Below are my (current) thoughts on how creativity works. Core to this framework is the idea that patterns are everywhere (behavior, natural world, human creations, etc…). Patterns organize how we live and interact with the world. 🎨📐🤔

• Step 1 is acknowledging the patterns that exist. This is achieved through slowing down and recognize what is going on.
• Step 2 is recognizing the potential for things to be different than the patterns you now see.
• Step 3 is exploring possibilities (or options) for other patterns to replace the original patterns. They could be new, or novel, patterns or old patterns.
• Step 4 is to choose a new pattern to follow until a change is needed, which brings you back to Step 1.

There are other elements involved, like how to recognize when a new pattern is (potentially) needed. Or, more importantly, the steps needed to make sure the new pattern solves the issue or create a better outcome. A different framework is needed to assess the proper “fit” of the pattern - and I currently lean towards integrative, or systems, thinking over customer-centric or business-centric models.