You 2.0: Getting Unstuck

Wicked Problems

The concept of wicked problems is central to creative problem-solving, especially in the tech world. Shankar Vedantam explains how engineers at Apple, like Dave Evans, faced challenges in designing a new mouse, where the first step was identifying the real problem to solve 1. Wicked problems, unlike tame ones, have constantly changing criteria, making them ideal for design thinking, which involves iterating multiple ideas with prototypes 1. Evans highlights that some issues, like gravity problems, are not actionable and should be seen as circumstances rather than problems 2.

A wicked problem is one where the criteria are changing all the time. Even if you come up with a solution, you don't get to reuse it over and over again.

--- Dave Evans

This approach allows individuals to focus on actionable solutions rather than getting stuck on unchangeable facts.

   

Creative Blocks

Overcoming creative blocks often requires unconventional methods and persistence. Helen Ellis, a writer who moved to New York to pursue her dreams, faced numerous rejections before finding success through an unexpected medium: Twitter 3. Her tweets, filled with self-deprecating humor and relatable content, became a form of prototyping, allowing her to test ideas and receive instant feedback 4. This new approach helped her break free from traditional writing patterns and ultimately led to the publication of her book, "American Housewife," which was inspired by her tweets 4.

I found that Twitter was an excellent editor, so if I tweeted something and it wasn't retweeted in, say, 20 minutes, it's deleted.

--- Helen Ellis

By embracing this iterative process, Helen was able to rediscover her voice and create work that resonated with her audience.