THINK INSIDE THE BOX: PRINCIPLES
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There are a few guiding principles of this approach. The first
principle attempts to define what an idea is. Simply this: a
new combination of existing elements. The appeal of
combining things into new forms is a key characteristic of
people we tend to identify as "creative."
principle attempts to define what an idea is. Simply this: a
new combination of existing elements. The appeal of
combining things into new forms is a key characteristic of
people we tend to identify as "creative."
The second principle says we are successful in bringing
existing elements into new combinations to the degree to
which we are able to discern patterns or relationships
between things. If I asked you, for example, what the
relationship between dogs and restaurants is, at first blush it
seems like a non sequitor. But if you were to visit a
restaurant called Fred's you'd find a casual dining
experience themed around a black Labrador and a tag line
that says "Come! Sit! Stay!"
existing elements into new combinations to the degree to
which we are able to discern patterns or relationships
between things. If I asked you, for example, what the
relationship between dogs and restaurants is, at first blush it
seems like a non sequitor. But if you were to visit a
restaurant called Fred's you'd find a casual dining
experience themed around a black Labrador and a tag line
that says "Come! Sit! Stay!"
The third principle simply asserts that
the more we have to work with and
draw from, the more likely we are to
come up with interesting combinations.
If you have only two things"in your
box" you're pretty much limited to this:
the more we have to work with and
draw from, the more likely we are to
come up with interesting combinations.
If you have only two things"in your
box" you're pretty much limited to this:
But the more things you have in your "box," the greater shot
you have at identifying and creating a wide range of
interesting and potentially meaningful connections.
you have at identifying and creating a wide range of
interesting and potentially meaningful connections.
Einstein used the phrase "combinatorial play" in describing
his own work. The theory of the conservation of energy
and the theory of the conservation of mass were well
established but had never been combined prior to Einstein.
He combined them in the deceptively simple "E=mc2."
My nephew, David, is similarly preoccupied with
combinatorial play. In a typical moment he once grabbed
some casters and string to keep himself busy at his
grandparent's house. He was content for hours finding
things to invent from those two seemingly disparate items.
his own work. The theory of the conservation of energy
and the theory of the conservation of mass were well
established but had never been combined prior to Einstein.
He combined them in the deceptively simple "E=mc2."
My nephew, David, is similarly preoccupied with
combinatorial play. In a typical moment he once grabbed
some casters and string to keep himself busy at his
grandparent's house. He was content for hours finding
things to invent from those two seemingly disparate items.
The realization that the vocabulary you use to talk to your
dog is the same you could use to convey hospitality
creates a relationship between seemingly unrelated things.
It also reveals a deep insight. The goal of thinking inside the
box is to find relationships that go beyond the obvious. The
restaurant could have been called "Bone Appetit," which
would have established the relationship, but in a much less
insightful way.
dog is the same you could use to convey hospitality
creates a relationship between seemingly unrelated things.
It also reveals a deep insight. The goal of thinking inside the
box is to find relationships that go beyond the obvious. The
restaurant could have been called "Bone Appetit," which
would have established the relationship, but in a much less
insightful way.
| All content © Copyright 2006, 2007 by John Armato unless otherwise indicated. Content may be freely excerpted with attribution for nonprofit use. All other uses by permission only. Just ask me. I'll probably say yes. |
