Interactive Creativity Cards

What's this all about

When you get those unexpected creative crises, blockages or just need a different way of thinking about a project. These interactive creativity cards are here to help you get unstuck.

How to play

All you need to do is, simply choose a card from the 20 below by clicking on it. Do the exercise & apply the new creative solution to your project.

Use your senses!

Consider all five senses when designing (touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell). Aim for a full-on sensory experience, not just visual. You’ll evoke a powerful emotional response.

Give it a try

Don’t sneakily look at another card until you give the above a try!

Tell a tall tale

Imagine things bigger, faster, higher, brighter
than they actually are. Try exaggerating specific
features or sections of your design elements.
What happens?

Give it a try

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Pick a word

Grab the closest book to you.

What’s the first word you see?

How does it relate to what you’re
doing?

What associations can you make?

Give it a try

Don’t sneakily look at another card until you give the above a try!

Discover what works for you

When you feel creative, take note of what you’re doing. Are you listening to music?

Are you alone or with people?

Recreate these conditions when you need to get your creative juices flowing.

Give it a try

Don’t sneakily look at another card until you give the above a try!

Brainstorm!

Bouncing ideas off other people can generate new design concepts and solutions.

But don‘t edit ideas too soon.

Remember: even the “silliest” of ideas can blossom into something genius.

Give it a try

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Ask “what if...?”

Discover new visual possibilities by asking yourself,
“what if…?” For example, “What if humans
grew like flowers?” Combining unexpected
elements often produces exciting visual effects.

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Ask “how would they do it?”

Choose a person who inspires you. How would that person solve your creative problem?
How might he/she approach your project?

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Look elsewhere

Anyone can find fashion in a boutique or art in a museum.

Challenge yourself to discover new places for creative inspiration.

Become a creative explorer!

Give it a try

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Think in opposites

Want your design to generate excitement?

Imagine how to make it as boring as possible.

Think in opposites to spark ideas, put you in a fun mindset, and destroy your creative roadblock.

Give it a try

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Make free associations

Think of your concept or project.

Now write down any words that pop into your mind.

Think size, color, shape, location. Where do these words lead you?

How can they improve your idea?

Give it a try

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Act childish

Think like a child to enhance your creativity.
How would a 5-year-old see your project? Let
your creativity run wild and worry about the
adult details later.

Give it a try

Don’t sneakily look at another card until you give the above a try!

Sleep on it

Work on a problem before going to sleep.

Then, while you’re snoozing, your subconscious takes over.

What did your dreams tell you?

Give it a try

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Be inquisitive

Why are things the way they are?

Don’t accept the way things are, instead, wonder how things could be done differently or better.

Learn to question all that is around you!

Give it a try

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Buy-in made easy

When designing, try to use at least one of your client’s suggestions.

Whether it’s a color, theme, or image they recommended.

If the suggestion was great, mention it when presenting your work.

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Look to nature

Let nature be your guide to creative problem-solving.

For example, how might you get over your creative barrier if you were an ant?

You‘d likely turn to teamwork and get the job done.

Give it a try

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Reconsider the old

Redesign something you see all the time (a stop sign, a penny, etc.).

This forces you to look at old things in a new way—and challenges you
to try different design approaches.

Give it a try

Don’t sneakily look at another card until you give the above a try!

Change viewpoints

To get a fresh perspective, look at your work from a new standpoint.

Check out your design in the mirror.

Turn it upside down. What do you notice?

Give it a try

Don’t sneakily look at another card until you give the above a try!

Shake your habits

Routine is the enemy of creativity.

Challenge yourself to get out of your rut and dare to do things a little differently.

Rearrange your office or have lunch with a different person today.

Give it a try

Don’t sneakily look at another card until you give the above a try!

Break the rules

Drop assumptions. And stir up reality a bit.

Does the head always have to be on top of the body?

How might breaking the rules impact your designs?

Give it a try

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Write it down!

Ideas can come to you anywhere, at any time.

Carry a notebook so you can always make a record of them.

Best of all, when you‘re in need of a great idea, you know exactly where to look.

Give it a try

Don’t sneakily look at another card until you give the above a try!

Enjoy…

These creative cards were created by eyewire.com/magazine. Way back in pdf form, but now they no longer exist.
If something is great it needs preserving and sharing. I simply turned it into an interactive activity.