Exploring five stages of creative thinking, from defining the problem and finding connections to shaping an idea into something useful.
Coming up with something original can feel like pressure to invent something nobody has ever thought of before. But what if the next good idea starts with something we already know? While reading The Art of Woo, its discussion of James Webb Young’s approach to generating ideas got me thinking about how creativity grows through recognizing relationships and patterns. An experience on one project, a conversation, or something seemingly unrelated can help us see a problem differently. That resonates with my work across communication, systems, and design, where useful ideas often emerge from connecting perspectives. Below is my take on the five stages discussed in the book, from defining the problem to giving an idea the time, attention, and feedback it needs to become something useful.
Works Cited
“James Webb Young.” Creative Hall of Fame, Accessed 2 Nov. 2026, https://creativehalloffame.org/inductees/james-webb-young/
Shell, G. Richard, and Mario Moussa. The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas. Portfolio, 2007, pp. 62–65. 2 Nov. 2026, https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Art_of_Woo/q6aMEAAAQBAJ?hl=en
