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dbfkjsbdkfjbsdkfbsj Triangulate. Identify three sides of the problem, such as “audience,” “voice,” and “message.” Collect and
organize ideas in these categories.
Make a cube. Take an idea or problem and describe, compare, analyze (break down), associate, apply, and
argue for and against it. If working in a team, assign a di erent side of the cube to each person.
Think like a journalist. Ask who, what, when, where, w h y.
Make a word salad. Write down every word you can think of that relates to the problem. Sort the words
to discover patterns and ideas.Do a Google check. Who else has solved your
problem?Go to the library. Books are packed with
information and inspiration.Rewrite the problem. If the problem is “X,” change
it to “Why?”
Imagine the obvious solution. Now, imagine its opposite.
Look for solutions you admire. Analyze why you admire them.
Think like an interior decorator. Create a mood board with magazine clippings, fabric samples,
snapshots, key words, etc.
Find a place where you can pin up your ideas and look at them as a group.
Apply thinking from another eld to your problem. (“How would a zoologist design a backpack?” “How
would a chef choose a color palette?”)If your problem is overwhelming (“end global
warming” or “design a universal typeface”), break it down into smaller parts (“get people to walk more”
or “design six letters”).
Make a word map. Write down the problem on the middle of a piece of paper. Diagram everything
you can think of about the problem (context, history, similar problems, competing ideas, available
resources, etc).Write down every obvious solution you can think of
in order to clear your mind for something new.Think like a curator. Collect everything you know
about the problem. Display your data and look for meaningful patterns.
Think like an anthropologist. Observe people doing an activity related to your problem (using a product,
completing a task, taking the bus, etc.)
Ask people what they like and don’t like.Ask people what they wish for.
Ask people about their personal experiences. Find a place to think where you won’t be distracted by other tasks.
Take a walk or take a shower.
Go shopping.Drink tea.
Eat less food. Digesting a big lunch consumes energy that your brain could be using to get ideas.
Chew more gum. Research shows that chewing gum not only cleans your teeth but loosens up your
mind and makes you smarter.
Put all your ideas on index cards. Compare them. Sort them. Rank them.
Think about your idea while falling asleep or waking up.
Wear ve hats. Evaluate an idea from ve di erent perspectives. White=information (What are the
facts?). Red=emotion (How does the idea make you feel?). Yellow=optimism (What’s great about the
idea?). Black=pessimism (What’s wrong with the idea?). Green=growth (What are alternatives to the
idea?). Blue=process (How is the evaluation process going?).
Sketch. Make quick, simple diagrams of di erent ideas.
Sketch in D. Make models with cardboard and tape instead of pencil and paper.
Visualize the competition. Make a map showing where your problem, product, client, or concept sits
in relation to similar or competing problems or ideas.
Visualize the bigger picture. Make a diagram showing how your problem ts into larger systems.
For example, a shopping bag relates to how people shop, how bags are manufactured and shipped, and
what happens to bags when people are nished with them.
Design a system or tool instead of an object or artifact.
Compare and connect. Find metaphors for your problem.
Empathize. Imagine yourself as the user, reader, or client.
Simplify. Explain your idea in a single sentence.Set constraints. Cut down on brain clutter by
limiting yourself to a particular material, size, vocabulary, etc.
Recycle. A bad solution for one problem could be a good solution for another.
When you hit a dead end, try again later.brain
sho p pin g
40 Tips and Tricks for Getting in the Mood to Get IdeasTriangulate.Identify three sides of the problem, such as “audience,” “voice,”
and “message.” Collect and organize ideas in these categories.
Make a cube. Take an idea or problem and describe, compare,
analyze (break down), associate, applyagainst it. If working in a team, assign a different side of the , and argue for and
cube to each person.
Think like a journalist. Ask who, what, when, where, why.
Make a word salad. Write down every word you can think of that relates to the
problem. Sort the words to discover patterns and ideas.
Do a Google check. Who else has solved your problem?
Go to the librarBooks are packed with infory.mation and inspiration.
Rewrite the prIf the problem is “X,” change it to “Why?”oblem.
Imagine the obvious solution. Now, imagine its opposite.
Look for solutions you admire. Analyze why you admire them.
Think like an interior decoratorCreate a mood board with magazine clippings, fabric samples,.
snapshots, key words, etc.
Pin up your ideas somewhereand look at them as a group.Apply thinking frto your problem. (“How would a zoologist design a backpack?” om another field
“How would a chef choose a color palette?”)
Break it down into smaller parif your problem is overwhelming. (change “end global ts
wartypeface” to “design six letters”).ming” to “get people to walk more” or “design a universal
Make a word map. Write down the problem on the middle of a piece of paper.
Diagram ever(context, historything you can think of about the problem y, similar problems, competing ideas, available
resources, etc).
Write down everyou can think of in order to clear your mind for something newy obvious solution.
Think like a curatorCollect everything you know about the problem. Display your.
data and look for meaningful patterns.
Think like an anthrObserve people doing an activity related to your problem (using opologist.
a product, completing a task, taking the bus, etc.)
Ask people what they like and don’t like.
Ask people what they wish for.
Ask people about their personal experiences.
Find a place to thinkwhere you won’t be distracted by other tasks.
Take a walk outsideor take a shower.
Design a system or toolinstead of an object or artifact.
Compare and connect.Find metaphors for your problem.Go shopping.Visit the mall or auto repair store for surprising inspiration.
Drink tea. A hot cup of tea can comfort and help refocus.
Eat less food. Digesting a big lunch consumes energy that your brain
could be using to get ideas.
Chew more gum.Research shows that chewing gum not only cleans your teeth
but loosens up your mind and makes you smarter.
Put all your ideas on index cards. Compare them. Sort them. Rank them.
Think about your idea while falling asleep or waking up.
Wear five hats. Evaluate an idea from five different perspectives.
White = inforRed = emotion (How does the idea make you feel?). mation (What are the facts?).
Yellow = optimism (What’Black = pessimism (What’s great about the idea?). s wrong with the idea?).
Green = growth (What are alterBlue = process (How is the evaluation process going?).natives to the idea?).
Sketch. Make quick, simple diagrams of different ideas.
Sketch in 3D. Make models with cardboard and tape instead of
pencil and paper.
Visualize the competition. Make a map showing where your problem, product,
client, or concept sits in relation to similar or competing problems or ideas.
Visualize the bigger picture.Make a diagram showing how your problem fits into larger
systems. For example, a shopping bag relates to how people shop, how bags are manufactured and shipped, and what
happens to bags when people are finished with them.
Empathize.Imagine yourself as the user, reader, or client.
SimplifyExplain your idea in a single sentence..
Set constraints.Cut down on brain clutter by limiting yourself to a particular
material, size, vocabulary, etc.
Recycle. A bad solution for one problem could be a good solution
for another.
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24my design kicks your content’s assBecky Slogeris
Andy MangoldExamples of student work from
Maryland Institute College of Art.