5 steps that shape the creative process

At that time, the technology of zinc printing was used, in which printing plates were made on zinc boards for printing the image. With the help of these clichés, the photograph was transferred to the paper. This process was done manually. The disadvantage of the technology was that zinc planks broke very quickly. Therefore, zinc printing took a lot of time and money.

The solution to this problem was found by the pioneer in the field of modern photography, Frederick Eugene Ives, who had 70 patents by the end of his life.

The story of his innovative creative idea will help you better understand the five-step system of the creative process.

Flash of insight

In his youth, Ives was an apprentice at the printing house in Ithaca. After two years of studying the basics of printing, he opened his own photography studio and became a photographer at Cornell University. For several years he tested new photography techniques and also studied cameras, typewriters, and optical instruments.

In 1881, Ives discovered a way to print high-quality and efficient illustrations.

I was working on a grayscale image processing problem. One day I went to bed, confused by my own thoughts about this. As soon as I woke up in the morning, an image of a working mechanism and the process of its work appeared in front of me.

Frederick Eugene Ives

Ives quickly brought his vision to life and patented his printing method in 1881, refining it over the next few years.

By 1885, he had invented a simplified printing process that was even better than the previous one. The photo was split into a series of small dots. Up close, the image looked like a cluster of these dots, but from a normal distance the dots merged together, transforming into a coherent picture of various shades of gray.

As a result, his invention helped reduce the cost of printing photographs by 15 times and became the main printing technique for the next 80 years.

Five-step system of the creative process

In 1940, James Webb Young, account manager at an advertising agency, published a short guide called Idea Generation Techniques. In his book, he presented a simple yet effective way to form breakthrough ideas.

According to Young, innovative ideas emerge when we create new combinations from already known ones. In other words, creative thinking is about transforming existing ideas into something unique and innovative.

The ability to generate new combinations depends on our ability to see the relationships between different data.

Young believes there are five steps to the creative process, and he gives the following tips.

1. Collect new information

At this stage, you should focus on studying specific material related to your task, and on studying general information, while remaining open to everything new.

2. Consider the information you receive carefully

You need to analyze what you have learned by looking at the information from different perspectives and trying to put together different ideas.

3. Step away from the problem

Now you need to put the problems out of your head and do what inspires and empowers you.

4. Let the idea emerge

After you stop puzzling over the solution to the problem, the idea will suddenly appear, like a flash of insight.

5. Build an idea based on other people's feedback

In order for an idea to be successful, present it to the world. Be prepared for criticism and listen to it if it is constructive.

How it works

The creative process of Frederick Eugene Ives is a perfect example of this five-step system in action.

First, Ives gathered new information. For two years he was an apprentice in a printing house, and then for another four years he headed a photo studio. This allowed him to gain the necessary experience.

Second, he began to ponder everything he had learned. Ives spent a lot of time experimenting with new photo printing techniques. He constantly created various combinations of ideas and methods already known to him.

Third, Ives stepped back from solving the problem. He just went to bed, although he was overwhelmed with many doubts and thoughts. It doesn't matter how long you decide to step back from the task. The main thing is to do what really can distract you from her.

Fourthly, he had a brilliant idea. Ives woke up already knowing the solution to the problem.

He also worked hard for several years perfecting his idea. He corrected so many that he patented another printing method. It's easy to get stuck on the original version of your idea, but any breakthrough idea requires development and refinement.

Being creative doesn't mean being the first or the only person to have a good idea. Creativity is the ability to build relationships between ready-made ideas and get something innovative as a result.