I am a instructional designer who works in a nice office - but there isn't a lot of creative spaces here.

I have worked from Barnes and Noble before and it really helped with focus.

However, I am working on creating new activities and games and need a more lively, creative type place.

Where do you go when you need the creative juices flowing?

For me, it's not a place, it's an activity. For some reason (maybe it's the general boringness of the activity), I seem to have my best ideas when I'm running.

Whenever I need creative ideas, I tend to do a lot of web surfing, my starting point being a few choice websites that take me to others and so on. Sort of like an “idea buffet”, at the end of which I have a full plate. Once “ingested” and incubated, every piece of the puzzle seems to fit into a fresh new idea or concept.

I also do what I call the “calling of the book”: I go to a bookstore and stand in front of a specific section (management, training, leadership, whatever the flavour of the month is) and wait for a book to call me. I know it sounds weird (and it feels even weirder to explain it in “public”…) but it worked every time for me.

I look for new ideas in places one would seldom think of looking: I train my dogs in obedience and agility and many new ideas came from how our instructors teach us (handler and dog). I learned really fresh new ways to motivate learners in class! As for best practice in management, I must admit that the karate training I take gave me a few humbling examples on how to lead and ways to enrich classrooms real life examples.

One last thing, I do a lot of networking with my colleagues whom I know share some interest in the topic I am researching. Their insights and ideas always spark something new or, at the very least, give me some kind of general heading to get more creative.

It is kind of funny: having put in written form what I do to get new ideas, I realize that the way we get creative is very personal, if not somewhat intimate… Well, you all know me better now!

What great ideas!

Vireo you are right.... it was a personal question. I guess I should admit now that I have many an idea in the shower. No idea what the deal is there - but my brain is clearer.

I also go to the bookstore, alot. Just the enviorment is condusive to creativity - but often low energy (with the soothing music and quiet).

I used to work for a company that had an advertising/design department. Talk about creative enviornments! All the walls were painted different bright colors, brainstorming happened in a conference room while sitting on bean bag chairs...it was crazy - but I can see how that can work!

Mandy

Here are some activities that freshen my perspective, creativity, etc.:
-nature: hikes, biking, etc.
-headphones with whatever music is right for you (I like www.lounge-radio.com, for example)
-arty downtime areas: art galleries, thrift shops, etc.
-type "random website" into google, and use any of the random website generators.
-a simple brainstorming diagram

and finally,