of raising questions.
"What else can we do with a used tooth brush ?"
"Can safety pin be used as a electric connector ?"
4. Exposure
Well, one can open-up his/her mind and can explore various thoughts only when he is exposed to different situations. To be creative; you should be aware of as many things as possible - that too in various areas. Say, if you are a graphic designer, then don't restrict yourself to that particular specialization. Instead, educate yourself to various related design fields like interior designs, visual communications etc. This way you can remove the restrictions (so called 'boundary walls') and hence would think in diverse ways.
Most importantly; wherever you are and whatever you are doing - observe things observe surroundings and be keen to the current ongoing. An ant is a tiny living creator on earth, but it does have heart, lungs or any other organs like we (humans) have. Even a tiny thing is worth observing because it does carry matter ! Don't neglect small details/issues.
"The world is very big, explore it"
"An electronic chip (IC) is small, but it's almost equal to a human brain ! explore and expose to everything"
5. Share your thoughts
Sharing your creative ideas with your friends, family, teachers or any others, would help you as follows
Others are the good judgers in finding the loop holes of your's. Same applies to their work ! That would help you correct yourself
They might suggest you for some changes by giving their own ideas. In this way you are working in a team and thus indirectly exploring multiple ideas
Analyze the mistakes from what they have suggested, thus avoiding it without doing it from your side.
"Learn from the mistakes of others"
6. Go through others ideas
Just like you shared and got creative suggestions/ideas from others, go through others ideas and analyze :
What are all the possible mistakes that they made, what is to be avoided
How their concept went
How that concept can be changed and incorporate in our concept
What other ideas (alternatives) can be derived from their's
How that differ from your's
Well, this can also be applied to content writing. Writers may check others work and understand for the above list
7. Live in assumptions
You might have watched some of the famous cartoons/animated movies. It's really great to see how directors imagine the impossible things and showed them with clean and decent script form. That is the power of assumptions. Directors live in a world of assumptions, and that is what makes them creative than most of us. Consider any topic and make suitable assumptions on how to deal with the situation. You must be in a position to unwrap your imaginations and think crazily. Don't mind even if you are thinking in an impossible manner, who knows that might come possible !
8. Observe and analyse others
Watching and understanding others is a big deal. It's a psychology and this would definitely help you develop analyzing power. Find how creative others are, how they are behaving etc. If possible; read their face to analyze their characters, let it go wrong, no issue. It is recommended to watch childrens activities. Children are really crazy, and they obviously showcase crazy thoughts. It's upto you to grasp what they are doing. The faster you observe what they are doing (differently), the more observing power you get.
"Sometimes; children could beat elders or even scientists in idea generation !"
9. Risking - eliminate the fear of failure
For one to be creative, one should be ready to take risks ! Remember, doing different or being different is the key indication of creativeness; and to be different mean you should be ready to face the risks ! The risks could be any of the following :
Failure
Criticism and
Rejection from people
Well, even if you fail in meeting the exceptions of your creative works, don't let your hopes down. When you fail, you will be moving one step towards the success ! and hence keep creating without the fear for failure. It was said that : 90% of the people fails because of NOT TAKING RISKS, (most of) the remaining 10% succeed because others couldn't even start ! The fear in you might refrain you from even starting or trying the thought idea, this is the biggest drawback of all. Whether your work is going to make a blast or whether it will get utter flopped, don't worry, just give it a try.
"Until you start/try, you won't be knowing whether it's a success or failure !"
10. Confidence
Like I said before, there might be the risk of criticism or even rejections from many. Criticism from others are the root source of disappointment or down-break of once confidence. When confidence is lost, you will be stuck with NO ideas. So, in order to overcome such situations, appreciate yourself - appreciate your own ideas and try to boost your confidence/interest to make further progress.
11. Group-up your thoughts (write down)
Creative ideas/thoughts comes in flow, while doing related or even unrelated works. Ideas strikes your head and might flash like a thunder. But if it's not caught, then you will be loosing that idea ! It happens most of the times, that's because human brain tends to forget those that flashed in mind even after few seconds ! That's the reason why most of the creative people carry a notepad, a book or any of today's digital gadgets just to write/note down the ideas that strikes their mind. So, make the habit of writing down (in some where) the thoughts no matter where you are and what you are doing. Don't forget to revise that some time later and try to utilize them for your other ideas.
"Group of water drops makes an ocean !"
12. Being comparative
Comparison is required; wherever you are and whatever you are doing. For example, in your primary school you might have competed with your fellow school mates so as to stand in the top position of the class. If you are a blogger/content writer, you might have compared your Alexa rankings with that of your fellow bloggers. If you are satisfied with your results (however it is) then you won't be taking further steps for progress. Develop the habit of comparing your tasks/activities/writings with that of others and find the difference. Compare and understand to what extent you are creative than the rest.
13. Avoid routine & uninterested activities
Well, doing same and routine works bore you. Such environment acts as the main obstruction for your lateral thoughts. Avoid doing uninterested and repeated works continuously. Instead, take a break from your regular works and go for some of your habits. The following are the best acts/ways to keep away boredom due to routine works.
Reading and writing stories
Watching movies
Music and gaming
Travel and site seeing
"Robots do routine things - not humans !"
14. Positive minded friends
Move greatly with positive people who supports you the most - just to boost your confidence. Mind less of people whom discourage you. The company (surrounding people) with whom you move or live, greatly affect your work and thinking. It's always advisable to move greatly with positive minded people - those who supports you or inspires you. It's also good to move with people whom gets inspired by your works/actions. Such people will make you understand your importance and capabilities. Hence your confidence level will not weaver.
"You are judged by your surroundings"
15. Be practical
Well, from the very beginning I have been speaking more about 'crazy thoughts'. It's good to develop those thoughts, but make sure that almost all of your thoughts are practical, especially if you are a designer. If you are a writer or director, then your thinking may go beyond imagination but all that should be framed and represented as practical ! Almost all animated movies show talking animals as main characters, best example is 'Kung Fu Panda'. It isn't possible, but it was represented in a practical manner. That is the creative power of directors !
Well, the above concepts are just my views based on my experience and analysis into the topic. In order to strengthen the above facts, I approached a creative blogger - Suchitra ; whom is the owner of easycrafts blog - who blogs about crafts, travel, finance and Indian food recipes.
I get inspired by everything crafty that I see and then try to put in my thoughts to make it look different .... the thought of not creating an exact replica itself gives new ideas. Also I am very keen on using up waste or leftover materials to make some crafts.
2. What are all the steps/activities/hobbies that you do habitually to sustain creativeness in you ?
Browsing the internet
Following lot of creative and craft blogs
Taking lot of time in craft materials shops to see what new materials have come up and the way they can be used
Staying updated with new techniques and popular crafts.
I appreciate our friend - Suchitra to the fullest; for sparing her valuable time to answer the questions.
