Digital Image Editing (WK4) - Creativity Exercise: "Reverse Problem"

I've done quite a few "how can I change this random item" creativity exercises, but I thought this one had an interesting twist. It's called "Reverse Problem", and the objective is to take an ordinary object, make it worse (not better), and then fix the "problem" in a creative way. This exercise showed me that thinking “backwards” can reveal hidden problems and spark real solutions. Essentially, it helped me to practice troubleshooting creatively. By deliberately breaking an object, I forced myself to notice design flaws (or potential ones) I normally ignore. Flipping the worst idea to fix it helped me come up with practical, creative solutions I wouldn’t have considered otherwise. This exercise has a few more steps than the ones I've posted in the past, but it's actually kind of fun! 

What you need: one everyday object, a timer, and a way to write down your answers (pen and paper, type it out, or just speak it out loud).

Time: 90 seconds for idea generation, + 2–4 minutes to flip and refine.

Steps:

1. Pick an object. Grab something you use daily.

2. Set the goal out loud. Say: “I’m going to make this object worse on purpose.” Saying it helps your brain commit to the weird direction.

3. Start a 90-second timer.

4. List as many ways to make it worse as you can. No judgment, speed outweighs quality here. Write them down or speak them out loud. 

5. Stop when the timer dings. Pick the most ridiculous one. 

6. Flip it to "fix it". Ask: Turn the worst flaw into an improvement. 

7. Refine for 2–4 minutes. Sketch, write a 1-sentence pitch, or imagine how it would work in real life. 


For my example, I chose the coffee mug on my desk. Here's how it went when I did this exercise:

Step 1: Make it worse: 

- The mug leaks from the bottom

- The handle is too small for your fingers

- The handle is a weird shape/can't hold it

- It randomly changes the drink temperature

- It only works if it's held upside down

Step 2: Pick the most ridiculous idea:

- It only works if it's held upside down

Step 3: Flip it and fix the problem:

- A self-righting mug that automatically adjusts the liquid flow, no matter how you hold it.

- Internal weighted base or smart liquid chamber that ensures the drink always flows correctly into your mouth, whether you hold it upright, tilted, or upside down.  

Step 4: Refined pitch sentence: 

“A mug designed with an internal balancing system so the liquid always pours correctly, solving spills and awkward angles no matter how you hold it.”

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