If you do creative work and use a Mac, you should install Brian Eno's "Oblique Strategies" widget. Based on a cardset he developed, the widget suggests strategies for breaking creative impasses. None of them are earth-shattering, just simple reminders of ways to turn a context on its head to help you see things in new ways. Here are a couple:
Change specifics to ambiguities.
Try faking it.
Use 'unqualified' people.
It's a wonky (and useful) version of a magic 8-ball.
[via Cool Tools]
Posted by johndanseven at August 10, 2005 06:51 PM