Digital Publishing (WK3) - Creativity Exercise: The “Before/After” Exercise

The “Before/After” Exercise
Time: 3–5 minutes
Materials: None (paper optional)

Steps:

1. Pick a simple action. Something everyday.
   
2. Write what happens before the action. What leads up to it?
   
3. Write what happens after the action. What’s the result or outcome?
   
4. Now redesign the middle. Change how the action itself works to make the transition between before and after smoother, more interesting, or more intentional.
   
5. Write 2–3 sentences describing your new version.

When I tried this exercise, this was my result:

• Action: Unlocking your phone
• Before: You pick up your phone to check something quickly
• After: You get distracted by notifications
• Redesigned middle: A phone lock screen that asks what you intend to do before unlocking and filters everything else out. It keeps you focused on the original task instead of pulling you into distractions.

What I learned: This exercise made me pay more attention to the flow of an experience instead of just the action itself. Breaking something into before and after helped me notice where things feel off or disconnected. I realized that a lot of design opportunities are in those in-between moments. It also showed me that small changes to how something works can have a bigger impact than completely redesigning it. Focusing on the transition made the idea feel more practical instead of overcomplicated.