Think Creatively! by Karyn Cheng  | producer of  k a r y n d e s i g n Over the years of studying Creative Advertising, I have been pressured beyond belief to come up with consistent creative ideas. Furthermore, when your job requires you to think of creative solutions every single minute of the day, you don't want to be stuck without an idea! That's why its almost necessary to have solid techniques to fall back on. Most of these techniques are not my own. Most were friendly tips given to me from various art directors, creative directors, and copywriters from around Australia (via AWARD school), and of course my lecturer! They don't guarantee award winning ideas, but they certainly get you started! Dictionary Flip Simply flip through the dictionary, point to a word, and force it to associate it with your topic. Speedy No-Brain Sit yourself down with a clock and clean paper. In 60 seconds, write down as many snippets and spurts of ideas you can race through. Its important NOT to think about what the idea is. Just focus on getting as many out as possible. Reynold's Box (named after the guy who decided it was his technique) Fill a page with empty 5x5cm boxes. In one sitting, aim to fill ALL the boxes with raw ideas. Again, do not judge the ideas until you have finished, and focus on filling all the boxes, not the ideas. Do the Opposite What ever your topic is, think of its opposite. Then force associate it back! Surprise Your Brain As you go through your day, carry a little note pad in your pocket. When you have a spare minute, take out your pad, and jot down the ideas that come to you on the spot. Put the pad back in your pocket and DON'T think about any of the ideas. Then carry on with your day. Early Bird Set your alarm clock to 3am. When you wake up, quickly write down as many ideas you can think of. Push Yourself "Hardwork beats talent" Take a Bath Do what relaxes you the most. Then while you're all nice and relaxed, jot a few ideas down. Don't bog yourself down though. Stay relaxed! Study it! Visit your local library, and read books on the subject. There is bound to be some tiny detail that has a potential for a wealth of ideas. Picture it! Look through picture books, image catalogues, photographs etc. Try random association, or visual association, or analogies, or even let the pictures change your perspective on your topic. Mind Mapping Start with writing your topic in the centre of a huge sheet of paper. Then write down words that are associated with it, drawing arrows to connect them. Then write more words that are associated to THOSE words, and so on. For example, Your topic is : Ice. Then you think of: ice cream, penguins. So under ice cream you think: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry. Under penguins: polar bear, black & white, tuxedo. You should end up with something that looks like a spider web, with arrows pointing everywhere. Then take one word on one side of the page and fit it with one on the other side of the page. For example, vanilla flavoured polar bear, polar bear selling strawberries, strawberry in a tuxedo. Ok these are my ideas: Group Thangs Get together with some friends who are in different interest fields to you. Ask them what they think and let them have their say. Take notes! Their perspective may be totally different to yours, and inspire you in a new way! Ask your Mum Or your grandma or your uncle or your brother's girlfriend's aunt's sister-in-law! Ask anyone what they think about your topic. Try strangers too! Arm yourself with a clipboard (so you LOOK professional) and approach [friendly looking] people on the streets. Sleepless Marathon Only try this if you think its worth it and you know you wont get sick! Two days without sleep kinda makes me delirious enough to have crazy out-of-this-world ideas. Have FUN! If you can't, then PRETEND that you're having fun. Self-Inflicted Deadlines Give yourself a deadline to come up with three fantastic workable ideas. Be disciplined! If you can't then, make yourself accountable to someone you trust. Or give yourself an incentive, that is, give them $20, if you fail to keep the deadline. Learn from the Past. Examine ideas from yourself and from others that don't work. Analyse WHY they won't work and try to MAKE them work. Copyright 1999 © Karen Cheng 8/5/99