It hits us all from time to time. You need to be creative and come up with a great new idea – and it’s just not happening.
Then try the Random Word technique.
Choose a word, any word – cactus, sponge, bird – it doesn’t matter.
This is your prompt. No it’s not silly – just take the word and apply the principles behind the word to your challenge.
The process of linking two things not normally linked will force you to tackle the challenge from a different direction and so stimulate your creative thought.
By using your random word as an initial stimulus, you then apply these thoughts to your challenge.
Say you need to come up with a whole new revamped format for an annual awards ceremony because numbers are falling. Let’s say for argument’s sake it’s always been in a hotel venue and a pretty standard format of drinks reception, dinner, awards and home.
Ideally, you should phone us to sort it for you. But for the sake of this article, let’s take the word…carrot!
Carrots are used as an incentive, to be inviting, so take a new approach to your invitations, literally dangle a carrot and design a teaser with the promise of something good to come, ie a invitation to a desirable event could be coming their way. With the invite design blazoning just a glimpse of how your guests will be rewarded with a fantastic.
Carrots are a bright vibrant colour. Add some vibrancy to your event, bring in more colour. Add some fresh entertainment – something in contrast, a bit more crunchy than previous years. Red is a passionate colour - get passionate about your event! Orange means vitality and endurance.
Carrots are a simple shape – keep your newly styled event simple, crisp, contemporary.
Carrots taste good, take a look at previous years menus, take a new approach – always had a standard 3 course meal? Change the menu, change the taste, make it more healthy. Up the anti and be innovative. Carrots can be served in different ways. Instead of silver service add interaction to the meal by placing some dishes for guests to help themselves. Theme. Do something differently.
Carrots are a root and are dug out of earth. Shout about the root of your event, it’s history – remind people why they are there.
Get the idea? Now … take your own challenge and use the word …pineapple.
Nuts? Now there’s a thought!