The Center for Ecological Design

Designing an idea

Every new idea looks crazy at first. - Robert Olson

by Emily Nicolosi. February 2021.

Creating ideas are often thought of as these rare moments where a lightbulb goes off, or where some scientist exclaims, "aha!" These moments sure can happen, but it's also possible- and a fruitful practice- to sit down and focus on generating and refining ideas. The practice described in this post can be used for any number of topics from art projects to just life planning in general.

There is no wrong place to start from. You might have one great idea in mind, in which case trying out some other ideas and for comparison and refinement is still vital. Ideas can also get stuck- like the notorious writer's block. Or, you may have many ideas and are having trouble honing in on one to pursue. Whatever your situation, it is one hundred percent worth the time to sit down and work through these exercises.

Step 1. Sketch different versions of your idea.

Can you sketch out 6 different versions of your idea? By trying out a lot of different versions, then you can be confident you're going with the best possible iteration of your project. Below are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Fantasy scenario

What would your idea look like if you had unlimited resources (time, money, labor)?

With-current-resources scenario

Using just the time, money and help you have right now, can you imagine how your idea could become reality?

Middle-of-the-road scenario

How might your idea take shape somewhere between your unlimited resources and current resources scenarios?

The strangest version

What's the weirdest version you can think of? What it would look like if turtles built your art project, or if it was made of marshmallows?

Reverse materials/shapes/forms

Ditch all of the current materials, shapes, forms (or whatever makes sense for your project) you are using. If your idea is circular, make it geometric, if it's wood, make it metal, if its open, close it up.

Imagine it in a different place

You imagine your idea in a hot, dusty desert, but what would it look like in Tokyo? What about Candyland? In zero gravity?

Step 2. Try rapid ideation.

You can use this technique to focus in on different parts of one idea or to come up with ideas generally. Grab some small pieces of paper or a notebook. Get out a timer or start one on your phone for 10 minutes. Now, write down as many ideas as you can think of before the timer goes off. You are going for quantity here, not quality. Just write down whatever comes to mind. When you're finished, spend 20 minutes reviewing and filtering through your ideas.

Step 3. Create an inspiration board.

Creating an inspiration board can really help when you are feeling stuck or want to think about something differently. Pinterest is a really great tool for doing an inspiration board- you can create themed boards, and once you have a few pictures together it does a pretty good job of showing you images you might like. There's also the search bar. You can share these with friends or teammates. It may sound cheesy, but it really can be so helpful! You can always create a pseudonym if you want to stay incognito (I may have done this ;).

Step 4. Group think.

New minds will always bring new perspectives into a project. There are a lot of techniques you can use in a group, but we are assuming here that you are the creative lead or otherwise are working mostly independently on this idea. A great way to get some input is to invite some friends out for a meal or a beer to discuss. Convivial environments are actually more conducive to creativity, they take the pressure off of everyone and make it more fun.

Tips for success.

It's always good to keep the following tricks for success in your toolbelt.

Let go of judgment

This is a difficult task, because as human beings we are constantly evaluating everything around us and in our minds. If you are able to let go of your judgements, you'll find that the floodgates open up. Reserve your judgements for the post-ideation process.

Try a different environment

It can take being somewhere different to think something different. There also may be specific factors of your environment that may be hindering or helping you: try to identify these. For example, I find working in a coffee shop boosts my creativity compared to working from home, but if I can actually hear the conversation next to me, I have to go somewhere else.

Take a break

Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing at all. You will waste hours if you try to force yourself to do something you can't do well in that moment. Sleeping on it can also help- it allows your unconscious mind to work through the problem. Do take breaks from working on your idea, and in doing this try to identify the best times and places for you to work. Over time, I've realized I am at my best for the first two hours of the morning if I am and have been left completely undisturbed during that time.

Have fun.

Creating ideas should be fun! It's a privilege to be able to spend some time imagining and thinking big. Take a step back to remember that especially in those moments where you feel overwhelmed or stuck.

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