{"id":17168,"date":"2019-08-29T16:34:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T05:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creately.com\/blog\/?p=17168"},"modified":"2024-12-24T22:18:11","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T11:18:11","slug":"creative-thinking-techniques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creately.com\/blog\/diagrams\/creative-thinking-techniques\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate List of Visual Creative Thinking Techniques for Your Next Great Idea"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Great ideas don\u2019t just occur. In order to come up with some great new idea, you need to have the right knowledge and experience, and the ideal circumstance. However, there are techniques that you can use to boost your creative thinking skills.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll look into creative thinking techniques that will help accelerate the process. You can start right away with the editable templates provided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Creative Thinking? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with the creative thinking definition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people associate being creative with being able to paint, sing or write, but someone who is not good at any of these things could still be a creative thinker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How? Because creative thinking is the process of coming up with something new; looking at a problem from a new light and finding an innovative solution or a solution that hasn\u2019t been thought of before. Or in other words, thinking outside the box. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although some people are more creative than others, creative thinking can be developed with practice. It\u2019s a skill that is indispensable to everyone whether you are still learning or working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Creative ideas don\u2019t just pop in your head. If you need to come up with innovative ideas you need to set the circumstances for it to occur or give your brain the right material to work with. Let\u2019s understand how creative thinking works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the book The<\/a><\/em> <\/a>Art of Thought<\/a><\/em> by Graham Wallas<\/a>, there are four stages to creative thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparation:<\/strong> This is where you define the problem you want to solve or the need. Then you start gathering as much knowledge about the subject as you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incubation:<\/strong> In this stage, you\u2019ll be processing the information you have gathered. Instead of consciously trying to solve the problem, you\u2019ll let your mind wander on its own, working its way through the subject. This will lead to more creativity. Basically, your unconscious mind will be at work here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illumination:<\/strong> This is the \u201cEureka\u201d moment that really occurs when you are not actively thinking of a creative solution. You could be literally having a shower when all of a sudden you have found the answer you\u2019ve been looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verification<\/strong>: Now it\u2019s time to see if your idea will really work out or not. In this last stage of the creative thinking process, you need to test your idea. Use your critical thinking skills to fine-tune your idea and ready it to reach the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative Thinking Techniques<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We have listed below several creative thinking techniques that you can use to come up with creative ideas faster. The templates are instantly editable; you can even collaborate with others from your team on editing them during a brainstorming session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Affinity Diagrams <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After a brainstorming session, meeting or research you end up with a load of information that needs to be sorted through and categorized. This is where the affinity diagram tool<\/a> comes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The affinity diagram helps you group your data based on themes. This makes it easier to detect patterns and connections among the information you have gathered, thus allowing you to come up with new ideas or solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t know how to use the affinity diagram? We\u2019ve got you covered with this complete guide to affinity diagrams<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Affinity<\/a>
Affinity Diagram Template (Click on the template to edit it online) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Brainstorming <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Brainstorming is one of the most popular methods of idea generation. You can go about this individually or with a group of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In group brainstorming, you have the ability to collect many creative ideas from people with diverse skills and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many brainstorming techniques out there, and some handy visual brainstorming techniques<\/a> are listed in this post. And refer to this resource to learn about how to carry out a successful brainstorming session step-by-step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Concept Map<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The concept map maker<\/a> is a teaching and learning techniques that help visualize the connections between concepts and ideas. It helps organize thoughts and discover new relationships, ideas or concepts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out our guide to concept maps<\/a> to learn about how to use it in more detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Concept<\/a>
Concept Map Template<\/a> (Click on the template to edit it online) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Mind Map<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The mind map starts with the key concept you are brainstorming around in the center. Related ideas are connected to the center with lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It helps you capture your free flow of thoughts and organize them on a canvas in a way that will later allow you to discover new connections that will let you arrive at a possible solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because it connects both text and a visual layout, it allows for a more creative style of thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mind<\/a>
Mind Map Template for Creative Thinking (Click on the template to edit it online) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Mood Board <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A mood board – like a collage – is a collection of images, fonts, icons colors, etc. that is representative of a particular theme or style. Mood boards are also known as inspiration boards and commonly used in design projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how to use a mood board<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mood<\/a>
Mood Board Template (Click on the template to edit it online) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. SCAMPER Technique <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

SCAMPER is another successful creative thinking technique that is used to spark creativity during brainstorming. SCAMPER stands for seven thinking approaches,<\/p>\n\n\n\n