Creative techniques, how to generate ideas

Creative techniques are used to generate ideas, they are methods that we use to face and solve advertising or artistic problems, because each briefing is like a new crossword puzzle to which we will give a unique solution. Many of the creative techniques that we will explain in this post in a summarized way, intend that we play with the unconscious, that we give room to chance and that we forget about criticism and prejudices because it is when we are in that liberated state when we contribute more ideas, more variety, originality and impact.

Of course, it is very important to take into account, in addition to the creative techniques, the personal, professional situation, the concrete circumstance at the vital level of the creative or creative person to assess their results, since the unconscious, emotions together with the state of mind play a role. fundamental role in the creative process.

The induction technique

Within the number of creative techniques, induction is very interesting for its motivating component. Thus "induce" means instigate, move someone. Well, in advertising images and words are used to stimulate creativity. Call Inducing words.

1. The first thing we have to do is clearly formulate the problem or project, the object of our creative study and, therefore, to what we will give a creative solution.

2. We will create a list of 10 inducing words, they can be random, or they can be suggestions based on the problem. These are words that can be perfectly chosen at random or that can be significant for the project in question.

3. A number is assigned to each one and 3 associations are proposed for each of the words on the list.

Finally, we will have a total of 30 words or starting points to generate ideas. Each of the 30 words is related to the problem we have to solve, generating 30 or more ideas for its resolution.

Drawing mind maps

Its main objective is to explore the problem and generate ideas in a way analogous to how the human brain and its neurons behave. Within the creative techniques, mind maps is a very practical technique that can be developed individually. We draw, write the most important problem or issue in the center of the sheet.

The main temas related to the problem emerge from the central image branched. From these topics, we will draw images or keywords on open lines, without thinking, automatically but clearly. Thus we form a large structure of nodes.

Sleep Writing

One of the most curious creative techniques, which you want to take advantage of the creative power of the dream, which is when our unconscious works most slowly. To carry out this technique it is recommended to organize afternoon sessions and soak up the elements of the problem before going to sleep, delve into all the details of the problem, the briefing ... Now, I know that this technique involves "overtime" and even that can affect our rest, however, for those who still think that the creative can have official hours, I will tell you how deluded! Well, creative work does not understand schedules since it is purely mental and emotional work. It is possible to reach a basic discipline in which we train our minds to work the hours we are in the "studio", but I believe that the best ideas come out precisely when and where you least expect them.

It is advisable to leave paper and pencil on the bedside table before going to sleep, to quickly write down dreams, images or associations that come to mind before falling asleep, also when waking up. It could be that you woke up in the middle of the night. Write down what you come up with, describe ideas and dreams! Dalí used this technique.

The annotations are then discussed as a group to see if it is possible to extract material that will serve to solve the problem. The basis is the use of the dream or the moments in which we are about to catch it, since the unconscious manifests itself very easily.

Brainstorming with Post-it

One of the best known and most practiced creative techniques, very good to do as a team. When done by post-it, it allows a broader and more global vision of the ideas generated. Post-it brainstorming is a way to adjust the speed of idea generation as the session unfolds. It facilitates the reuse of the ideas of others and helps their convergence.

More creative techniques coming soon. A complex and long subject that I am going to dose, since there are many creative techniques, some very innovative, to generate ideas that I will talk about soon. To be continue :)