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 Unlocking Creativity Through Reverse Brainstorming: A Portfolio Growth Activity

When working on my graphic design portfolio, I realized I was struggling to come up with fresh, standout project ideas. My usual process felt predictable, so I searched for an activity to expand my creativity—not by drawing better, but by thinking differently. That’s when I discovered Reverse Brainstorming, a problem-solving technique that flips traditional ideation upside down.

The Activity: Reverse Brainstorming

The idea is simple: instead of asking, “How can I improve my portfolio?”, I asked the opposite question:
“How can I make my portfolio terrible?”

I listed every answer that came to mind:

• Fill it with random, unfinished work.

• Use clashing colors and inconsistent typography.

• Ignore organization or flow.

• Make every project look the same.

• Skip descriptions and let the viewer guess.

Once I had a messy list of “bad ideas,” I flipped them back around into solutions:

• Show only my best, completed projects.

• Use a consistent design system (color palette, typography, layout).

• Organize projects in a clear, narrative order.

• Highlight versatility with different types of work.

• Write short, engaging captions that explain my design choices.

What I Learned

This activity gave me new creative connections that I wouldn’t have thought of by just brainstorming improvements. Instead of only asking “what to do,” I saw “what not to do”—and turned that into clear, practical portfolio goals.

Here are the three biggest takeaways:

1. Creativity is about perspective. Flipping the question opened a door to fresh ideas I wouldn’t have reached with traditional brainstorming.

2. Constraints fuel ideation. By imagining mistakes, I created a natural checklist of what success should look like.

3. Problem-solving and design are inseparable. My portfolio isn’t just about pretty visuals—it’s about showing that I can solve problems with creativity.

How It Shapes My Portfolio

After this activity, I’m redesigning my portfolio with clarity and storytelling in mind. Instead of dumping work, I’m curating it like an exhibition. Each project is now framed with intent: the problem, my process, and the final solution. This makes my portfolio not only visually strong but also a reflection of my ability to think critically as a designer.

Reflection

By doing this activity, I learned that creativity isn’t just about artistic skills—it’s about rethinking problems and making unexpected connections. For my future designs, I’ll keep using methods like reverse brainstorming whenever I feel stuck, because sometimes the best way to go forward is to think backwards.