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A Model of The Creative Process

Mar 20, 2009

Concept Map: A Model of The Creative Process

Created in collaboration with Jack Chung, Shelley Evenson, and Paul Pangaro.

The creative process is not just iterative; it’s also recursive. It plays out “in the large” and “in the small”—in defining the broadest goals and concepts and refining the smallest details. It branches like a tree, and each choice has ramifications, which may not be known in advance. Recursion also suggests a procedure that “calls” or includes itself. Many engineers define the design process as a recursive function:
discover > define > design > develop > deploy

The creative process involves many conversations—about goals and actions to achieve them—conversations with co-creators and colleagues, conversations with oneself. The participants and their language, experience, and values affect the conversations.

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14 Comments

  • Michael Anton Dila

    Mar 31, 2009
    9:42 am

    Yowza!

  • Josh of Cubicle Ninjas

    Mar 31, 2009
    7:30 pm

    These are stunning. Thank you for the inspiration!

  • jimkastkeat

    Apr 1, 2009
    3:18 am

    I recently drafted a similar process (collect ideas, sort helpful/unhelpful, group ideas, connect the dots, bring it to life).

    This seems to say the same thing, only the layout is much more helpful than my quick note in my moleskine!

    Thanks so much!

  • Graham Smith

    Apr 1, 2009
    6:50 am

    I can’t fully see this on my iPhone but totally get the gist of it and can make out the overall structure.

    Looks neat, will download PDF when I get home.

    Graham

  • chris

    Apr 11, 2009
    5:34 pm

    just come for a check up to see if there are an new ones, loved the innovation and behold, there is creativity. quite relevant to a graphic designer will have to remember march time a new one due.

    very good, thanks. lovely circles to resound with design and the creative process in a loop. great stuff.

  • Rick Barron

    May 26, 2009
    1:28 pm

    Your concepts maps have always been remarkable and informative. Well done on this one! Give my regards to Paul Pangaro.

    Rick Barron

  • justin chitakatira

    Jun 1, 2009
    1:47 am

    Very helpfuland inpirational.

  • aaron

    Jun 4, 2009
    7:11 am

    Great job, thanks for the pdf. Going to try to put this up in the office.

  • Gordon Mattey

    Jun 12, 2009
    11:40 am

    you should put this into prezi (prezi.com), it would work really well.

  • Carlos Guarda

    Jun 24, 2009
    8:36 pm

    Wow!

  • Mike

    Aug 11, 2009
    1:38 pm

    Great work! Are you guys OK with printing these posters for use in our offices?

  • jax

    Aug 13, 2009
    6:56 am

    Love it…thanks! Love the schematic and insights…

  • Qin

    Oct 22, 2009
    10:06 am

    that was so impressive! and very inspiring as well, I was actually looking for a nice form to articulate a more distributted pattern of creative process, and Bang~ here I go :-)

  • Kelli

    Dec 28, 2009
    3:16 pm

    Hanging this up at my desk as we speak.

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