There’s no more reason for “throwing away“ bad ideas, no more paper crumplings. Are you ready to change something and use everyday things that surround you in a creative way to invent some new products or services you couldn’t imagine your brain can figure out?
You won’t get an idea if you start with: „Let’s figure out something that doesn’t exist!“ You’ve tried that a million times, didn’t you? It didn’t work out, did it? You have to narrow the field. For example, let’s choose IT: „I want to figure out an original mobile application, these stuff are very popular these days, people „get hooked“ easily.“ This starting point is too general. When you want to achieve a goal, our recommendation is to put all ideas on paper. Plan, organise, don’t lose focus.
You’ve heard of numberous techniques for unleashing creativity and finding ideas. I will show you one that our creative team has tried and which has led us to new, original and fresh ideas in no more than 10 minutes! You didn’t hear silence like this in a long time on first floor of our agency where our Internet Marketing department is located. So, roll up your sleeves and try this technique which really works. You will try it many times and there will be results, I promise!
What you need to make your brain exercise and create surprisingly original ideas is this secret recipe. Ingredients: will, determination, optimism, paper and a pen. Mix little will with determination to do something, add a pen and paper folded in three parts, save hope as an ingredient that will spice things up and don’t quit – stay an optimist. Noone’s specialty came out perfect for the first time! However, you may be a natural and making delicious ideas will be your new job, who knows...
Let’s see!
First step
As I mentioned, you need a blank paper folded into thirds. On first third write numbers from 0 to 9. Done?
Second step
On second third do the same. Make a list of numbers from 0 to 9.
Third step
Fill the lists! On first list write 10 objects or living beings (building, rose, table, mouse...).
On the other list write 10 professions (painter, designer, policeman...).
Fourth step
On the last third write 10 two-digit numbers. (example: 05, 74, 37...).
Fifth step – combined lists
Third colon actually combines terms from first and second list:
05 = building + babysitter;
74 = phone + waiter;
37 = mouse + pilot…
Next assignment is to choose some of the combinations and try to think out an original idea which will somehow be related to two given terms. Look at your whole list and some combinations may light the bulb and you’ll shout “Eureka!“
Sixth step – describe your idea!
For example, you’ve picked ice-cream – waiter combination and the ideas started flowing. Maybe there is a need for a new ice-cream mechanism? To make a table with an empty cylinder which would have a handle you can pull to cut the ice-cream and make precise portions. Does something similar already exist?
The idea is there, it’s rough around the edges and still needs polishing, but it’s an excellent starting point.
When you describe it properly, indicate all required resources for its realisation. Afterwards, evaluate your idea.
Seventh step – evaluation
When you’ve elaborated your idea better, be objective and rate its originality. The following table will help, so a little more work is yet to be done.
We’ve come to an end. How does this technique seem to you? Is it something new and different for you? If you want to proceed applying it, but narrowing the field, choose specific words, add verbs to the list, or just the terms related to a specific field you choose.
As you can see, the ideas are coming, it’s all about pulling them out of isolated parts of our conscience and shape them into a masterpiece. Don’t doubt the fact that the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. Now that you have them, why not use them?!
Need more info on how to Growth your digital product. Check out our Digital Product Consulting offering.
