Creativity
Where Do Ideas Come From? Unlocking the Secrets of the Creative Mind
Where Do Ideas Come From? Unlocking the Secrets of the Creative Mind
Eric Stevens
July 11, 2023
July 11, 2023
July 11, 2023
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12 min read
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Ideas shape our world. From groundbreaking scientific discoveries to hit song lyrics, iconic logos to viral memes, ideas are behind everything new and original. But where exactly do they come from? How does the "a-ha!" moment of inspiration strike?
To be honest I have no idea. Hopefully defining some of these concepts and putting some guardrails on what ideas are and creative thinking can help me (and you) understand this a little better.
You likely already have moments of getting great ideas for a project, making your friends laugh, or designing a new logo or finally cracking a layout you've been kerning to death. But when it comes to the really big, game-changing ideas that advance society or advance your career, the creative process gets a little mysterious.
I like to think that our brains are like a radio tower and we need to cultivate the best frequencies to capture the ideas that are flying around out there. Because the truth is - there's no single "idea factory" in our brains. But researchers have unlocked some secrets that help explain how iconic ideas are born.
What Exactly Are Ideas?
Before we figure out where ideas originate, let's step back and define what an idea actually is. As an advertising creative, I've always found it slightly bizarre that I'm paid lots of money by big brands to 'come up with ideas' even though I don't know where they come from, when they'll come or how the process works at all. But amazingly, they do come. Every single time.
I suppose an idea is simply a thought, concept, or mental image you have in your mind. It's anything your imagination cooks up.
Some common examples:
A melody for a song
An invention to solve a problem
A funny joke to entertain friends
A metaphor to describe something in a poem
A design for a mobile app
A scientific theory
Ideas can be big or small. They can be groundbreaking revelations that change history, or simple passing thoughts. But in all cases, ideas start as new connections made by the 100 billion neurons firing away in your brain.
Ideas shape our world. From groundbreaking scientific discoveries to hit song lyrics, iconic logos to viral memes, ideas are behind everything new and original. But where exactly do they come from? How does the "a-ha!" moment of inspiration strike?
To be honest I have no idea. Hopefully defining some of these concepts and putting some guardrails on what ideas are and creative thinking can help me (and you) understand this a little better.
You likely already have moments of getting great ideas for a project, making your friends laugh, or designing a new logo or finally cracking a layout you've been kerning to death. But when it comes to the really big, game-changing ideas that advance society or advance your career, the creative process gets a little mysterious.
I like to think that our brains are like a radio tower and we need to cultivate the best frequencies to capture the ideas that are flying around out there. Because the truth is - there's no single "idea factory" in our brains. But researchers have unlocked some secrets that help explain how iconic ideas are born.
What Exactly Are Ideas?
Before we figure out where ideas originate, let's step back and define what an idea actually is. As an advertising creative, I've always found it slightly bizarre that I'm paid lots of money by big brands to 'come up with ideas' even though I don't know where they come from, when they'll come or how the process works at all. But amazingly, they do come. Every single time.
I suppose an idea is simply a thought, concept, or mental image you have in your mind. It's anything your imagination cooks up.
Some common examples:
A melody for a song
An invention to solve a problem
A funny joke to entertain friends
A metaphor to describe something in a poem
A design for a mobile app
A scientific theory
Ideas can be big or small. They can be groundbreaking revelations that change history, or simple passing thoughts. But in all cases, ideas start as new connections made by the 100 billion neurons firing away in your brain.
Ideas shape our world. From groundbreaking scientific discoveries to hit song lyrics, iconic logos to viral memes, ideas are behind everything new and original. But where exactly do they come from? How does the "a-ha!" moment of inspiration strike?
To be honest I have no idea. Hopefully defining some of these concepts and putting some guardrails on what ideas are and creative thinking can help me (and you) understand this a little better.
You likely already have moments of getting great ideas for a project, making your friends laugh, or designing a new logo or finally cracking a layout you've been kerning to death. But when it comes to the really big, game-changing ideas that advance society or advance your career, the creative process gets a little mysterious.
I like to think that our brains are like a radio tower and we need to cultivate the best frequencies to capture the ideas that are flying around out there. Because the truth is - there's no single "idea factory" in our brains. But researchers have unlocked some secrets that help explain how iconic ideas are born.
What Exactly Are Ideas?
Before we figure out where ideas originate, let's step back and define what an idea actually is. As an advertising creative, I've always found it slightly bizarre that I'm paid lots of money by big brands to 'come up with ideas' even though I don't know where they come from, when they'll come or how the process works at all. But amazingly, they do come. Every single time.
I suppose an idea is simply a thought, concept, or mental image you have in your mind. It's anything your imagination cooks up.
Some common examples:
A melody for a song
An invention to solve a problem
A funny joke to entertain friends
A metaphor to describe something in a poem
A design for a mobile app
A scientific theory
Ideas can be big or small. They can be groundbreaking revelations that change history, or simple passing thoughts. But in all cases, ideas start as new connections made by the 100 billion neurons firing away in your brain.
The cliche of a lightbulb turning on for an idea is a cliche for a reason. Because that is what it does seem like is happening in your head.
The cliche of a lightbulb turning on for an idea is a cliche for a reason. Because that is what it does seem like is happening in your head.
"A good idea comes from a lot of other ideas."
"A good idea comes from a lot of other ideas."
John G. Kemeny
Mathmetician
Where Do the Most Innovative Ideas Come From?
Many of humanity's most creative breakthroughs have emerged when brilliant minds from different backgrounds collide.
For example, when Swiss engineer George de Mestral noticed how burrs stuck to his dog's fur and imagined the possibilities, he invented Velcro. By combining his technical knowledge with a random natural observation, a game-changing idea was born.
Innovative ideas often connect dots that no one else thought to connect before. The blending of different disciplines, viewpoints, and influences sparks new revelations.
Some other famous ideas born from unlikely connections:
Mark Zuckerberg got the idea for Facebook after noticing how popular printed student photo profiles were at Harvard. He realized this concept could live online.
Isaac Newton uncovered universal gravitation after seeing an apple fall from a tree, linking gravity with his physics studies.
The sticky note was invented when a scientist at 3M accidentally created a weak adhesive, inspiring the idea for removable notes.
Bringing together different realms opens up creative possibilities. Never assume ideas only come from "experts" - fresh perspectives drive innovation.
Where Do the Most Innovative Ideas Come From?
Many of humanity's most creative breakthroughs have emerged when brilliant minds from different backgrounds collide.
For example, when Swiss engineer George de Mestral noticed how burrs stuck to his dog's fur and imagined the possibilities, he invented Velcro. By combining his technical knowledge with a random natural observation, a game-changing idea was born.
Innovative ideas often connect dots that no one else thought to connect before. The blending of different disciplines, viewpoints, and influences sparks new revelations.
Some other famous ideas born from unlikely connections:
Mark Zuckerberg got the idea for Facebook after noticing how popular printed student photo profiles were at Harvard. He realized this concept could live online.
Isaac Newton uncovered universal gravitation after seeing an apple fall from a tree, linking gravity with his physics studies.
The sticky note was invented when a scientist at 3M accidentally created a weak adhesive, inspiring the idea for removable notes.
Bringing together different realms opens up creative possibilities. Never assume ideas only come from "experts" - fresh perspectives drive innovation.
Where Do the Most Innovative Ideas Come From?
Many of humanity's most creative breakthroughs have emerged when brilliant minds from different backgrounds collide.
For example, when Swiss engineer George de Mestral noticed how burrs stuck to his dog's fur and imagined the possibilities, he invented Velcro. By combining his technical knowledge with a random natural observation, a game-changing idea was born.
Innovative ideas often connect dots that no one else thought to connect before. The blending of different disciplines, viewpoints, and influences sparks new revelations.
Some other famous ideas born from unlikely connections:
Mark Zuckerberg got the idea for Facebook after noticing how popular printed student photo profiles were at Harvard. He realized this concept could live online.
Isaac Newton uncovered universal gravitation after seeing an apple fall from a tree, linking gravity with his physics studies.
The sticky note was invented when a scientist at 3M accidentally created a weak adhesive, inspiring the idea for removable notes.
Bringing together different realms opens up creative possibilities. Never assume ideas only come from "experts" - fresh perspectives drive innovation.
"It's better to rip it and stink than just be a fart in the wind."
"It's better to rip it and stink than just be a fart in the wind."
Eric Stevens
Yes I quoted myself
How Do You Recognize a Truly Great Idea?
Most ideas never progress past the back of a napkin they were scribbled on. But how do you know when you've struck gold? This is where the money is made. Here are 3 key traits of ideas worth pursuing:
Originality – It feels fresh and new compared to existing ideas in the field. Don't be intimidated to go against the grain. In fact that is probably all you should be doing.
Usefulness – It effectively addresses a problem people actually face. Think about how it improves lives, nails the assignment or answers the clients asks etc.
Excitement – The idea immediately elicits an enthusiastic response in yourself and others. Passion fuels execution. If you want your idea to live in the real world and not just in your head you'll need to be excited about it when you tell it to others. It is easy to get cynical if your job is entails watching thousands of ideas die every day but I think a high level of excitement for an idea is one of the biggest factors when selling an idea to a client.
Ideas that capture attention because they are daring, imaginative, and helpful have serious potential. But if you're in the creative arts you know that shifting from idea to reality takes perseverance. We all have come up with ideas that COULD have been amazing but died on the vine due to lack of follow through, conviction, belief etc.
Thomas Edison tested thousands of materials before finding the right filament for the lightbulb. Colonel Sanders failed 1009 times before selling his chicken. Turning innovative ideas into inventions involves tweaking, analyzing and re-imagining along the way.
The creative journey demands patience and determination to transform visions into tangible solutions. In fact, nurturing that grit might be even more important than the initial idea.
As an advertising creative, I know that every concept goes through countless iterations and refinements before reaching its final form. The path from early brainstorm to executing is paved with people who think it's their job to shit on your idea. As one of my old partners used to say "A campaign is not real until it's in my book"
It's easy to fall in love with an idea in your head but lose steam when faced with practical challenges. I do this all the time. Turning innovative ideas into award-winning campaigns requires an intense commitment to tweak, analyze and re-imagine along the way.
The most successful advertising creatives mix free-flowing imagination with structured refinement. They withstand repeated tear-downs and meticulously craft each detail, never losing sight of the core idea. This resilience transforms fragile seeds of inspiration into full-bloom creative brilliance.
So when evaluating your next idea, scrutinize it through a practical lens. Pressure test it. Identify weaknesses and improve them but don't let it get turned into this. Stay adaptable to feedback that elevates the work and ignore the haters. With enough care and conviction, even a passing shower thought could one day blossom into an ad on youtube that someone doesn't skip after 5 seconds.
How Do You Recognize a Truly Great Idea?
Most ideas never progress past the back of a napkin they were scribbled on. But how do you know when you've struck gold? This is where the money is made. Here are 3 key traits of ideas worth pursuing:
Originality – It feels fresh and new compared to existing ideas in the field. Don't be intimidated to go against the grain. In fact that is probably all you should be doing.
Usefulness – It effectively addresses a problem people actually face. Think about how it improves lives, nails the assignment or answers the clients asks etc.
Excitement – The idea immediately elicits an enthusiastic response in yourself and others. Passion fuels execution. If you want your idea to live in the real world and not just in your head you'll need to be excited about it when you tell it to others. It is easy to get cynical if your job is entails watching thousands of ideas die every day but I think a high level of excitement for an idea is one of the biggest factors when selling an idea to a client.
Ideas that capture attention because they are daring, imaginative, and helpful have serious potential. But if you're in the creative arts you know that shifting from idea to reality takes perseverance. We all have come up with ideas that COULD have been amazing but died on the vine due to lack of follow through, conviction, belief etc.
Thomas Edison tested thousands of materials before finding the right filament for the lightbulb. Colonel Sanders failed 1009 times before selling his chicken. Turning innovative ideas into inventions involves tweaking, analyzing and re-imagining along the way.
The creative journey demands patience and determination to transform visions into tangible solutions. In fact, nurturing that grit might be even more important than the initial idea.
As an advertising creative, I know that every concept goes through countless iterations and refinements before reaching its final form. The path from early brainstorm to executing is paved with people who think it's their job to shit on your idea. As one of my old partners used to say "A campaign is not real until it's in my book"
It's easy to fall in love with an idea in your head but lose steam when faced with practical challenges. I do this all the time. Turning innovative ideas into award-winning campaigns requires an intense commitment to tweak, analyze and re-imagine along the way.
The most successful advertising creatives mix free-flowing imagination with structured refinement. They withstand repeated tear-downs and meticulously craft each detail, never losing sight of the core idea. This resilience transforms fragile seeds of inspiration into full-bloom creative brilliance.
So when evaluating your next idea, scrutinize it through a practical lens. Pressure test it. Identify weaknesses and improve them but don't let it get turned into this. Stay adaptable to feedback that elevates the work and ignore the haters. With enough care and conviction, even a passing shower thought could one day blossom into an ad on youtube that someone doesn't skip after 5 seconds.
How Do You Recognize a Truly Great Idea?
Most ideas never progress past the back of a napkin they were scribbled on. But how do you know when you've struck gold? This is where the money is made. Here are 3 key traits of ideas worth pursuing:
Originality – It feels fresh and new compared to existing ideas in the field. Don't be intimidated to go against the grain. In fact that is probably all you should be doing.
Usefulness – It effectively addresses a problem people actually face. Think about how it improves lives, nails the assignment or answers the clients asks etc.
Excitement – The idea immediately elicits an enthusiastic response in yourself and others. Passion fuels execution. If you want your idea to live in the real world and not just in your head you'll need to be excited about it when you tell it to others. It is easy to get cynical if your job is entails watching thousands of ideas die every day but I think a high level of excitement for an idea is one of the biggest factors when selling an idea to a client.
Ideas that capture attention because they are daring, imaginative, and helpful have serious potential. But if you're in the creative arts you know that shifting from idea to reality takes perseverance. We all have come up with ideas that COULD have been amazing but died on the vine due to lack of follow through, conviction, belief etc.
Thomas Edison tested thousands of materials before finding the right filament for the lightbulb. Colonel Sanders failed 1009 times before selling his chicken. Turning innovative ideas into inventions involves tweaking, analyzing and re-imagining along the way.
The creative journey demands patience and determination to transform visions into tangible solutions. In fact, nurturing that grit might be even more important than the initial idea.
As an advertising creative, I know that every concept goes through countless iterations and refinements before reaching its final form. The path from early brainstorm to executing is paved with people who think it's their job to shit on your idea. As one of my old partners used to say "A campaign is not real until it's in my book"
It's easy to fall in love with an idea in your head but lose steam when faced with practical challenges. I do this all the time. Turning innovative ideas into award-winning campaigns requires an intense commitment to tweak, analyze and re-imagine along the way.
The most successful advertising creatives mix free-flowing imagination with structured refinement. They withstand repeated tear-downs and meticulously craft each detail, never losing sight of the core idea. This resilience transforms fragile seeds of inspiration into full-bloom creative brilliance.
So when evaluating your next idea, scrutinize it through a practical lens. Pressure test it. Identify weaknesses and improve them but don't let it get turned into this. Stay adaptable to feedback that elevates the work and ignore the haters. With enough care and conviction, even a passing shower thought could one day blossom into an ad on youtube that someone doesn't skip after 5 seconds.
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