“Think outside the box.” A popular, corporate catch-phrase that is somehow supposed to instantly turn on your creativity.
But what box are we talking about? How does it look? What boundaries are you supposed to look past?
We live with constraints all the time, and instinctively explore alternatives within a confined space. Constraints of assumptions, beliefs, systems, status and resources, often define the boundaries of our ‘box.’
Your audience and problem statement define boundaries for your product. Your depth of knowledge in a domain influences your decision making. And, your social beliefs shape your thoughts on issues like racism and gender equality.
Once you understand the parameters of the box – how big is it, what’s inside it and what the boundaries are, it’s easy to look inside the box. Then move the boundaries a little bit, and then a bit more.