Step 2: Generate

After you have done you research and your head is swimming with knowledge, the next step is to generate ideas. Usually a sketchbook is ideal for this phase (but it depends on the medium you are working in). This phase is also called brainstorming, and can be done alone or in a group. The most important condition is to remove judgment. When generating ideas, do not edit. That will come later. The more free and spontaneous you can be, the better. Wild and impractical ideas should be encouraged. Give yourself plenty of time without distractions (and plenty of paper). Once the ideas begin to flow you don’t want to be interrupted. Shoot for quantity rather than quality. Get all the obvious stuff out of the way. On the outer reaches of certainty is where the breakthroughs will be. Whereas research was a left-brained, structured activity, this phase is right-brained and playful. Being able to use your whole brain, both the analytical and intuitive parts, is essential to the truly creative person.