Digital Image Editing (WK3) - Creativity Exercise: "Random Word Remix"

“Random Word Remix”

Time: 2–3 minutes

Materials: None

Steps:

1. Think of three random words as fast as possible. Don't overthink it.

2. Set a 90-second timer.

Your challenge: Create one idea that connects all three words in a way that shouldn’t make sense, but somehow does. It can be a product idea, a short scene, a visual concept, a tagline, anything. When the timer ends, write one sentence summarizing the idea as if you were pitching it.

Why it works: It forces rapid associative thinking while preventing you from defaulting to your usual ideas. The constraint creates creative tension, and the timer stops you from polishing.

When I tried this exercise, this was my result:

Words: camera, book, headphones

Concept: A “quiet camera” that only takes photos when you’re fully immersed in an audiobook.

Pitch: A pair of smart headphones that senses your focus while reading or listening, and automatically snaps ambient ‘memory photos’ with a tiny built-in camera to create a visual scrapbook that matches the chapter of your book.

What I learned from this exercise is how fast your brain can connect things that don’t belong together. Give yourself constraints, and suddenly creativity feels easier. And when you only have a minute or two, you stop trying to be perfect and just make something. The exercise proves that we’re capable of rapid ideation on command, and with more practice, you can scale complexity, polish, or direction.