Jus’ Sayin’

Sometimes ya get stuck in a creative rut and
it takes a li’l nudge to get out, jus’ sayin’

These cards capture what should be common sense about creativity and design, especially in software, but often isn’t recognized as such. You can use them in several ways.

Use these cards

When you’re stuck on a design

If you get stuck on a creative project, rehashing the same ideas, deal yourself half a dozen cards. Look at each one and ask how it applies to your project, perhaps to suggest a new design alternative or a new way to think about the problem.

In project meetings

At the beginning of a discussion, deal several cards to each person. During the discussion, when people get new insights into the topic, they hold up the relevant card and explain the insight. When discussion gets stuck, the leader calls on people for new ideas.

In open discussion

Deal three cards to a participant, who then uses them to frame a story about how the nudges could apply in something they’ve done – perhaps to give insight into why a decision worked out  or did not work  out.  Either distribute the cards before the discussion or give them to the participants just before they start their stories (so that other participants aren’t distracted by their own cards).

In a lessons-learned reflection

Keep a deck of nudges on the table. As each element that could have been done differently comes up, think about whether it evokes a nudge that would have improved the product or development process.

As a game

Choose (or invent) some design or creative scenarios that fit your situation. Deal five cards to each player, then take turns with players playing a card and saying what it suggests about the scenario. The dealer of the round selects the best response, players replenish their hands from the deck, and the winner deals the next round.

As daily inspiration

Each day select a card at random and think about it over morning coffee. Or in the evening look for a card that resonates with something that happened during the day. Can you apply the idea to something in your life today?  Does it resonate with something you’re working on?  Is it dissonant with something you believe?  Why?

To prepare for PhD defenses

Give to faculty to consult while thinking up interesting questions for the thesis defense / viva. Give to students to prepare for questions that faculty might ask as a result.