When I was six or seven years old, my grandfather took a trip to Australia and brought me back a boomerang. While I thought it was the coolest thing, no matter how much I practiced throwing it, it would never come [...]
I recently discovered this 8th grade arithmetic book from 1947 on the bookshelves at my parents' house. It's got a great collection of images that match the mid-century art style of Idea Sandbox. In addition to the images, I found this [...]
How many brainstorming sessions, filled with potentially brilliant ideas, have ended up as rolled up flip charts under someone's desk? Taking ideas to the next step post-brainstorming can be a challenge. When I get near the end of the brainstorming process, [...]
You're nearly ready for next week's problem solving session... × Problem clearly defined and the objectives of the day outlined? Check. × Silly-Puddy, Play-Doh, and Slinkys? Check. × Flip charts, colored markers, Post-It notes? Check. But what about snacks, drinks, and [...]
I think you'll enjoy the below video. It's a presentation by Tim Brown, the CEO of Ideo (the innovation and design firm) talking about the importance of play leading to creativity. He spoke in May '08 at the Art Center Design [...]
Lately, while showering, I've had strings of brilliant ideas pop into my head... one after the other... However, they strike so quickly, by the time the third idea comes to me, I've forgotten the first! As a professional problem solver, I [...]
Thank you to Bob Nauneimer from Prism Strategic Services for this great quote. Bob is right... The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time solving the wrong problem! You'll find Bob's quote and unearth more thought [...]
Alex Osborn is the "O" in the agency BBDO. In 1953, he wrote a book titled "Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures of Creative Problem-Solving." He was one of the first - if not the first - to write about the practical [...]
First we had kids drawings, then magnetic poetry... Now you can conduct your next brainstorming session right on your own fridge. The trend spotters at Springwise recently discovered two refrigerator manufacturers - GE and Whirlpool - promoting a line of refrigerators [...]