From the book “The 46 Rules of Genius”, a concise guide to the principles of innovation.
The principles
- Break the rules
- Wish for what you want
- Feel before you think
- See what’s not there
- Ask a bigger question
- Frame problems tightly
- Think whole thoughts
- Stay in the dragon pit
- Approach answers obliquely
- Wait for the jolt
- Use beauty as a yardstick
- Design quickly, decide slowly
- Use a linear process for static elements
- Use a dynamic process for reactive elements
- Work to an appropriate structure
- Express related elements in a similar manner
- Match form to function, function to form
- Don’t be boring
- Put the surprise where you want the attention
- Apply aesthetics deliberately
- Visualize with sketches, models, or prototypes
- Embrace messiness
- Test your ideas in realistic situations
- Simplify
- Learn how to learn
- Start with curiosity, not belief
- Do your own projects
- Keep a hero file
- Invest in your originality
- Learn strategically
- Shore up your weaknesses
- Spend long hours in the joy zone
- Make educational mistakes
- Seek instructive criticism
- Fuel your passion
- Develop an authentic style
- Practice
- Overcommit to a mission
- Stay focused
- Follow through
- Do good design
- Build support methodically
- Don’t blame others
- Join a network
- Become who you are
- Make new rules