Creativity techniques

Creativity techniques are methods that encourage creative actions, whether in the arts or sciences. They focus on a variety of aspects of creativity, including techniques for idea generation and divergent thinking, methods of re-framing problems, changes in the affective environment and so on. They can be used as part of problem solving, artistic expression, or therapy.

Some techniques require groups of two or more people while other techniques can be accomplished alone. These methods include word games, written exercises and different types of improvisation, or algorithms for approaching problems. Aleatory techniques exploiting randomness are also common.

Aleatory techniques

Main article: Aleatoricism

Aleatoricism is the incorporation of chance (random elements) into the process of creation, especially the creation of art or media. Aleatoricism is commonly found in music, art, and literature, particularly in poetry. In film, Andy Voda made a movie in 1979 called "Chance Chants", which he produced by a flip of a coin or roll of a die. In music, John Cage, an avant-garde musician, composed music by superimposing star maps on blank sheet music, by rolling dice and preparing open ended scores that depended on the spontaneous decisions of the performers. (1) Other ways of practicing randomness include coin tossing, picking something out of a hat, or selecting random words from a dictionary.

In short, aleatoricism is a way to introduce new thoughts or ideas into a creative process.

Improvisation

Main article: Improvisation

Improvisation is a creative process which can be spoken, written, or composed without prior preparation. Improvisation, also called extemporization, can lead to the discovery of new ways to act, new patterns of thought and practices, or new structures. Improvisation is used in the creation of music, theater, and other various forms. Many artists also use improvisational techniques to help their creative flow.

The following are two significant domains that use improvisation:

• Improvisational theater is a form of theater in which actors use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously. Many improvisational ("improv") techniques are taught in standard drama classes. The basic skills of listening, clarity, confidence, and performing instinctively and spontaneously are considered important skills for actors to develop.
• Free improvisation is real-time composition. Musicians of all kinds improvise ("improv") music; such improvised music is not limited to a particular genre. Two contemporary musicians that use free improvisation are Anthony Braxton and Cecil Taylor.

In problem solving

Main article: Creative problem solving

In problem-solving contexts, the random-word creativity technique is perhaps the simplest method. A person confronted with a problem is presented with a randomly generated word, in the hopes of a solution arising from any associations between the word and the problem. A random image, sound, or article can be used instead of a random word as a kind of creativity goad or provocation.

There are many problem-solving tools and methodologies to support creativity:

• TRIZ (theory which are derived from tools such as ARIZ or TRIZ contradiction matrix)
• Creative Problem Solving Process (CPS) (complex strategy, also known as Osborn-Parnes-process)
• Lateral thinking process, of Edward de Bono
• Six Thinking Hats, of Edward de Bono
• Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument – right brain / left brain
• Brainstorming and Brainwriting
• Think outside the box
• Business war games, for the resolution of competitive problems
• SWOT analysis
• The method USIT of convergent creativity
• Thought experiment
• Five Ws

In project management

For project management purposes, group creativity techniques are creativity techniques used by a team in the course of executing a project. Some relevant techniques are brainstorming, the nominal group technique, the Delphi technique, idea/mind mapping, the affinity diagram, and multicriteria decision analysis. These techniques are referenced in the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge.

Group creativity techniques can be used in a sequence; for example:

1. Gather requirements using idea/mind mapping
2. Continue generating ideas by brainstorming
3. Construct an affinity diagram based on the generated ideas
4. Identify the most important ideas by applying the nominal group technique
5. Obtain several rounds of independent feedback using the Delphi technique

Affecting factors

Distraction

A study has found that non-demanding distractions can improve the number of uses that subjects can come up with for an object ("unusual uses task").

Walking

In 2014, a study found that walking increased creativity.

See also

• Association (psychology)
• Creative computing
• Decision tree
• Design tool
• Ideas bank
• Ideation (creative process)
• Imagination
• Intuition (knowledge)
• Invention
• Lateral thinking
• Management de la créativité (in French)
• Metaphor