What is yellow and edible? The creative phases in the brain

With the prompt “Tell me things that are yellow and edible!”, you can demonstrate very well in creatively inexperienced groups how the 3 phases of idea generation take place in the brain. Within a group you create an equal understanding, an aha-experience and a very comprehensible example.

At the beginning of the workshop or meeting you explain to the participants that “we now want to approach our creativity with a small exercise”. Then set the task: “Name things that are yellow and edible!”

Take all answers without evaluations and just ask every now and then: “What else is yellow and edible?” (2-3 minutes should be enough.)

End the round by using the “ideas” mentioned to illustrate the 3 phases that always take place in our brain when we generate ideas.

1st phase – the classic phase:
Whenever you ask the question about yellow, edible things, you get direct answers like: “Banana, lemon, egg yolk …” – these are classics. They are ideas that don’t require our brain to exert itself. The brain is one of the “laziest” organs in our body, it doesn’t want to exert itself at all. So first come “ideas” that are not difficult for the brain – recognised patterns are called up.

2nd phase – the knowledge phase:
After the classics are out, there is a short break in the group. The brains go into the next mode, retrieve existing knowledge and the participants listen to each other – they let themselves be inspired. Suddenly, pasta and cheese varieties are also listed or things that can be made from potatoes, for example.

Phase 3 – the creative phase:
The classics are gone and the knowledge is also out – so now the brain has to get really creative, it has to make new combinations/ links. Maybe now you smear a strawberry with mustard to make it yellow and edible.

This is exactly the phase we need to reach for creative ideas. That’s why it’s important to make people aware of how their brain works and that the chance of a creative idea in the first 10 to 30 attempts is relatively low – precisely because we know an enormous amount. Have fun trying it out!

With inspiring greetings,
Benno van Aerssen