5. About Me
jasontheodor.com
If you want to understand digital culture, you
have to love it. These are some of the sites and
communities I participate in. Look for jted.
7. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Creative Method Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
personal brand
· Write down 3 words to represent you:
What you are now, what you want to be, how you
feel, or anything that captures your essence.
· Don’t think too hard about it.
· Now imagine that these three words are your
tagline, or represent your personal brand.
· How do you feel about them? Revise if necessary.
the
Creative
Methodand systems
This exercise gets you thinking about who you are, what you do,
and how you want to represent yourself to others.
11. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Creative Method Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
what is creativity to you?
· Finish this sentence:
Creativity is _______________________.
the
Creative
Methodand systems
As simple as this looks on the surface, the more complex it can
become as you attempt to unravel the answer.
12. jasontheodor.com
Not Your Father’s Light Bulb
The idea of ideas continues to
evolve, just like the lightbulb.
The next generation may not
know what to call that thing
above the typing dog’s head.
14. jasontheodor.com
Ferran Adrià spanish chef, elBulli
photo: Sergi Pons
With creativity, it is not what
you look for that matters,
but what you find.
…can inspire another person’s creative genius.
15. jasontheodor.com
Jason Theodor creative director
Creativity is part
of a well-balanced
breakfast.
flickr photo: Tsja!
People have a lot of different
definitions for creativity. But
who’s right?
16. jasontheodor.com
Wikipedia
There is no single,
authoritative perspective or
definition of Creativity and
there is no standardized
measurement technique.
19. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Deviation Group Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
asynchronous Q&A
· Write a question (anything) on a piece of paper.
· Fold paper and hand it to person on your left.
· Take new folded paper from person on your right.
· DON’T PEEK AT THE QUESTION!
· Write the answer to your original question on the
outside of the new folded paper.
· Okay, now you can unfold it. Take turns reading the
unrelated Q&As together.
D
20. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Deviation Group Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
· Get 3 pieces of paper or stickies.
· On one write an object (what is it? eg. trap).
· On one write a function (what does it do? eg. catches mice).
· On one write a description (what does it look like? eg. wooden).
· Create 3 piles: one for all functions, one for all descriptions,
and another for all objects.
· Break into teams of 2-4.
· Draw one paper from each pile so that each team has a random function,
description, and object (yes there will be papers left over).
· Spend 10 minutes using all 3 chosen attributes to describe a new invention.
· Present your invention to the larger group.
shiny new thing
D
21. jasontheodor.com
theCreativeMethod&Systems...
…is not about becoming more creative,
it’s about BEING more creative.
…pushes your ideas past the edges.
…helps you to identify your creative
strengths and weaknesses.
…enhances your creative output by
combining systems that fit abilities
and strengthen creative gaps.
30. jasontheodor.com
Combining the Elements
Deviation
Action Connection
CREATIVITY
randomization
Where Deviation and
Action intersect you have
randomization: the
ability to make unique
but disconnected things.
contemplation
replication
32. jasontheodor.com
The Passive Elements
exposure
observation education
PASSIVITY
The weaker, more passive
side to these elements
can be expressed as
needs: weak Action
needs more observation.
Weak Connection needs
education. And weak
Deviation needs more
exposure to new things.
33. jasontheodor.com
Makers & Takers
There are two main types of people in this world: Makers and
Takers. Makers are active creators. Takers are passive consumers.
We all exhibit combinations of both at different times, but we all
favour one direction over another.
MAKER TAKER
CREATIVITY PASSIVITY
34. jasontheodor.com
Danzae Pace writer [There are] those who
see shapes in cloud
formations, and those
who just see clouds.
flickr photo: rogergordon
37. jasontheodor.com
the Dreamer
Action: weak
Connection: strong
Deviation: strong
Thinks original, creative
thoughts but has difficulty
following through with
them.
Deviation
observation Connection
contemplation
This is me, most of the time.
I find Action very difficult.
44. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
· Identify a Creative Type that fits your style.
· Remember that sometimes you’ll be more than one of these types.
· Explain your choice.
creator dreamer wildcard mimic
Creative Method Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
what creative type are you?
the
Creative
Methodand systems
producer complicator crazy consumer
Action/observationA
Connection/education Deviation/exposureC D
46. jasontheodor.com
Focus
Who
Who is this for?
This is called the
target audience.
Also known as
a Creative Brief
What
What is the goal?
This is called the
problem statement or
challenge statement.
Why
Why is this being done?
This is called the
purpose statement.
Key Message
What is the single most important thing to convey?
If you know what you want to do, define it further by answering a few
simple focus related questions. This will help you to stay on task.
47. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Creative Method Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
writing a brief
· Imagine your next creative project clearly.
· What is the key message?
· Who is your target audience?
· What is the goal you are challenged with?
· Why are you doing this? What is the purpose?
the
Creative
Methodand systems
50. jasontheodor.com
Action Story flickr photo: Patrick Q
There once was a potter who split his class
in 2 halves. To get perfect grades, he said,
each person in Group One had to work at
making one perfect pot. Each person in
Group Two just had to use up 100 lbs of clay.
The first group struggled throughout the
course, working on the same pot for days
on end. Most failed to get it right.
The second group went through a lot of
clay and failed often. But they also learned,
iterated and improved. By the end, most of
them had several perfect pots.
53. jasontheodor.com
Capture. Catalogue. Review.
flickr photo: practicalowl
Make sure you have something to capture your ideas at all times.
Digitize and catalogue your ideas every day or you may lose them.
At the end of every week, review your work to purge and adjust.
54. jasontheodor.com
Tough Guys
You never know
when you’ll need
to capture an idea
or moment.
I captured these tough guys
smoking cigars and trying to
ignore the little dog in the
blue sweater.
55. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Action Exercise
the Creative Method and Systems Workbook jasontheodor.com
capture catalogue review
· What capture methods best suit you? What do
you usually carry around that you can use or
adapt?
· How can you catalogue, or keep track of your
ideas? Identify some digital and analogue
methods.
· Consider your own personal review procedure.
How often should you look over what you’ve
captured and catalogued?
A
56. jasontheodor.com
Brain Storming Rules
suggested
• Bring sketching supplies.
• Bring snacks + candy.
• Work in short bursts (2:1 work/rest ratio)
to create a false sense of urgency.
• Identify a neutral Facilitator to keep the
group on task and draw out input.
• Reserve judgement & don’t self-sensor.
• Don’t be intimidated or intimidating.
• Go for mass quantity.
• Participate! Say anything rather than nothing.
• Capture everything.
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
57. jasontheodor.com
10 Ideation Guidelines
rough
Let’s try that
again, shall we?
While basic brainstorming rules are useful, sometimes you need
rougher guidelines for fast and messy ideation. I wrote these new
guidelines in 10 minutes while trying to bathe an infant.
59. jasontheodor.com
2. Use Available Materials
Don’t wait for the perfect set-up, it won’t
happen. Don’t pine for your ’special pen.’
Use lipstick on a napkin or fog a window with
your stinkin’ breath and draw with your
finger. Just get it out!
You are never going to have
perfect equipment
60. jasontheodor.com
3. Draw Pictures
You don’t always have to write words. Use
colours, faces, shapes, dots, musical notation,
semaphore, morse code, fruit, animals, IKEA
furniture.
Words come from the left,
analytical side of your brain.
Drawing and scribbling come
from the right, creative side.
61. jasontheodor.com
4. Connections Don’t Matter
Don’t try to be smart. Don’t care if you’re
daft. The solution does not have to relate to
the problem. Your brain works in strange
ways so you might as well get used to it.
Let it go.
62. jasontheodor.com
5. Panic! Relax.
Panic! See what comes out. It might be crazy
or shaky or too garbled to read. Then close
your eyes, take a deep breath and hold it.
Shut out the world. What do you see in your
mind’s eye? Write it down fast because
you’ve got less than a minute. Panic! Repeat
as necessary.
Use your mental state to your advantage.
illustration: Peter Cross
63. jasontheodor.com
6. Work Through the Gap
If you have a block or a moment of synaptic
silence, just barrel through it. Write down
anything so long as it’s something. The first
word in your head is a start. If there is
nothing in your head then look around
you. Make associations or just plain
obvious observations (”That man has
grey socks”). You made it across!
64. jasontheodor.com
7. Make Noise
Talk, yell, laugh, screech, whistle. Pretend
you are on a game show. Or not. Just
vocalize.
Making noise changes your
mental state immediately.
65. jasontheodor.com
8. Shed Your Demographic
Pretend you’re a dog, or an autistic child, or
a circus clown, or an astronaut, or a teenage
Britney Spears fan, or a tree. What would
they come up with?
Children pretend they are different
things all the time. Remember
when that was effortless?
66. jasontheodor.com
9. Steal from the Environment
Read over that guy’s shoulder. What’s on the
bottom of your shoe? Look up. Look down.
Look over there. What is that woman
wearing? Who’s driving that car? What type
of clouds are those? Is it really this late?
Keep looking around until something clicks
(or your minute runs out).
See, your attention deficit disorder
suddenly becomes an advantage!
67. jasontheodor.com
10. Let Go of Your Ego…
…OR SOMEBODY’S GOING TO GET HURT.
You can be a genius later, right now you
don’t have the time. Try to come up with
a terrible idea. Try as hard as you can to
come up with the worst idea you’ve
ever had. If that doesn’t work, then
just be obvious.
68. jasontheodor.com
11. There is No Box™
F*** it.
Break the rules.
Do what you want.
See if I care.
I really do care. I’m just saying that for effect. I get
annoyed when people tout their rules as being the
final word. It’s important to use what works for you.
69. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Action Exercise
the Creative Method and Systems Workbook jasontheodor.com
ideation guidelines
· Make a list of the most important brainstorming
rules or ideation guidelines you can think of.
A
70. jasontheodor.com
10 Ideas in 10 Minutes™
The ‘f’ in the circle is called the focus. Your focus is
the problem you want to solve, or the idea you want
to expand. The rules are simple: you have 10 minutes
to come up with 10 ideas. Go!
71. jasontheodor.com
·Use the 10 Ideation Guidelines to get
you started.
·Make sure you have a focus.
·Write down as many ideas as you can in
10 minutes, aiming for a minimum of 10.
·If you are running behind, write down
anything. This can be hard at first, but
gets easier with practice.
10 Ideas in 10 Minutes™
72. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Action Exercise
the Creative Method and Systems Workbook jasontheodor.com
· Prepare a focus— the creative problem or idea you
would like to brainstorm about.
· Get out your stopwatch.
· Write down an idea a minute for ten minutes.
· Repeat as needed.
10 in 10™
A
73. Celebrity Baby Name Sources
jasontheodor.com
1. Baking
2. Periodic Table
3. Martha Stewart Colours
4. Oranges
5. Architectural Terms
6. Unix
7. Printer’s Marks
8. IKEA Sofas
9. Obsolete Names of North American Birds
10. Calculus
Where do celebrities find inspirational baby names? I came
up with these sources by looking around my living room.
74. 1. Pumpernickel, Rye, Kaiser
2. Californium, Tungsten, Boron
3. Shoji, Beryl, Cameo
4. Satsuma, Mandarin, Clementine
5. Transom, Ashlar, Mortise
6. Echo, Chmod, Whoami
7. Star, Registration, Crop
8. Ektorp, Karlanda, Nikkala
9. Nene, Petral, Alala
10. Cos, Jacobian, Vector
jasontheodor.com
Celebrity Baby Names
Feel free to use any of these names. Just give me credit.
76. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Action Exercise
the Creative Method and Systems Workbook jasontheodor.com
if pigs could fly…
· In ten minutes or less, write at least ten realistic
scenarios where a pig could fly.
A
flickr photo: churl
77. jasontheodor.com
The Law of 1%
Write down one
hundred ideas or
more and you are
guaranteed to
love one of them.
78. jasontheodor.com
·If you force yourself to come up with 100
ideas, one of them will be great.
·When a photographer like Annie Leibovitz
goes on a photo shoot, she doesn’t take 3
perfect pictures. She takes hundreds of
pictures and chooses the great ones.
The Law of 1%
79. jasontheodor.com
Linus Pauling scientist
The best way to
get a good idea
is to get a lot of
ideas.
Pauling paved the way for the discovery of the DNA molecule and
discovered sickle-cell anemia, the first protein-based illness.
80. Hodgman listed over
700 Hobo names in
his first book. jasontheodor.com
John Hodgman author, humourist
I play a PC only on
television. I’ve used
Macs since 1984.
81. 700 Hobo Names
jasontheodor.com
#1: Stewbuilder Dennis #2: Cholly the Yegg #3: Holden the Expert Dreamtwister #4: The Rza #5: Jack Skunk #6: Jack Skunk Fils #7: Lord Dan X. Still-Standing #8: Marlon Fitz-fancy #9: Bazino Bazino, The Kid Whose Hair Is On Fire
#10: Whispering-Lies McGruder #11: Nit Louse #12: Dan'l Dinsmore Tackadoo #13: Hobo Zero #14: The Silver Jacket Man #15: No-Shoulders Smalltooth Jones #16: Sistery Brothery Nabob #17: Name Withheld #18: Staniel the
Spaniel #19: Frederick Bannister, the Tree Surgeon #20: Tarnose Cohen #21: Mr. Wilson Fancypants #22: Floyd Dangle #23: Shane Stoopback #24: Wicked Paul Fourteen-Toes #25: Normal-Face Olaf #26: Tearbaby Hannity Stoop
#27: The Damned Swede #28: Pierre Tin-Hat #29: Ol' Barb Stab-You-Quick #30: Mr. Whist #31: James Fenimore Cooper #32: Twistback John, the Scoliosis Sufferer #33: Sweet Daddy Champagne #34: Senator Cletus Scoffpossum
#35: Horus, the Bird-Headed Fool #36: 50-Tooth Slim #37: Monk, the Monkey Man (which is to say: "the Man") #38: Thad the Bunter #39: Balloonpopper Chillingsworth #40: All-but-Dissertation Tucker Dummychuck #41: Finnish Jim
#42: Flemish Jim #43: Foreign Tomas, the Strangetalker #44: Roadhouse Ogilvy and Sons #45: Jokestealer John Selden #46: Giancarlo, Master of the Metal Trapeze #47: Dr. Bill Stain-Chin, the Boxcar Medic #48: Boxcar Ted #49:
Boxcar Mick #50: Boxcars [sic] Timothy Twin #51: Boxcar Jones, the Boxcar Benjamin Disraeli #52: Boxcar Aldous Huxley #53: JR Lintstockings #54: Gila Monster Jr. #55: Irontrousers the Strong #56: "X," the Anonymous Man or
Woman #57: Orphaned Reynaldo, the Child with Haunting Eyes (while there were children hoboes, Reynaldo took this when he was 45; prior to this, he was known as...[See #58]) #58: Reynaldo Reynaldoson, Who Will One Day Kill
His Father #59: Thoughtless Harry Hsu #60: Clinical Psychiatrist Huga Rivera #61: Peter Ox-Hands #62: Ponytail Douglas Winthrop #63: Lil' Jonny Songbird, the Songbird-Eater #64: King Snake: The Eternal Mystery #65: Ghostly
Nose Silvie #66: Fonzie #67: DiCapa the Hound #68: Beef-or-Chicken Bob Nubbins #69: Honest Amelia Dirt #70: Slow Motion Jones #71: Canadian Football Pete #72: Meep Meep, the Italian Tailor #73: Jonathan William Coulton,
the Colchester Kid #74: Maria the Pumpkin-Patch Crooner #75: Bix Shmix #76: Vice President Garrett Hobart #77: Stun Gun Jones #78: Prostate Davey #79: Flea Stick #80: Niles Butterbal, the Frozen Turkey #81: Todd Four-Flush
#82: Stick-Legs McOhio #83: The Unanswered Question of Timothy #84: Mickey the Assistant Manager #85: Guesstimate Jones #86: Goofus #87: Gallant #88: Sir Roundbelly DeDelight #89: Newton Fig #90: Chicken Nugget Will
#91: Parlor Peter, the Sneak Thief #92: Ovid #93: Bathsheba Ditz #94: Alan Pockmark, Esq. #95: Lolly Hoot Holler #96: Von Skump #97: Lonnie Choke #98: Chisolm Chesthair #99: Freak Le Freak, the Freakster #100: Rex Spangler,
the Bedazzler #101: Randall Mouth-Harp #102: Chrysler LeBaron #103: The Fishin' Physician #104: Persuasive Frederick #105: Celestial Stubbs #106: Teary-Eyed Fingal #107: Mairah Nix #108: Cthulhu Carl #109: Del Folksy-Beard
#110: No-Banjo Burnes #111: Chainmail Giles Godfrey #112: Lois "Charles" Ladyfinger #113: Plausible Zane Scarrey #114: Huckle Smothered #115: Mmmmm Dandy Dundee #116: Mountain-Humper Edgar Ames #117: Spasmodic
Hilary #118: Doc Aquatic #119: Molly Bewigged #120: Cincinnati O'Gurk #121: Metuchen O'Sullivan #122: Cherry Hill O'Manley #123: Cheesequake O'Lennox #124: Booper O'Montauk #125: Zaxxon Galaxian #126: Drinky Drunky
Thom, the Drunk #127: Terry Gross #128: Spooky-Night Spooky Day #129: Zipgun Gloucester Gluck #130: Human Hair Frum #131: Sherlock-Holmes-Hat Carl III #132: Patrick Intergalatic #133: Abmidextrous Stang #134: Yum-Yum
Sinclair Snowballeater #135: Ponzi-Scheme Jeremiah Ponzi #136: Toodles Strunk #137: Monkeybars Matthew Manx #138: Pineneedle-Jacket Jericho Fop #139: Robert the Tot #140: Robert the Child-Size #141: Robert the
Minuscule #142: Robert the Wee #143: Robert Fits-in-a-Case #144: Robert Eats-for-Free #145: Robert Is-He-an-Elf? (The seven Silk brothers, all named Robert, were also known for the small stature and predictable bitterness.)
#146: Dennis Big-Ear Fox #147: Jethro the Pagan #148: Asterix the Gaul #149: Black Bolt, King of the Inhumans #150: Strictly Local Henry Bobtail #151: Manny the High-Ranking Mason #152: Fry-Pan Jim Fry #153: Slo-Mo
Deuteronomy #154: Half-Bearded Mark #155: Knee-Brace Kenny #156: Morris the Personal Trainer #157: Thundertwine #158: Cleats Onionpocket #159: Deformed Abe #160: Trainwhistle Abejundio #161: David No-Ears #162:
Achilles Snail-Hair the Buddha #163: Frog-Eatin' Lou #164: Admiral's Club Wilbur #165: Max Meatboots, the First-Class Lounger #166: Dora the Explorer #167: Ms. Mary Manx, the Tailless Cat #168: Free-Peanuts Doug #169: Steve
the Human Tunneler #170: Redball Charlie Dickens #171: Twink the Reading-Room Snoozer #172: Microfiche Roy, the Side-Scroller #173: McGurk, Who May Be Found by the Card Catalogue #174: Booster D'Souza #175:
Commodore Sixty-Four #176: Moped Enid, the Mopedist #177: Lamant the Junkman #178: Fast-Neck Nell #179: Bill Never-Uses-a-Cookbook #180: Bee-Beard #181: Lil' Max Meatboots #182: The Personal Secretary to Jed #183:
Dee Snider #184: Sausage Patty #185: Desert Locust #186: Gummy Miles #187: Gyppo Moot, the Enigma Machine #188: Ol' Stiffpants #189: Skywise the Sexual Elf #190: Craine T. Eyebrow-Smeller #191: Lonely Heiney Alan
Meister #192: Shakey Aitch the Boneyard Concierge #193: Woody Damn #194: Alatar #195: Pallando #196: Saltfish Bunyan #197: Poor, Poor, Poor Charlie Short #198: Venomous Byron #199: Five-Chambered-Stomach Mort St.
John #200: Gravybelly Dunstan #201: Extra-Skin Dave #202: Beanbag-Chair Bill #203: Grant Sharpnails, the Scratcher #204: Tommy Lice-Comb #205: "Medicated Shampoo" Jonah Jump #206: General Woundwort, the Giant Rabbit
#207: Genius L. Cravat, the Gentleman #208: Giant Bat Wings Roland #209: Nick Nolte #210: Salty Salty Friday #211: Fatman and the Creature (note: there was no creature) #212: Cecelia Graveside #213: Hoosegow Earl French
#214: Stymie Stonewrist #215: Roadrunner "Meep Meep" Fabong #216: Bruised-Rib Johansson, the Beefer #217: Joachim Bat-in-Hair #218: Food-Eating Micah #219: Rubbery Dmitry, the Mad Monk #220: Honey Bunches of Donald
#221: Crispy Morton #222: Feminine Forearms Rosengarten #223: Two-Headed Mike Hoover #224: Manny Stillwaggon, the Man with the Handlebar Eyebrows #225: Bean-Hoarder Newt #226: Texas Emil #227: The Moor of Venice
#228: Averroes Nix #229: Human Hair Blanket Morris Burnes #230: Canadian Paul Tough #231: Crooner Sy #232: Manuel Pants-Too-High #233: Sylvia Patience Hidden-Forks #234: Sung, the Land Pirate #235: Opie, the Boston
Bum #236: Hard-Flossing Hope Peak #237: Stingo the Bandana Origami Prodigy #238: Franklin Ape and His Inner Ear Infection #239: Questionable-Judgement Theodore Stomachbrace #240: Thermos H. Christ #241: Sir Mix-a-Lot
#242: The Nine Doctor Whos #243: Lord Winston Two-Monocles #244: The Freewheelin' Barry Sin #245: Diego the Spark-Spitter #246: American Citizen Zane Pain #247: Abraham, the Secret Collector of Decorative China #248:
Linty Sullivan, the Lint-Collector #249: Socks Monster #251: Pappy Churchill #252: The Young Churchill #253: The Young Churchill's Hated Bride #254: Churchill-Lover Phineas Redfish #255: Crispus T. Muzzlewitt #256: Stain-Sucker
Duncan #257: Dick the Candy Dandy #258: Albuteral Inhaler Preson McWeak #259: Longtime Listener, First-Time Caller #260: Mastiff Mama #261: Tennessee Ernie Dietz #262: Sharkey, the Secret Cop #263: Gooseberry Johnson,
Head Brain of the Hobosphere #264: Weekend-Cicular Deborah #265: Marcus Chickenstock #266: Stunted Newton #267: Magnus Shortwave #268: U.S. Fool #269: Manatee the Railyard Toreador #270: Utah Manfred Succor-Munt
#271: Laura Delite #272: Edwin Winnipeg #273: Eyepatch Resse Andiron #274: Tom False-Lips Real-Teeth #275: Fabulon Darkness #276: Cricket-Eating Charles Digges #277: Pally McAffable, Everybody's Friend #278: Sully
Straightjacket #279: Half-Dollar Funk Nelson #280: Whitman Sampler #281: Chili-Mix Wilma Bensen #282: Sting, the Glowing Blade #283: Professor Challenger #284: Lil' Shorty Longhorn #285: Rumpshaker Phil #286: Swing State
Myron #287: Alistair Crowley, the Devil #288: Gutthrower Sy Salt #289: Sweetback Barney, the Dilettante #290: The Car-Knocker Killer #291: The Chamberlain #292: The Emperor #293: The Ritual-Master #294: The Garthim-Master
#295: The Scientist #296: The Gourmand #297: The Slave-Master #298: The Treasurer #299: The Scroll Keeper #300: The Ornamentalist #301: Captain Slick-Talk #302: Sackfist, the Tapdancing Trombo #303: Souvenir-Selling
Mlodinow #304: Blind Buck and "Woozy," the Invisible Seeing-Eye Dog #305: Roundhouse Farter #306: Red Ball Pnutz #307: Fake Cockney Accent Alan Strippe #308: Air and Whiskey Dale McGlue #309: Johnny RC Airplane #310:
Narcotic Morgan Suds #311: Sir Francis Drank #312: Mahayana Mike #313: Miniyana Geoffrey #314: Three-Bean Otz #315: Maury the Monsoon #316: Czech Czarlie Czill #317: Sssssssssssssssss, the Hisser #318: Thanatos Koch
#319: Henry Eatsmelts #320: Modem-Sniffer Gunderson #321: Half-Albino Alejandro #322: Gluttonous-Slim #323: Ragweed-Allergic Matt #324: Amorous Luminous Dirk #325: Moray Eel Ken Elmer #326: The Railbender #327:
Antonio the Ombudsman #328: Karl Solenoid IV #329: Czar King Rex the Glorious Leader #330: Andy Bunkum #331: Plastic-Moustache Mortimer Tall #332: Samuel Gel Insole #333: Lemuel Gel Insole #334: Amanda Until #335:
Crispy Whiskery #336: Robert Louis Stevenson, the Pirate #337: Hobo Overload #338: Leopard Print Steven Kane #339: Astonishing Shaun Eyelash #340: Billy Creak Knees #341: Owlie #342: Anwar, the Bionic #343: Reasonably
Priced Motel Resse Unger #344: Ribery Dana #345: Cranberry Sauce Oppenheimer #346: Nancified Frederick #347: The Loon #348: Itinerant Jane #349: Holy Hannah Hottentot-Smythe #350: Fleabottle Boone #351: Amazin' Jack
Caroo #352: Stupefying P, the Riddle-Maker #353: Todd Flaky-Palms #354: Waspwaist Fritz #355: Judge Roughneck #356: Slam Dance Dooze #357: Mariah Duckface, the Beaked Woman #358: Count Mesmerize #359: Sonny-Boy
Oedipus Acre #360: Pick Mama Susan Xavier #361: Chelsea Bacon #362: Archie Axe #363: Sally Hoot-Hoot #364: Mr. Pendleton #365: Saves-Receipts Dave #366: Sir Walter British #367: Elmer, the Crankscout #368: Golden Neck
#369: Marinated Alex Pons #370: El Boot #371: Shapeshifting Demon #372: Jeremiah Tip Top #373: Amanda CeeCee Stobelight #374: Irving Alva Edison, Inventor of the Hobophone #375: Leather Apron #376: Lead Apron #377: Foil
Apron #378: Burnt Goathead #379: Saint Sorryass #380: Overly Familiar Fung #381: Chalmers, the Bridge Champ #382: Elephantine McMoot #383: Neekerbeeker Perry Toenz #384: Teattime BB Stiles #385: Coalie T #386: Hubbel
"I Predicted Lindy Hop" Deerblind #387: Hubie Hewitt, the Broadway Legend #388: Huge Crybaby McWeepy #389: Poo-Knickers Elias #390: Elffriend Weingarten #391: Forktongue Nigel Fork #392: Woodeye Apfel #393: Hairlip
Mikhail #394: Solid First Draft Patton Taylor #395: Prettynickels, the Lamb #396: Not-Only But-Also Pete #397: Pentheif Hickock #398: La Grande Mel #399: Applebee O'Bennigan McFridays #400: Ladry Jerry Lardo #401: Low-Carb
Aleks Stovepipe #402: Hugo Stares #403: Eldred Splinters #404: Oliver, the Train-Oyster #405: Pring, Ultralord of the Hobo Jungle #406: Utz, the Crab Chip #407: Salt-and-Pepper Chest #408: Beverly Hills Buntz #409: Mississippi
Barry Phlegm #410: Matter-Eater Brad #411: 49-State Apthorp, the Alaska-Phobe #412: New Hampshire Todd #413: "Taxachusetts" Glenn #414: Hydrocephalic Jones #415: Vermont "Greenmountain Boy" Phil Marijuana #416:
Alaska Mick the Crabber #417: Arizona Ludwig #418: California Ainsley Shortpants #419: Collegeboy Brainiac, the Hobo Einstein #420: Dr. Zizmor #421: Silas Swollentoe (2 illustrations) #422: Slimneck Holden Fop #423: Aspiring
Jaster #424: Illinois Obama #425: Sammy Austere #426: New Mexico Anselm Turquoise-Eater #427: Caboose-Fouling Ferris Ntz #428: Prayerful Stan, the Bent-Knee Yahoo #429: Four-Fisted Jock Socko #430: Buttery-Cheeks
Anton #431: Shadow ("Blinky") Preston #432: Godigisel the Vandal #433: Gunderic Godigiselson #434: Panzo the Spiral-Cut Ham #435: Smoke-Collecting Reg #436: Hot Gnome Jimmy Jackson #437: Pontius Cornsilk-Heart #438:
Sanfor Who Lacks Fingerprints #439: Treesap-Covered N. Magruder #440: Thor Hammerskold, the Mexican #441: Bingo-Balls Nick Chintz #442: Bleedingtoe the Barefoot 'Bo #443: Hondo "Whatever That Lizard Is That Walks on
Water" #444: Salami Sunshine #445: Fourteen-Bindelstick Frank #446: Oregon Brucie Shunt #447: Pirandello, the Many-Bearded #448: Quinn and His Quaker Oats Box Drum #449: Fatneck Runt #450: my-e-hobo.com #451:
Somersaulting Mike Spitz #452: Bo 'Bo #453: Abelard "Sunken Treasure" Lowtrousers #454: Colin, That Cheeful Fuck #455: Battling Joe Frickinfrack #456: Monsieur Dookie, the Francophonic #457: Happy Horace Noosemaker
#458: Hieronymous Crosseyes #459: Crumbjacket Timmy #460: Overload-the-Dishwasher Mac #461: Phythmic Clyde Hopp #462: Microbrew Stymie #463: El Caballo, the Spanish Steed #464: Lee Burned-Beyond-Recognition #465:
Hollering Martin Mandible #466: Damien Pitchfork, the Freightyard Satan #467: Handformed Hamburger Clarence West #468: Dr. Nobel Dynamite #469: Pickled-Noggin Nettles #470: Mischievous Craig #471: Baldy Lutz, the
Amityville Horror #472: Ashen Merle Buzzard #473: Frypan Nonstick McGee #474: Singleminded Hubbard #475: Maryland Sol Saynomore #476: Baked Salmon Salad Finn #477: Unshakably Morose Flo #478: Fr. Christian Irish, the
Deep-Fat Friar #479: Smokestack-Hugger Jools Nygaard #480: Fossilwise Opie Fingernail #481: Tab-Collar Dix #482: George Slay, the Duck Throttler #483: Eldon Waxhat, the Waterproof Man #484: Timely Clayton, the Human
Hodgman confessed in a CBC interview that when he got into the 300s he didn’t
think he could go on. But he pushed himself to 700, with some startlingly creative
results. He then went on to record a 45min mp3 of his list. http://www.archive.org/details/700HoboNames
84. jasontheodor.com
Breaking Default
·Don’t stop and think, just do.
·Get out all your ideas, good & bad.
·Sacrifice judgement for volume.
·Deplete everything, then find
new wellsprings.
·Odds of a Great Idea are increased.
87. jasontheodor.com
1. Don’t Shower
2. Ignore One Phone Call
3. Get Take-Out for Dinner
4. Cab-it to Work
5. Leave Your Dishes in the Sink
6. Skip the News
7. Don’t Go to the Bathroom
8. Extend Your Coffee/Smoke Break
9. Sacrifice One XBox Live Frag Session
10. Go To Bed 10 Minutes Later
How to Make Time for Ideas
88. jasontheodor.com
Creativity is
having the
energy to stay
interested.
Ze Frank online performance artist
Read Dan Brodnitz’ interview with Ze Frank:
http://about-creativity.com/2007/03/an-interview-with-ze-frank.php
92. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Action Exercise
the Creative Method and Systems Workbook jasontheodor.com
routinization
· Write down at least 3 things you’d like to be
doing every day.
· Create a simple symbol to represent each one.
· Why aren’t you doing these things?
· Identify some of your biggest barriers.
A
93. C
“glue”
Quality
· Familiar
· Resonant
· Shareable
Emotional Dimension
· metaphorical
jasontheodor.com
C.onnection
Connection is what links our actions
and ideas to memory and culture.
94. jasontheodor.com
Carl Ally advertising executive
The creative person wants to be a
know-it-all. He wants to know about
all kinds of things: ancient history,
nineteenth-century mathematics,
current manufacturing techniques,
flower arranging, and hog futures.
Because he never knows when
these ideas might come together to
form a new idea. It may happen six
minutes later or six months, or six
years down the road. But he has
faith that it will happen.
95. Desired Result of Connection:
familiar, resonant, shareable work
Connection Story
jasontheodor.com
flickr photo: _rathernot
96. Hello New York City!
jasontheodor.com
hello?
billy?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello? hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello? hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
he
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello? hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
ello?
hello?
ello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
Before birth, the human brain tries to understand sensory input and connect it to the
right memory. At first it is overwhelming, like calling your Nana in NYC and having
everyone answer the phone at the same time.
97. Hello New York City!
jasontheodor.com
hello?
billy?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
Over time the connections are whittled down to a city block…
98. Hello New York City!
jasontheodor.com
hello?
billy?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
hello?
…a single building…
99. Hello New York City!
jasontheodor.com
billy?
…and finally to Nana herself. Now this connection becomes the default
and is reinforced by repeat usage. It is the go-to state for future calls.
100. jasontheodor.com
Thought Pathways
Neurons that
fire together,
wire together.
— Richard Restak, neuroscientist
Each strand in this image represents thousands
of individual neural fibers in the brain.
http://www.technologyreview.com/player/08/08/06Singer/1.aspx
103. jasontheodor.com
When you first start, the default memories and associations come
easily. But as you get further into the fringes, you unlock dormant
memories and new thoughts.
104. jasontheodor.com
Memory from the Fringe
I’m an artist
too, Jason!
What do you
think of my
drawings of
Garfield?
I hadn’t remembered this
for years: in Grade 6 my
friend’s mom excitedly
showed me her bizarre
talent for copying the
Saturday comics.
105. jasontheodor.com
Start in the center, then explode outward. Let your thoughts self-
organize. Don’t forget to use colour and images.
106. Brain as a Tag Cloud
jasontheodor.com
Don’t forget
to forage in
the fringes
and look in the
smaller spaces.
107. jasontheodor.com
Twyla Tharp choreographer, dancer
Reading, conversation,
environment, culture,
heroes, mentors,
nature – all are lottery
tickets for creativity.
Scratch away at them
and you’ll find out how
big a prize you’ve won.
Everything you are exposed to makes
a connection. It’s how you put them
together that makes things interesting.
108. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Connection Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
connect the thoughts
· Choose a topic (eg. reading, conversation,
environment, culture, heroes, mentors, nature…).
· Explode each topic into tangents on a mind-map.
· Go as deep and broad as time allows.
· Try to find memories/stories you’ve never
uncovered before.
C
109. jasontheodor.com
Content on Content
What happens when you take a pre-existing
idea and recreate it in a new way, or build
on it, or cram it into a new framework?
110. Julie & Julia
jasontheodor.com
In 2002 Julie Powell started a blog in which she recreated (in one year)
every recipe from Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”
115. Dan Walsh took away the most important element of the Garfield
comic strip and created something arguably better than the original.
GarfieldminusGarfield.net
jasontheodor.com
116. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Connection Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
content on content
· Create a mind-map (see connect the thoughts
exercise above).
· Explain the mind-map using one of the following
images as the foundation for your presentation:
· The cross-section of a cruise ship
· A Tokyo metro map
C
120. jasontheodor.com
Coke: GTA Parody
Grand Theft Auto does not reflect Coke’s brand personality, but
when you put a new spin on the idea, it suddenly works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wt5FiZQrgM
121. jasontheodor.com
Never solve a
problem from its
original perspective
Chic Thompson motivational speaker
Chic Thompson uses the Great Reversal
technique with the word “never.” His mom
claimed she wanted a meat thermometer
for Christmas so he asked, “What would
you never want for Christmas?” Her answer
was, “A bikini.”
122. Bikini for Mom
jasontheodor.com
So he created a photo album
of her in swim clothes as a
young girl. She cherished
that gift considerably more
than a meat thermometer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_akNayiMYbY
123. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Connection Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
the looking glass
· Think of 10 ways to make the next holiday into
complete and utter failure.
· How can you turn some of those negatives into
unexpected positives?
· What did you come up with that you never
expected?
C
124. jasontheodor.com
Breaking Default
· Tread new neural paths.
· Push far into the branches.
· Forage amongst the weaker memories.
· Force-fit your ideas into another frame.
· Remove something crucial.
· Start from the worst idea.
127. jasontheodor.com
Edward de Bono author, inventer
Creativity involves breaking
out of established patterns in
order to look at things in a
different way.
Edward de Bono wrote the creative classic
Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step.
129. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Deviation Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
9 dots puzzle
· Connect all dots in 4 strokes or less without
lifting your pencil.
· Now can you do
it in 3 strokes?
· How about 1?
D
130. jasontheodor.com
9 dots Connect all dots in
4 strokes (or less)
without lifting
your pencil.
This puzzle was very popular with motivational
speakers in the 80s. They used it to coin the
term, “Think outside the box.”
131. jasontheodor.com
Center for the Study of Intelligence, CIA, 1999
9 dots Assumption 1:
Must Stay Within
Perimeter of Dots.
By default, the brain usually assumes that your
pencil can only stop and change direction when
it is on a dot. This drastically limits your options,
and prevents you from solving the puzzle.
132. jasontheodor.com
Center for the Study of Intelligence, CIA, 1999
9 dots
As soon as you eliminate an assumption, you can solve the
problem in a completely new way. By moving your pencil
outside of the imagined perimeter, by ‘thinking outside the
box’, you can connect all 9 dots in just four continuous strokes.
Assumption 1:
Must Stay Within
Perimeter of Dots.
133. jasontheodor.com
Center for the Study of Intelligence, CIA, 1999
9 dots
Assumption 2:
Must go through
centre of dots.The CIA briefs agents with a book called
Psychology of Intelligence Analysis by
Richards J. Heuer, Jr. which discusses this
puzzle and the assumptions we make.
134. jasontheodor.com
Center for the Study of Intelligence, CIA, 1999
9 dots
Assumption 2:
Must go through
centre of dots.
By identifying and eliminating additional
assumptions, even more creative solutions
can be found to a problem.
135. jasontheodor.com
Center for the Study of Intelligence, CIA, 1999
9 dots
Assumption 3:
Must stay on 2D plane.
By pushing our assumptions, previously
impossible tasks can become possible.
Sometimes this requires an added dimension.
136. jasontheodor.com
Center for the Study of Intelligence, CIA, 1999
9 dots
Forcing the brain to discover new patterns
and dimensions is the main purpose of
Deviation exercises.
Assumption 3:
Must stay on 2D plane.
137. jasontheodor.com
Other Assumptions:
Can’t shrink, fold, or rip.
9 dots
In the book This Means This, This Means That by Sean Hall, he
considers some even more radical solutions to the 9 dots challenge:
What if you had one giant pencil? What if you folded the paper over
the centre dot four times and stabbed it? What if you ripped out all
the dots and laid them in a straight row?
138. jasontheodor.com
“Think Outside the Box”
What it really means:
I can’t articulate how
you could improve on
the idea so I’ll pressure
you to change it with no
clear input or direction.
I’m not a big fan of the cliché, and think that
this phrase is lazy and overused.
139. jasontheodor.com
There is No Box!
By presupposing there is a metaphorical box to think outside of,
you are already limiting yourself to binary thinking: inside is bad,
outside is good. This is almost never the case. Perhaps you want to
fit the box perfectly, or think along the edge of the box. Or
perhaps you want to get on with it and eliminate the box
altogether. Good for you, because THERE IS NO BOX!
140. jasontheodor.com
Brand Dimensions
PPP
Physical Emotional Personal
Speaking of boxes and dimensions, here’s a brief sidebar:
the way we think about brands and objects has changed
over the years, from physical descriptions of things, to
emotional bonds, to very personalized objects.
142. A C D
jasontheodor.com
Brand Dimensions
Physical Emotional Personal
“want”“need” “cherish”
For example, the lowly potato went from a simple description, to an
emotional desire, to customized nostalgia. By adding another brand
dimension to an object or an idea, it can be utterly transformed.
143. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Deviation Exercise
the Creative Method and Systems Workbook jasontheodor.com
brand dimensions
· Pick a simple every day object (eg. rock).
· Express how it could be transformed by moving
through the following dimensions:
· Physical (descriptive)
· Emotional (metaphorical)
· Personal (customized)
D
144. jasontheodor.com
Saul Steinberg new yorker cartoonist
The life of the creative
man is lead, directed and
controlled by boredom.
Avoiding boredom is one
of our most important
purposes.
Nothing is boring. Anything can be looked
at in a new way. The closer you look at
something, the more alien and fascinating
it can become. The most pedestrian topics
contain hidden fantasy.
145. jasontheodor.com
Chuck Palahniuk author
All God does is watch us
and kill us when we get
boring. We must never,
ever be boring.
Tell yourself right now that you will Never Be Bored™.
146. jasontheodor.com
Never be bored™
I, ________________, of restless body, mind, and spirt,
do gleefully swear the following:
* I will always have a recording device in hand, even if it’s just a pencil.
* I will turn waiting in line into an opportunity to daydream.
* I will look at things with wonderment, knowing that there is infinite
information in the smallest of details.
* I will seek opportunities to ask questions and learn new things.
* I will never be bored again because only boring people get bored.
* I will be active, engaged, and unique with my creative endeavors.
147. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Deviation Exercise
the Creative Method and Systems Workbook jasontheodor.com
never be bored™
· Write your own Never be bored™ Manifesto.
· Include at least 5 statements.
· Sign it like you mean it (in blood is optional).
D
150. Theodor Seuss Geisel writer, cartoonist
jasontheodor.comPeter Bunzel. “The Wacky World of Dr. Seuss Delights the Child
and Adult Readers of His Books”. Life Magazine. 4.6.59
I have a special
dictionary and I
just look up the
spellings.
Where do you get the
ideas for all the fanciful
animals and places?
152. jasontheodor.com
Reindeer Games
The teacher
forced me
to use only
two eyes.
My daughter was ‘caught’
gluing 4 eyes to a reindeer
art assignment. The teacher
physically tore 2 of the eyes
off of the work to correct it.
153. jasontheodor.com
Reindeer Games
But when I
got home...
The teacher
forced me
to use only
two eyes.
When my wife and I found
out what had happened, we
pulled out a can of googley-
eyes and encouraged her to
break the rules. Do we want
all art to look the same?
154. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Deviation Exercise
jasontheodor.com
random creation
the Creative Method and Systems Workbook
D
· Pick a random page from a magazine.
· Take the first 1-3 words from a headline: this is
your band name.
· Pick a random page from another magazine.
· Take the last 1-5 words from any paragraph: this
is your new album name.
· Pick a random page from yet another magazine.
· The images in this spread will make up your
album cover.
· Do, glue, and skew.
156. jasontheodor.com
Chance favours the
prepared mind.
Louis Pasteur chemist, microbiologist
If you have a focus, an intent, then your brain
will unconsciously filter everything around you
and measure it against this focus.
157. jasontheodor.com
Tangentagon (natural progression)
A tangentagon is created when you go exploring, naturally following
tangent after tangent, until you find a topic that finally relates back to
your original focus. It becomes a linear story with many sides.
158. jasontheodor.com
Ouroboros
All tangents eventually
relate back to the
source. In mythology,
the cyclical nature of
the universe was
represented by the
Ouroboros, a snake
devouring its own tail.
Destruction begets
creation. Tangents are
often thought to be a
distraction, but they
can be bent to your
purpose.
159. jasontheodor.com
Thinking Outside the Box
The following pages are an example of a
tangentagon in the making. The initial focus
was on thinking outside the box.
160. jasontheodor.com
180° Thinking
Thinking outside the box led to the Thought Reversal technique,
which is represented by twisting an idea by 180 degrees. I’ve often
referred to this as the ‘rebel force’.
167. jasontheodor.com
Slinking Outside the Box
The octopus becomes a perfect metaphor for escaping the box:
your thoughts need to be flexible to escape the default settings.
168. jasontheodor.com
There is No Box
That shows you how random tangents can be used. At every
interval ask yourself if the content relates back to your focus.
If the answer is no, keep exploring! If the answer is yes, then
you’ve created a tangentagon.
170. jasontheodor.com
Tangentagram (forced progression)
A tangentagram is created when you force a relationship between
preselected items. This is useful when you need to bring seemingly
unrelated material together in a single story.
171. jasontheodor.com
In this example, 6 random images are used to tell a unique story which starts and
ends in the same place and uses every image. An exotic Princess(1) once found
nothing to watch on TV(2), so she called for her loyal Fire-Horse(3) to fetch her an
interesting Prince(4). The Prince produced a magic elixir(5) that caused them to
abandon small talk and make love on the beach like crazed elephant seals(6).
Eventually the signal was fixed, the Prince was dismissed, and the
Princess(7) went back to her regularly scheduled programming.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
172. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Deviation Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
tangentagram (forced progression)
• Find six random images (see following worksheets for examples).
• Create a story using all of the images, in any order
you choose.
• Make sure to come back to the first image chosen
to end the story.
• Present your story to the larger group (if applicable).
D
182. jasontheodor.com
Breaking Default
· Remember: there is no box.
· Shed your assumptions.
· Use Random to your advantage.
· Do it wrong on purpose.
· Get good at ‘lying.’
· Link the un-linkable.
184. jasontheodor.com
Darkroom
This is the only exercise without a focus.
Instead of struggling to take action, this
is about stopping, closing your eyes,
and seeing what develops.
185. jasontheodor.com
Twyla Tharp choreographer, dancer
Everything is raw material.
Everything is relevant.
Everything is usable.
Everything feeds into my
creativity. But without
proper preparation, I cannot
see it, retain it, and use it.
How do we prepare? Literally by doing nothing.
187. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Magic Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
darkroom
· Close your eyes and think of nothing for 2 minutes.
· If a thought comes, let it go by as if watching a bird
or a cloud (just don’t give it added attention).
· Concentrate on your breathing.
M
188. jasontheodor.com
The ‘Aha’ Moment Drexel University
“Light bulb”
going off.
This image from an experiment at Drexel University shows a subject’s
brain activity the moment they have solved a problem with insight.
http://john.kounios.googlepages.com/theahamoment
189. jasontheodor.com
Inward focus of
attention promotes
insight even prior to
the presentation of a
problem.
John Kounios,PhD professor of psychology
Dr. Kounios, in a paper entitled Aha! Favors the
Prepared Mind, discusses how moments of brilliance
can actually be prepared for in advance.
196. jasontheodor.com
brainstorming
The Idea Cycle mind
sea of thoughts
ideas
tangents
inspiration
memory
focus
unconscious
eureka
moment
streams of
consciousness
steeping
thoughts
…into the idea cycle. I was inspired/irritated by the saying:
“There are no original ideas, just previous ideas re-arranged.”
201. jasontheodor.com
4. Apply (deduction phase)
· Test against focus.
· Is the idea magic?
Test against Creative
Success Meter™.
· If it’s close, run it thru
the cycle again.
· If the idea is perfect,
go one more cycle to
achieve god-like status.
202. jasontheodor.com
Baby with the Bathwater
flickr photo: ladyb Sometimes
even your best
idea has to go.Letting go of an idea is
often what you need
for a breakthrough.
204. Check the attributes that apply to the idea/execution you are measuring.
1 point per strong attribute (plus discretionary bonus) for a total of 11.
D
DC
C
jasontheodor.com
Creative Success Meter
familiar
resonant
shareable
simple
smart
well-crafted
A C D
M
A
A
original
flexible
challenging
magical bonus total
Idea/Execution: ________________________________
the
Creative
Methodand systems
the Creative Method and Systems
205. D
DC
C
jasontheodor.com
Creative Success Meter
familiar
resonant
shareable
simple
smart
well-crafted
A C D
M
A
A
original
flexible
challenging
magical bonus total
Idea/Execution: ________________________________Coke GTA Parody
the
Creative
Methodand systems
the Creative Method and Systems
Check the attributes that apply to the idea/execution you are measuring.
1 point per strong attribute (plus discretionary bonus) for a total of 11.
206. D
DC
C
jasontheodor.com
Creative Success Meter
familiar
resonant
shareable
simple
smart
well-crafted
A C D
M
A
A
original
flexible
challenging
magical bonus total
Idea/Execution: ________________________________Coke GTA Parody
7
the
Creative
Methodand systems
the Creative Method and Systems
Check the attributes that apply to the idea/execution you are measuring.
1 point per strong attribute (plus discretionary bonus) for a total of 11.
207. the
Creative
Methodand systems
flickr photo: ‘Playingwithbrushes’
Creative Method Exercise
jasontheodor.comthe Creative Method and Systems Workbook
creative success meter
· Look at the following ads and rate them using
the Creative Success Meter.
· Be brutally honest. This is for you. You’re only
cheating yourself if you give everything 10/10.
the
Creative
Methodand systems
