"Outside of the Box" Thinking
Yeah, I am tired of that term, too
If you work in any kind of creative field (design, architecture, marketing, etc…) you have probably been challenged at point or another to “think outside of the box.” Personally, I have always felt like this was a “buzz term” that people would throw out without really even knowing what it meant. We can usually agree it means to “do something different from the norm” or “see something that challenges the standards.”
Before diving into how to think outside the box, I wanted to understand what the term really meant… by looking into where the term came from. Thanks to my friend, Google, I learned that it comes from a popular puzzle that was created in the 1960s (or so). The puzzle is the 9 dot puzzle created by British mathematician Henry Ernest Dudeney.
To solve the puzzle you need to connect all nine dots with straight lines and each line needs to be connected to the previous (no lifting your pencil). The solution is not straight forward and requires you to think about the problem differently.
Solution in 5
4
3
2
1
.
..
…
Ready? I don’t want to ruin it for you…
Did you really try, or are you just jumping to the solution?
Don’t cheat…
Ok… here is how you solve it!
See how you have to take the lines “outside of the box”? The solution makes sense when you know it, but more importantly the concept of changing your thinking to see solutions that go outside of the implied constraints.
Cool story, Aaron? What does that have to do with real life?
Well, there is not a real connection with where the term came from and how to apply it to creative thinking, but it is cool to learn where things come from. History is cool, kids!
The idea of thinking outside the box is a solid creative concept. Challenge assumptions, look for original solutions, see the world in a new way! Good ideas and an essential skill for creatives, everywhere!
My Steps for Thinking Outside of the Box
Now that I have impressed you with my ability to looks up a 65 year old term, I am sure you are anxious to hear my take on how to actually think outside of the box! Since I would hate to let you down (especially if you have read this far) here are my three ideas for thinking outside the box.
Deny Contraints
Normally when considering a creative solutions one would want to be very considerate of the limitations that the solution would need to fit within. Things like budget, timeline, size, odor… all valid considerations as you pursue a creative solution. If you are trying to break through the rigid constraints of “the box” you need to think beyond those limitations at first.
While it is possible that the final solution may end up needing to get scaled back to fit into some limitations, you should not impede your creativity at first. If you need to come up with a truly ground-breaking creation, you will have to test those limitations and see where they can flex, or where you can break through them a little bit to generate a truly original solution. Maybe that “fixed budget” has a little wiggle room for the right offering… maybe you can build a little bigger than the max if the final product is good enough… maybe those constraints are not as rigid as originally presented for the right outside of the box solution.
Ask Around
I am a big fan of collaborative working and brainstorming. I honestly believe that some of my best work has come when I am not working alone, but working with others. A commonly documented solution for outside the box thinking is “ask a child.” I totally agree that getting a child’s thoughts would be a great way to see problems in a new light. A kid is not going to try to tailor thoughts or try to “be professional” in their input. A child will look at what is going on and say exactly what they think. “Those colors look wrong,” “Why can’t it be upside down?” “Maybe you should add Batman.” Sure, a child’s solution may not be feasible all the time (maybe those are the company colors, or it cannot turn upside down, and you don’t have the rights to use Batman), but they can give you an avenue to a new take on the problem.
What happens when you don’t have a child laying around, waiting to help you find a creative solution? I find that asking others, even if they are adults, can really help. To try to get close to a childlike response, try asking for input without setting the stage… don’t build a box for feedback to fit in. If possible, ask someone from the outside for input. Working with a colleague for feedback on your work is great, but if you are looking for a totally unique idea, your significant other, or sibling, or a friend who works in a totally different field may yield a better outside the box idea.
Find Inspiration
Finding an alternative solution outside of your normal process can be as simple as finding new inspiration. I have called out inspiration as a great way to get through creative block, but it is a great way to break through the rigid boundaries of “the box” as well. Looking for things that inspire you that are no where near the problem being solved is an amazing way to reframe the issue and possible come up with a solution that is completely outside the box.
Thinking outside the box is still a cliche term that will, no doubt, be thrown at you at some point if you pursue creativity. Now, however, you have an idea of where the term came from, and a few ideas of how you might be able to steer your own creative process away from that dreaded box!
Have you even been challenged to “think outside the box”? If so, let me know how it went!
Hiya Aaron,
Even though I've seen that solution (and many like it several times, I keep forgetting that when faced with the same question. 😁
However, I did once challenge the idea that you need to wear matching socks. I specifically don't. If I'm in a professional scenario, I will just choose a wilder pair of socks. 😁
Another thing I read was a meme or similar where someone had the epiphany that the alphabet is in that order only by convention. It doesn't have to be. I try to keep those things in mind while designing, but sometimes struggle to include it. Sometimes my designs are boringly pedestrian. It's slightly easier to incorporate into art, sometimes it's a success, sometimes less so.
It is a thing to keep in mind, that everything was impossible until someone did it. (Cue Sir Terry Pratchett's notes about Everest and now grannies go up for tea and forget their spectacles 🤣)
Good subject to raise, thank you. Especially for the creative types.