To Draw, or To Sketch?

We typically say, 'to draw a plan', but 'to sketch an idea'. That is, already everyday language tells us something about differences between 'drawing' and 'sketching'. Discuss.

Clear ideas?

We all have ideas. And often they come to us 'out of the blue' (or, perhaps, as a Nietzsche or Freud would have it, from the subconscious). But unless we have strong facts to back them up, they may not go down so well with people around us. Does this suggest that people will respect your only when your communication with them is clear, organized, and well thought out?

What's the big idea?

What's the difference between a big idea and a small idea? None! Only the implications of ideas are either big or small. Therefore ideas have to be acted upon.

And if you don't act on your idea someone else might! But if you have a great idea, why let someone else take the credit! So you have to act convincing others that your idea is worthwhile, and has big implications.

But what makes your idea gain approval or acceptance?

A strong argument! Yes, ideas have to be argued. But ideas expressed verbally are emotionally charged, particularly when they have big implications challenging conventional wisdom or traditional ways of doing things.

Getting the emotional balance right when 'selling' the idea, then, suggests the idea should be expressed in a multitude of ways.

That is, by using verbal, gestural and visual language, from metaphor and story boards to sound and physical modelling, chances improve for getting the idea accross to others.

Indeed, ideas need to be argued with the help of the fullest possible range of conceptual tools (VISTA: Video, Image, Sound, Text, Animation).

Successful ideation, then, suggests not only ingenuity and persuasiveness but also ideation skills.

Ideation Workshop

We have all experienced how ideas often come to us 'out of the blue' - the proverbial 'Aha!' or 'Eureka' moment. But ideation is not just an internal activity ('thinking'). Ideas need to be externalised, or nobody else would know about them.

The workshop aims at raising awareness of how we generate, develop and communicate ideas through the use of conceptual tools*, including drawing.

* Conceptual tools are means through which ideas find their expression.