Designing Emotion

 

Unlocking Creativity: What I Learned from the "Alternative Uses" Exercise

This week, I tried something completely new to boost my creativity—and it didn’t involve any design software. I stepped away from the screen and did a classroom creativity activity known as the Alternative Uses Exercise. It sounds simple (and it is), but it really stretched my creative thinking in ways I didn’t expect.

I found this activity through Stanford’s d.school, which has tons of great design thinking resources.
Here’s the link if you want to try it yourself:
👉 Alternative Uses Exercise – Stanford d.school

What’s the Alternative Uses Exercise?

Here’s how it works:

• You choose an everyday object.

• Set a timer for 3–5 minutes.

• Write down as many different, creative, and unusual uses for that object as you can think of.

That’s it. It’s all about divergent thinking—coming up with lots of different ideas quickly, without worrying if they’re “good” or “realistic.”

What I Did

I chose a paperclip as my object.

At first, the ideas came slowly. I wrote:

• A hook for keys

• A reset button tool

• A bookmark

Okay… basic.

But then I kept going. After a minute or two, my brain started to let go, and things got more interesting:

• Spy movie tool for picking locks

• Emergency SIM ejector

• Tiny sculpture wire for a mini art piece

• Improvised zipper pull

• Abstract earrings

• A cocktail toothpick in a pinch (wouldn’t recommend it though)

What I Learned

1. The first ideas are always obvious.

I had to push past the easy answers before the creative ones started showing up. The best ideas came near the end.

2. Judging your ideas kills your flow.

Once I stopped asking myself, “Is this dumb?” I had way more fun—and better ideas.

3. Creativity is a skill, not just a talent.

You can literally practice getting more creative. This kind of exercise strengthens the part of your brain that looks at things differently—which is exactly what designers do.

Why This Matters as a Design Student

We’re often focused on making something look good. But before that comes concept, and before concept comes thinking. Design is creative problem-solving. And sometimes the best solutions come from seeing a paperclip as something completely different.

Doing this exercise reminded me that being a designer means staying curious, playful, and open to new perspectives.

Final Thoughts

The Alternative Uses Exercise only took five minutes, but it gave me a creative reset I really needed. It reminded me that creativity isn’t just for big projects—it’s something you can train, like a muscle.

If you’ve never done something like this, I highly recommend it—especially if you ever feel stuck.

Here’s that link again if you want to try it:
Alternative Uses Exercise – Stanford d.school