Random technique

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Random techniques are methods of generating ideas (creativity techniques ) that are based on the principle of random input.

principle

The principle of random techniques consists in using randomly selected images or words as a stimulus for solving an idea generation task. The source of the suggestions does not matter.

The element of chance serves to arouse associations that one would not have come across just looking at the problem. This is how new ideas emerge.

procedure

The process of these techniques is very simple:

  1. The largest possible general source of images or words is provided.
  2. A word or picture is selected at random from this.
  3. This is used as a suggestion for solving the task.

variants

There are many variations of the random technique. Among the best known

  • The catalog technique (random source is a goods catalog)
  • The lexicon technique (random source is a lexicon)
  • The stimulus word analysis (random source is any chosen word)
  • The bisociation technique

Any source of random words or impressions can be used, e.g. B.

Application examples

The picture gallery

  • Ideas for a supermarket are being sought.
  • The catalog is opened on a random page; wax crayons are shown there.
  • This suggestion gave rise to the idea of ​​exhibiting pictures of children (perhaps from customers?) In the supermarket.

The map

  • Ideas for a supermarket are being sought.
  • A vacation picture is used as a random input.
  • A card is part of a vacation trip. You could give customers a “map” of where they can find the various goods in the supermarket.

Artistic structures

  • Random techniques are used by artists, school children and even kindergarten children ( aleatoric )

advantages

Advantages of the random techniques are:

  • The process is very simple.
  • You can produce surprising ideas.
  • They are varied.

disadvantage

Disadvantages of the random techniques are:

  • Inexperienced people often find it difficult to transfer random suggestions to the task at hand. This can lead to frustration.
  • The transfer of the random input to the task often does not succeed: The scatter losses are high.

literature

  • Edward de Bono: Serious Creativity. The development of new ideas through the power of lateral thinking.
  • Helmut Schlicksupp: brainstorming.
  • Arthur B. VanGundy: 101 Activities for Teaching Creativity and Problem Solving.