The Inspiration Deck

52 exercises to stimulate creativity, playfulness and innovative thinking

Whatever our job title, our work will always benefit from new ideas and fresh ways of thinking. We’re used to regarding inspiration as something that arrives more or less at random; it is in fact a skill that we can learn to develop in ourselves and call on whenever we need it.

Inspiration is a toolkit for generating new ideas: 52 exercises designed to foster an inventive frame of mind. With this to hand, we have no more need to wait for inspiration to strike; we can kindle it and deploy it as we require it.

Each exercise prompts us to work on a particular creative muscle and helps us to establish the psychological conditions for original work. Drawing insights from the worlds of art, music, psychotherapy and innovation, this is an invaluable resource for creatives and professionals alike, helping our minds to become more reliable lightning rods for our numerous flashes of inspiration.

Instructions

1. Select an exercise at random from the box.

2. Follow the instructions and complete the exercise, either on your own or as part of a group.

3. If you’re still stuck, select another – and keep going until a given project no longer feels so daunting.