75 tools

for creative
thinking

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 Category

the w train

Get Started
Get Started Check Around Break It Down Break Free Evaluate & Select

35 min 3+

the w train
To explore all sides of a situation, idea or problem
in an in-depth, systematic way.

How?
1. Answer the following questions:
2. Who is the main agent in that situation or problem (e.g.
teenagers, my son)?
3. What is the main concept, object, product or action that the
main agent uses or performs (e.g. toothbrush, studying)?
4. Where is the main agent located when performing or using
the main concept, object or action (e.g. bathroom, school)?
5. When or how often does the situation or problem occur (e.g.
every night, twice a week)?
6. Describe each answer more in depth (e.g. describe the
personality of the main agent).
7. Conclude by asking Why? to all the four previous answers.
(e.g. Why does x take place in the park?).

Result
A sequential descriptive information about the situation and
insightful reasoning behind each element.
 Category

sniffing dog

Check Around
Get Started Check Around Break It Down Break Free Evaluate & Select

120 min 2

sniffing dog
You can get truly interesting insights about a
problem or a situation if you study what people have
left behind. You can get honest answers that people
otherwise wouldnt have told you.

How?
1. Think of a situation and visit the surroundings you want to
sniff around in. For example, at the cinema or in a library or
after cooking in the kitchen.
2. Get your camera or video camera and start recording. Feel
free to add all the comments about the signs you see left
over from what has just taken place.
3. Make a list of questions like: What happened here? Who was
here? Why did someone leave this here?
4. While still on the actual location, try to find out the answers
to all the questions.

Result
A set of evidence and your interpretations about it.
 Category

fill in
the gaps

Break It Down
Get Started Check Around Break It Down Break Free Evaluate & Select

40 min 3

fill in the gaps

A visual and written account of connected events can
help you understand a situation or a problem more
clearly and to identify interesting associations or
new events.

How?
1. In sequential order, make a list of insights or data youve
gathered about a situation or problem.
2. Highlight the most important insights and number them.
3. Make a storyboard template: take various A4- or letter-sized
sheets of paper in landscape format. Draw three columns. In
each column, define a space for the title of a scene, the scene
box (drawing, photo, collage), a short description below the
main dialogues and the timing.
4. Start filling in the storyboard template using the insights
from the list in sequential order.
5. Leave blank scene boxes for the insights you would like to
improve.
6. Focus on the blank scene boxes to generate ideas.

Result
A storyboard based on insights or data about a situation or a
problem with blank scenes ready for idea generation.
 Category

trick questions

Break Free
Get Started Check Around Break It Down Break Free Evaluate & Select

60 min 3+

trick questions
To transform negative short-sighted statements
about a situation or a problem into possibilities or
opportunities.

How?
1. List all the insights or data youve gathered about a situation
or a problem.
2. Highlight the negative forms, e.g. dont feel comfortable,
poor results, low sales.
3. Transform every negative form into positive How to
questions. E.g. How to increase sales?
4. Complete every How to question by adding Who, What,
Where, When and How. E.g. How can client x increase
sales in South America in the next three months without
involving high investments?
5. Select one or two of the most interesting How to questions.
6. Answer each How to question with as many ideas as
possible.

Result
A How to question posing all the elements to consider when
generating ideas.
 Category

the jury

Evaluate & Select

Get Started Check Around Break It Down Break Free Evaluate & Select

60 min 6+

the jury
To consider various perspectives and avoid bias when
evaluating ideas.

How?
1. Select 6 ideas you consider have good potential.
2. Write down 6 evaluation points or requirements that the
idea should comply with, e.g. costs, features, time, etc.
3. Select 6 persons from your team. One of them will present
one idea while the rest act as the jury.
4. Right after the presentation, the jury ranks the idea from 1
to 6 (1 being the best, 6 being the worst) based on individual
evaluations and group discussion.
5. The person that presented the idea and one random jury
member should switch places in order to repeat the process.
All members present their ideas and are part of the jury
once.
6. You can also assign a particular personality to each member
of the jury (emotional, realistic, business-minded, etc.).
7. Sum up the final ranking to identify the best idea.

Result
Argumentation and evaluation of 6 potentially good ideas.
75 Tools for
creative thinking

Creative tools for everybody: all the creative tools used

by professionals translated in a simple and clear way,
regardless your profession or background.

Applicable in any situation: the tools will guide any

process where new ideas are required. This toolbox
contains 5 card decks, each suitable for different goals,
teams and time scopes.

Explained step by step: each card displays a series of steps

to follow in order to help you get inspired, organise your
ideas and boost your creative thinking skills.

Written and designed by:

Booreiland
www.booreiland.nl