When Alaska Airlines Magazine reached out to feature my work, it was a proud moment that underscored the power of creative problem-solving. Their January 2019 issue explored how structured creativity, particularly through frameworks like Design Thinking, can empower individuals, teams, and organizations to achieve meaningful objectives. Today, I’m revisiting that feature to align with The Idea Guy’s mission: Empowering Creativity for Problem-Solving—Helping People, Teams, and Organizations Drive Innovation and Achieve Objectives.

A Milestone in Creative Problem-Solving

The article, Creative Approaches, highlighted the ZIP Idea Lab at San Diego State University, which I founded to help students, faculty, and organizations develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. One of the featured stories told how three students turned a simple concept—a blanket with a foot pocket—into a successful product called Bomfy B.

Through the ZIP Idea Lab’s six-step Design Thinking process, these students identified a need, developed prototypes, and refined their product based on user feedback. The result? A successful launch that sold out its initial inventory. While a blanket may seem like a small-scale innovation, the process behind it is a testament to the transformative power of creativity when applied strategically.

The Design Thinking Process

The article prominently featured my six-step Design Thinking framework, which offers a structured approach to creativity:

1. Empathize: Understand the people involved in the problem through research and observation.
2. Define: Challenge the problem statement to ensure you’re solving the right problem.
3. Ideate: Generate a wide range of ideas and then select the best one to pursue.
4. Prototype: Create a tangible representation of the idea for engagement and feedback.
5. Test: Collect feedback to refine and improve the solution.
6. Share: Present your work to others to gather support and additional insights.

This process empowers individuals and teams to approach challenges with clarity, creativity, and confidence. It’s a cornerstone of my work with The Idea Guy and a proven methodology for driving innovation.

Connecting Creativity to Broader Impact

Creativity, when harnessed effectively, has a far-reaching impact that transcends individual projects. Here’s how structured creativity creates value:

• For Individuals: Creativity builds confidence by enabling people to approach challenges with fresh perspectives. It shifts the mindset from fearing failure to embracing experimentation. In the case of Bomfy B, the students gained invaluable problem-solving skills that extended far beyond their initial project.
• For Teams: The Design Thinking framework fosters collaboration and innovation by providing a shared roadmap for solving problems. Teams that embrace this approach become more cohesive, as they work together to empathize with users, brainstorm solutions, and implement effective ideas.
• For Organizations: Creativity is a strategic asset that helps organizations adapt to change, identify opportunities, and deliver innovative products or services. By solving the right problems, companies not only meet their goals but also drive meaningful outcomes for their stakeholders.
• For Society: Structured creativity has the potential to address global challenges, from sustainability to healthcare. By equipping people with tools like Design Thinking, we can inspire solutions that benefit entire communities and create a brighter future.

In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, creativity isn’t just a nice-to-have skill—it’s essential. It enables us to navigate complexity, solve problems effectively, and seize opportunities for growth and innovation.

Empowering Your Creativity

The opportunity to share my work in Alaska Airlines Magazine was a reminder of why creativity matters. It’s more than just coming up with ideas—it’s about using those ideas to solve problems and achieve meaningful results. The six-step Design Thinking process is just one way to empower creativity and make a real difference.

If you’re ready to embrace creativity and drive innovation in your work, let’s connect. Whether you’re an individual looking for clarity, a team seeking collaboration, or an organization aiming to achieve strategic objectives, I’m here to help you unlock your potential.

A Call to Action

What’s the next big challenge you’re facing? How can creativity help you overcome it? I’d love to hear your thoughts—reach out or share your perspective in the comments below. Together, let’s empower creativity to solve problems and achieve success.