the making of an idea - a progression

in this thread: https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...sory-any-users the converation turned to ideas and how to generate them

I associate things all the time, so lets associate something:

ducks and water - not an unusual pairing, an obvious one; unusual pairings can be very powerful, but you don't need to start with them

water is in the news, rivers and streams are polluted, if I would not wish to swim in one maybe a sensitive duck would not either; this rings a bell, I am reminded of searle's 'a fastidious rat in search of an impeccable sewer' : nose high, pained expression, standing on a ledge above the water holding it's tail well clear - as I recall this was done over 30 years ago, not much changes maybe

this is inspirational, but at the moment it is ephemeral - a quick sketch is made on paper and joins other ideas, bulldog clipped and hung on the wall - there are a quite a few of these collections, in theory at least they are catagorised; a note is made on the computer database of the idea, keyphrase sensitive duck, and which clip the sketch is in - yes I could scan the sketch and put it into the database, but actually that takes more time than it is worth because good ones are constantly being tweaked as the idea develops

end of stage one

@handrawn, what you have described just about linking ideas is how I use Mind Maps (Tony Buzan) all the time.
I try to present a single word or concept with a sketch and that word or image invokes a number of other branches with a connected but different concept.
While I an word-centric, I use an icon, colour or blob to cement the idea.

It is not the same as brainstorming where anything goes and one then to try and link or shoehorn into your design or problem space.
Done well and the Map remains in one's memory and can be redrawn. It achieves 80+% retention, but looking over the Map quickly tops that back up.

There are Apps that cover mind-mapping but coloured pens, pencils and paper are the best as you are employing muscle memory a lot more.

Acorn

mind-mapping is a very powerful tool - I use it for character development - eg mapping attributes a character can/will display together with thumbails of associated posture and expression - characterisations are complex and detailed, even simple charaters have to be, well, in character all the time - for complex work could do a sub-map for each major attribute: happiness for example comes in many different ways...

brainstorming is for problem solving; creating a drawing is not a problem to solve, it is a journey to be undertaken

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you are employing muscle memory a lot more

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it's essential that memory muscle gets fed fuel; that involves experiencing things, lots of things... and then even more things, even if that is only reading widely, making sure you do not stay in your comfort zone all the time...

Too much time and too little to do! (me, that is!)

Just for fun I've taken some of the information hd gave in post #1 and cobbled together a mind map style diagram.

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That's a brilliant idea using the bulldog clip/computer database/rough sketch filing system. I'm definitely going to try that!

Are there going to be more insights to other stages? (hope so!) :-)

thanks jono, very helpful

watch this space... ;)

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fairly obvious - but collect bylines from the media that appeal, and then research ones you want to go with

and with luck [?] things will happen to you: scrolling through a supplier website I happened to notice that spare blades for pencil sharpeners would not be sold to anyone under the age of 18; no such restriction on the shapeners themselves; screwdriver anyone ?

Funny that. I had an age verification check buying a small hand trowel yesterday but not on a sauce pan! Obviously a different type of weapon.

it's a restriction on 'cutting-edge' technology ;))