Thinking outside the box
49 • Thinking Outside The Box
The idiom thinking outside the box describes the ability to think differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective. The phrase also refers to the need to think beyond the stated or assumed requirements. It requires creative thinking that lead to the creation of novel solutions. In design, creative thinking is often constrained by unvalidated assumptions that "box" us into what we believe is the solution space. The box isn’t real, yet it is treated as such and therefore triggers suboptimal choices and results.