Creative Thinking
What is creative thinking and the creative economy? Creative thinking is the ability to approach problems, ideas, and tasks in innovative and imaginative ways, often breaking away from traditional methods to generate unique solutions. It involves brainstorming, exploring new perspectives, and connecting seemingly unrelated concepts.
The creative economy refers to economic activities driven by ideas, knowledge, and creativity, particularly in industries like design, art, entertainment, and technology. It emphasizes innovation as a key asset, leveraging intellectual property and cultural expression to create economic value.
There are 7 Best Practices to follow to boost Creative Thinking:
Less talking, more writing
Less writing, more drawing
Quantity over quality
Make every voice heard
Radical collaboration
Yes and…
Be honest about what you (don’t) know
There are two ways of thinking one may approach:
Linear thinking involves a logical, step-by-step approach to problem solving, relying on established processes and patterns.
Lateral thinking encourages innovative and non-traditional approaches to generate fresh ideas and solve problems creatively.
These can be used in the design thinking process, which is a human-centered approach to innovation that combines empathy, creativity, and rationality to solve problems. It aligns with the creative economy by fostering novel solutions and enhancing user experiences.
There are three steps to contribute to Creative Thinking:
Divergent Thinking: This step involves generating a wide range of ideas without judgement, exploring multiple possibilities to encourage creativity and innovation. It’s about thinking broadly and brainstorming freely.
Convergent Thinking: After brainstorming, this step focuses on narrowing down options, analyzing, and selecting the most feasible and impactful ideas to move forward. It balances creativity with practicality.
Remixing Ideas: This stage combines and adapts existing concepts to create something new and innovative. By reimagining known elements, it enhances originality while building on proven foundations.