Lesson 4: Associated Mind Map

First of all, let me share a video in YouTube with you guys~

A video about Mind Mapping with Tony Buzan

This link is a video on explaining mind map from Tony Buzan, he has mastered the techniques of mind mapping.

What is a mind map? What is it for?

A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea.

It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making and writing.

The elements of a given mind map are arranged intuitively according to the importance of the concepts, and are classified into groupings, branches, or areas, with the goal of representing semantic or other connections between portions of information.

Mind maps may also aid recall of existing memories.

By representing ideas in a radial, graphical, non-linear manner, mind maps encourage a brainstorming approach to planning and organizational tasks. The branches of a mind map represent hierarchical tree structure.

The mind map can be contrasted with the similar idea of concept mapping. The former is based on radial hierarchies and tree structures denoting relationships with a central governing concept.

Characteristics of a mind map:

Mind maps are, by definition, a graphical method of taking notes. The visual basis of them helps one to distinguish words or ideas, often with colors and symbols. They generally take a hierarchical or tree branch format, with ideas branching into their subsections. Mind maps allow for greater creativity when recording ideas and information, as well as allowing the note-taker to associate words with visual representations. Mind maps and concept maps are different in that mind maps focus on only one word or idea, whereas concept maps connect multiple words or ideas.

So, have a clear thought on mind map?

Let see some example...

Item linked might not be related to the center key word, that's the idea of associated mind map.

Lesson 3: Method of Creative Thinking

Creative thinking, as I define, is a specific thought processes which improve the ability of creative. Being in an optimal state of mind for generating new ideas. Besides, it is to think deliberately in ways that improve the likelihood of new thoughts occurring and to maximize the ability of the brain to think of new ideas. The ability to think of original, diverse and elaborate ideas. Creative thinking is a series of mental actions which produce changes and developments of thought. This is the process of exploring multiple avenues of actions or thoughts.

In an activity like problem solving, both kinds of thinking are important to us. First, we must analyze the problem; then we must generate possible solutions; next we must choose and implement the best solution; and finally, we must evaluate the effectiveness of the solution. As you can see, this process reveals an alternation between the two kinds of thinking, critical and creative. In practice, both kinds of thinking operate together much of the time and are not really independent of each other.

What is CREATIVITY?

Creativity is an ABILITY.

Creativity is an ATTITUDE.

Creativity is a PROCESS.

According to my research on http://www.virtualsalt.com/crebook1.htm, it is written that several methods have been identified for producing creative results. Here listed the five classic one:

• Evolution >

This is the method of incremental improvement.

New ideas stem from other ideas.

New solution from previous ones.

The new ones are slightly improved over the old ones. Many of the very sophisticated things we enjoy today developed through a long period of constant incrementation. Making something a little better here, a little better there gradually makes it something a lot better--even entirely different from the original.

• Synthesis >

With this method, two or more existing ideas are combined into a third, new idea. Combining the ideas of a magazine and an audio tape gives the idea of a magazine you can listen to, one useful for blind people or freeway commuters.

• Revolution >

Sometimes the best new idea is a completely different one, an marked change from the previous ones.

• Reapplication >

Look at something old in a new way. Go beyond labels. Unfixate, remove prejudices, expectations and assumptions and discover how something can be reapplied. The key is to see beyond the previous or stated applications for some idea, solution, or thing and to see what other application is possible.

• Changing Direction

Many creative breakthroughs occur when attention is shifted from one angle of a problem to another. This is sometimes called creative insight.

Lesson 2: Novelty, Creativity, Innovation and Invention

first of all, lets define the term...

Novelty: is the quality of bing new, it also refers to something novel which is striking, original or unusual. it can refers to a mere innovation.

here are some interesting novelty design product:

Creativity: as mentioned before!!

here are some interesting creative design product:

Innovation: is a new way of doing something or 'new stuff that is made useful'. it may refer to incremental and emergent or radical and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes or organizations. em........

Invention: is a new composition, device, or process. an invention may be derived from a pre-existing model or idea. it could be independently conceived in which case it may be a radical breakthrough. invention often extend the boundaries of human knowledge or experience. it is a highly creative process.

as a future designer, we need to apply all this element in our design as to make our work different from others.

in class, the lecturer had taken a metal rode and asked us what can we do with that. it could be a weapon, a measuring tool and so on.... em.... it was interesting especially the way he took the metal rode. (frankly, he looked like a gangster, lol) then, he asked who around us are creative. some said a beggar, some said his mother, and some even said a prostitute, what a creative answer.

in my words, i thought that being creative is to think differently from others. an inventor is creative as they invent things. we often think hard to be creative. we often think that being creative isn't easy. we often think too much of being creative. so... is being creative hard? i believe that we do create something new everyday. but we don't force ourselves to do everything in different or creative way as it is rather tiring. ha~ creativity isn't a gift, isn't a talent either. it is a thinking that combine things or information that we've gone through in our entire life. we observe everyday as to gather informations. thus, this makes us to think, to ponder, then our creativity been activated and motivated. people often think that it is hard to be creative, yet everyone is creative enough to be a designer or even an inventor as human being thinks. that is how the whole process works. observe, think, create..... (in my own words la)