In this week’s lecture, we explored a lot of different idea-generation techniques, and it made me realise that I don’t really use most of them—except maybe mind mapping. It got me thinking about which techniques might actually work best for me, depending on the way I tend to think.
Since I find mind maps to be an effective technique, I feel like brainstorming is something I should explore more. It offers that same freedom of thought and flexibility, but probably with even more potential, since you’re less focused on how the final result looks. I often get caught up in making my mind maps look neat and pretty, which I realise is a bit silly, but I think trying brainstorming could help me embrace a similar process without that concern, making it feel even more freeing.
Initially, I wasn’t sure if the connection method would work for me, as I feared it might feel too restrictive and limit my creativity. The idea of creating an idea through a set of predetermined connections seemed like it could stifle the free-flowing process I often rely on. However, after giving it some thought, I realized it could actually be adapted to fit my style. Instead of using strict constraints right from the start, I could approach it with a bit more flexibility. For instance, if I first identify a starting point or a specific area of focus, I could then use the connection method more like a "dice roll"—a random way of introducing new ideas or directions to explore. This could be a way to break free from any creative blocks while still guiding the process forward.
The SCAMPER method caught my attention because it’s more about expanding on existing ideas than coming up with entirely new ones. I think this could be really effective for me—it feels like something I could keep in mind as I work, rather than a strict process I need to follow for each idea.
SWOT Analysis