Constraints in the ideation process

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971), the composer, wrote: 'My freedom will be so much the greater and more meaningful the more narrowly I limit my field of action and the more I surround myself with obstacles. Whatever diminishes constraint diminishes strength. The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one’s self of the chains that shackle the spirit.' At first this may seem to go against conventional thinking about creativity, that is, "do whatever you want with no limits" (divergent thinking). In contrast, constraints may be perceived as reducing options and so inhabit creative risk-taking and innovation (convergent thinking). Yet, design is an iterative process, a constant push and pull between divergent and convergent thinking. Ideators, then, would benefit from a balanced approach that provides enough freedom within a framework of constraints to yield the most creative outcomes.