Creative Idea Generation Techniques

This list is by no means comprehensive, and we encourage you to email us websites of similar creative tools that you like and that we should add to this list. With your help, this could be an extremely useful tool for anyone struggling to find some new ideas, or just after some new ways of approaching your projects.

 

Note: This is only a list of websites that you can use to help you generate ideas. There are plenty more books and other tools available out there, so have a look around.

 

CreatingMinds.org

http://creatingminds.org/index.htm

A comprehensive website that not only describes heaps and heaps of creative idea generation techniques, but also lists of tools for defining problems, selecting your best ideas, quotes about creative ideas, lists of books and much more. Very thorough.

 

Creative Advantage

http://www.creativeadvantage.com

Creative Advantage are a company who are hired by businesses to go into their workplace and implement their creative tools, improving employee performance and ultimately making a more open, productive and fulfilling workplace. Their website includes a number of these tools that you can learn to implement, particularly targeting group/collaborative work.

 

Google Trends

http://www.google.com/trends

While this site may not directly be an idea generation tool, it can be used to analyse what people are searching for on Google. Through this, you can begin to understand market trends, and identify new possibilities for design.

 

Innovation Tools

http://www.innovationtools.com

This website is targeted towards business, but the information equally applies to designers. This site explains some of the methods for describing problems and finding solutions, providing a variety of strategies, as well as useful links to other sites on the web. It also lists relevant books, quotes and news.

 

Perfect Brainstorming

http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/creativity_brainstorming.html

This site, while not the best layout, provides detailed information on how to brainstorm. It not only explains the steps, but the theory behind brainstorming and some guidelines that will allow you to get the most out of the experience.

 

Watizit

http://www.dufourcreative.com/watizit/default.asp

This is a really easy-to-use website that will help you to think outside the box about your project. By filling in the form fields across 4 steps, you will be presented with a printable report at the end of the process that displays the ideas generated during the process. Remember; the more information and time you put into this website, the more you will get out of it. Also, it’s completely free to use!

 

Wordspy

http://www.wordspy.com

While not necessarily an idea generation tool, Wordspy brings to you new words, indicating new trends which may help you to identify new design possibilities, or simply provide you with some inspiration for your projects.