Enhancing one’s creativity is not difficult when you utilize various tools. One such tool is the art of questions. A recent article I read by Lee Duncan, IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Leader, explores this practice. He aims it toward designers but, in fact, all creatives should learn from it and profit by it.
I’ve heard it described by asking Better questions, too. Whichever you select, dig deeper into the problem to get to the soul of the matter to uncover more options to deliver the solution. In this post, I pass along Lee’s contribution so that you may also glean some suggestions that will help you derive better solutions to enhance your creativity.
As designers, we often get caught up in the details of our work and lose sight of the big picture. It’s easy to get bogged down in the nitty-gritty of design, but sometimes what we really need is a fresh perspective. This is where wicked questions come in.
Wicked questions are questions that challenge assumptions and shake up our thinking. They don’t have simple answers, and they force us to think deeply and creatively. By asking wicked questions, designers can gain a better understanding of the problem they are trying to solve, and ultimately create better solutions.
Why a Beginner’s Mind Matters
One of the keys to asking wicked questions is to approach a problem with a beginner’s mind. This means letting go of preconceptions and assumptions and approaching the problem as if you were completely new to it. By doing this, you open yourself up to new possibilities and ideas that you might not have considered before.
When you approach a problem with a beginner’s mind, you are more likely to ask questions that challenge assumptions and push boundaries. You are also more likely to see the problem from a fresh perspective, which can lead to innovative solutions.
The Value of Being Curious
Curiosity is an essential trait for designers. It’s what drives us to explore new ideas and try new things. By being curious, we can ask questions that lead to new insights and discoveries.
When you are curious, you are always asking questions. You want to know more about the problem you are trying to solve, the users you are designing for, and the world around you. This curiosity fuels your creativity and helps you come up with innovative solutions.