U101: The Design Thinking Blog

Quick creativity exercise #73

As with all these exercises, don't think about it (yet) - just give it a go.

1. Find a photo - any photo with a person or animal in it.
2. Stick a speech bubble on top (electronically or just cut out a bit of paper)
3. Now walk away from the image and have a cup of tea.
4. If you're reading this after you read the last point then you haven't had a cup of tea - go and have a cup of tea.
5. Go back to your photo and add some text to the bubble.

At this point, I could point out that this activity activates a whole range of brain regions to connect visual memory to emotional interpretation and language functions. I could also point out that it does introduce certain graphic communication skills.

But in reality, it's just good fun...

Doodleicious

Great find by #U101 student, @GMTKT : http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/08/03/i-draw-pictures-all-day/

And I have to say I completely agree with this wholeheartedly - I do get quite annoyed by people who view doodling as some lower form of activity that represents meaninglessness, frivolity or time-wasting (teachers take note…).

What it actually represents is physical manifestation of one of the most significant forms of creative cognitive processes: de-focused divergent thinking. By de-focusing your prefrontal cortex and allowing other brain regions to generate new connections, you generate new thoughts. New thoughts = new ideas.

So, here’s the challenge. Don’t look at your sketchbook, look at the last bit of paper you scribbled on when you had a conversation on the phone. On there, is the next Dyson vacuum cleaner…

(Maybe)

“Sketchbooks are not about being a good artist. They’re about being a good thinker.”

(Jason Santa Maria)