Tuesday, October 4, 2011

8 Great Tips on How to Create a New Idea

Are you a really creative person but are getting a bit tired of making the same thing or want to mix things up a bit with what you make to sell on Etsy or at craft shows? I have some great tips on how to get your brain churning and the ideas rolling.

1. Brainstorming: This is typically a group technique aimed at developing the largest quantities of solutions possible. Judgement on the value of the idea should be withheld until all ideas are on the table. I write a lot of lists to do brainstorming.

2. Adaptation: Think of unorthodox ways what you make can be used. Maybe you'll determine that your products can be marketed in a new way. Maybe you'll come up with changes to what you make that accomodate this new use.

3. Synthesis: Combine two ideas to create a new one!

4. Theme: Create a collection of work that maintains a consistent look or use. Come up with a great name for your theme.

5. Journalism: Be your own journalist! Learn everything you can about everything that interests you and keep a book of lists, thoughts, scraps, images and whatever you find inspirational. Carry paper and a camera with you wherever you go.

6. Experience: Try out what you need an idea for. If it's food, eat it. If it's music, listen to it. If it's a new craft for the home, make one for yourself and try it out for a spell. Don't rush this process.

7. Competitive Analysis: Spy on the competition. I know it sounds awful. It doesn't mean COPY. It means study what is working for this competition and derive some inspiration from it.

8. Persistence: You ideas are good. Not all are going to be brilliant all the time. Just be confident in what you do and keep at it. Don't give up.

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