Generate and Cull

In response to Generate and Cull:

Generate; to produce

Cull; to reduce the number of productions of a selection

When generating a number of possible solutions to a problem, the first stage of the creative process needs to be (or should be) a quick process. Lots and lots of quick sketches that get the main point across should be a focus. Then, later, one can look at all the the ideas laid out and narrow down those paths and start working on details. This way, less time is spend trying to come up with specific thoughts and will give you more or a "flow" across the brain storming board.

"The advantages of generating and culling during your creative process is that helps you to:

(1) Work through a number of ideas fairly quickly

(2) Compare and contrast their strengths, weaknesses, and overall feel

(3) Develop a more nuanced perspective about what you want the work to accomplish

(4) Articulate your creative direction more effectively

(5) Take chances and make less predictable or safe choices

(6) Increase the range of ideas that you come up with
(7) Reduce the stress of putting all of your eggs in one basket"

"Thinking while making" is important as well. It also speeds up the process and leaves less room for the dreaded designer's block that may creep around. I have learned from this reading that it is also important to mix up the way in which you work for new investigations with different, maybe better, outcomes.

In turn, it will help to improve your work, your ability to articulate both your concept and your creative choices. Likewise, developing the habit of broadening the number of solutions that you produce in projects will greatly increase your creative range over time.

Once you narrow down your initial idea, the creative process begins to open up