This project started out as an investigation into relieving mental blocks, trying to find the best ways to stimulate creativity and free ideas generation. For those in the creative sector, a lack of inspiration and motivation can potentially threaten their livelihoods. I developed the Lightbulb Box as a tool which can be used by an individual, or preferably in a group setting, to randomly generate ideas for different applications in a fun, lighthearted way. This exercise can be carried out as a warm-up in the workplace, in schools or as a morning routine for an individual creative.
The box is a slot machine mechanism which randomly combines different words to come up with a mini brief, which the group must work with. On the product design setting, the machine gives an adjective, object and a target market (e.g. users must design a ‘futuristic’ ‘bathtub’ for ‘a cat’). There is also a short story setting (character, setting, problem) and an art installation setting (material, location, theme). The reels are fastened with velcro and can be changed over by opening the machine’s back doors.
Rather than coming up with viable ideas, the Lightbulb Box aims to get users thinking in a nonserious way, free from the constraints of real life practicalities. By getting people to flex their creativity and work without fear of consequence or judgement, the exercise aims to get people to generate more interesting ideas in their everyday work.