Digital Publishing (WK1) - Creativity: The “Five Layers” Exercise

The “Five Layers” Exercise
Time: 3–5 minutes
Materials: Paper or notes app

Steps:

1. Pick a simple object.
2. Write what it is used for.
3. Ask “Why?” five times. Each answer should go one layer deeper than the last.
4. Use the final answer to generate a new idea or perspective about the object.

When I tried this exercise, this was my result:

• Object: Notebook
• A notebook is for writing things down.
• Why do we write things down?: To remember information.
• Why do we need to remember information?: Because we forget things.
• Why do we forget things?: Our brains can only hold so much at once.
• Why can our brains only hold so much?: Because we are constantly taking in new information.

Resulting idea:

A notebook designed to help organize thoughts visually instead of just storing them. Instead of plain pages, it could guide users through different ways of thinking, like sketching ideas, mapping connections, or grouping thoughts, so information is easier to process instead of just being written and forgotten.

What I learned: This exercise made me realize how easy it is to stop thinking about something once I reach the most obvious answer. When I started with something simple like a notebook, the first explanation felt complete. But continuing to ask “why” pushed the idea further. Each layer made me think a little more about the purpose behind the object instead of just what it does on the surface.

It also showed me that a lot of design ideas can come from questioning everyday items. A notebook isn’t just for writing things down. It exists because people need help remembering and organizing information. Looking at the deeper reason behind it opened up more possibilities for how it could be designed or improved. It reminded me that often, better ideas come from asking better questions.