A Primer On Oblique Strategizing
This has just captured all my attention for the last 30 minutes – a box of aphorisms to augment creative thinking, by Brian Eno and collaborator. They developed them in the 70′s to help with their creative process. Hey, if they’re good enough for Eno and friends, then blimey, they’re good enough for us lot.
They’re quite interesting and actually really quite profound. Idea is that when you’re creatively stuck, you pull one of the cards from a stack and read it – and jump start your thinking.
Several different limited editions, geeky nuance and rocketing ebay auctions – my cup of tea! Current set are 30 quid ($50). Although you can download apps that contain the cards and you can utlise right away – like these – “How would someone else do it?” and “Listen to the quiet voice” and “Consider transitions” – the first three out of the bag from this osx app.
The Ideo cards I bought a while back work in a similar vein, although they’re less reflective and hold more detail and therefore direction.
Original link from Cool Tools another fabulous way to while away the time I should be working.
Last word from the cards – “Go outside. Shut the door.”