gh-lyndonkl-claude/skills/constraint-based-creativity/resources/methodology.md

Constraint-Based Creativity: Advanced Methodology

Workflow

Copy this checklist and track your progress:

Advanced Constraint-Based Creativity:
- [ ] Step 1: Diagnose the creative block systematically
- [ ] Step 2: Design strategic constraints using frameworks
- [ ] Step 3: Apply advanced generation techniques
- [ ] Step 4: Use constraint combinations and escalation
- [ ] Step 5: Troubleshoot and adapt

Step 1: Diagnose the creative block systematically

Use 1. Diagnosing Creative Blocks to identify root cause (abundance paralysis, pattern fixation, resource anxiety, etc.). Understanding the block type determines optimal constraint design.

Step 2: Design strategic constraints using frameworks

Apply 2. Strategic Constraint Design frameworks to create constraints that directly counter the diagnosed block. Use constraint design principles and psychology insights from 3. Psychology of Constraints.

Step 3: Apply advanced generation techniques

Use methods from 4. Advanced Idea Generation including parallel constraint exploration, constraint rotation sprints, and meta-constraint thinking. These techniques maximize creative output.

Step 4: Use constraint combinations and escalation

Apply 5. Constraint Combination Patterns to layer multiple constraints strategically. Use 6. Constraint Escalation to progressively tighten constraints for breakthrough moments.

Step 5: Troubleshoot and adapt

If constraints aren't working, use 7. Troubleshooting to diagnose and fix. Adapt constraints based on what's (not) working.

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1. Diagnosing Creative Blocks

Before designing constraints, diagnose WHY creativity is stuck:

Block Type 1: Abundance Paralysis

Symptoms: Too many options, can't decide, everything feels possible but nothing feels right Root cause: Unlimited freedom creates decision anxiety Best constraint types: Resource (force scarcity), Format (force specificity) Example constraint: "Choose from exactly 3 options" or "$500 budget only"

Block Type 2: Pattern Fixation

Symptoms: All ideas feel similar, defaulting to "what we always do", conventional thinking Root cause: Mental habits, industry best practices dominating, lack of novelty pressure Best constraint types: Rule-based (forbid the pattern), Historical (different era), Perspective (different audience) Example constraint: "Cannot use industry-standard approach" or "Design as if it's 1950"

Block Type 3: Complexity Creep

Symptoms: Ideas keep getting more elaborate, feature bloat, "we need to add X and Y and Z" Root cause: Mistaking complexity for sophistication, no forcing function for simplicity Best constraint types: Format (force brevity), Resource (force efficiency), Technical (force optimization) Example constraint: "Explain in 10 words" or "Must work on 1990s hardware"

Block Type 4: Resource Anxiety

Symptoms: "We can't do anything with this budget/time/team", defeatism, giving up before ideating Root cause: Viewing limitation as blocker rather than creative fuel Best constraint types: Resource Inversion (make limitation the feature), Success Stories (show constraint-driven wins) Example constraint: "Create marketing campaign that showcases our tiny budget as advantage"

Block Type 5: Incremental Thinking

Symptoms: Ideas are "better" but not "different", improvements without breakthroughs Root cause: Optimization mindset, risk aversion, lack of permission for radical ideas Best constraint types: Forced Connection (force novelty), Forbidden Element (force workarounds), Extreme (force dramatic shift) Example constraint: "Combine your product with [random unrelated concept]" or "No gradual improvements allowed"

Block Type 6: Stakeholder Gridlock

Symptoms: Every idea gets shot down, conflicting requirements, "we can't satisfy everyone" Root cause: Trying to please all stakeholders creates bland compromises Best constraint types: Audience (design for ONE stakeholder only), Perspective (extreme user), Polarity (embrace the conflict) Example constraint: "Design exclusively for power users, ignore novices" or "Optimize for speed OR quality, not both"

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2. Strategic Constraint Design

Frameworks for designing constraints that unlock creativity:

Framework 1: The Counterfactual Principle

Design constraints that are the opposite of current assumptions.

Current assumption → Constraint:

• "We need more features" → "Maximum 3 features"
• "We need more time" → "Ship in 48 hours"
• "We need bigger budget" → "Spend $100 only"
• "We need expert team" → "Design for novice execution"
• "We need to add" → "Remove 50% of current"

Framework 2: The Subtraction Cascade

Remove assumed "essentials" one at a time to reveal what's truly necessary.

Process:

1. List all assumed essentials (budget, time, team, features, marketing, etc.)
2. For each essential, ask: "What if we had zero X?"
3. Generate 5 ideas for zero-X scenario
4. Identify which "essential" assumptions are actually optional

Example: E-commerce site

• What if zero budget for ads? → Viral/organic/referral strategies emerge
• What if zero product photos? → Text-driven, story-driven commerce emerges
• What if zero checkout process? → One-click, subscription, or auto-replenish models emerge

Framework 3: The Constraint Ladder

Progressive constraint tightening to find the creative sweet spot.

Level 1 (Gentle): Constraint is noticeable but comfortable Level 2 (Challenging): Constraint forces rethinking but still manageable Level 3 (Extreme): Constraint seems impossible, forces radical creativity Level 4 (Paralyzing): Constraint too tight, generates zero ideas

Example: Content creation

• L1: "Write in 500 words" (comfortable)
• L2: "Write in 100 words" (challenging)
• L3: "Write in 10 words" (extreme, forces breakthroughs)
• L4: "Write in 3 words" (paralysis, too tight)

Aim for Level 2-3. If hitting Level 4, back off one level.

Framework 4: The Medium-as-Constraint

Force creativity by changing the medium.

Original medium → Constraint medium:

• Strategy document → Strategy as recipe
• Product roadmap → Roadmap as movie trailer script
• Technical docs → Docs as children's book
• Business proposal → Proposal as Shakespearean sonnet
• Data presentation → Data as visual art installation

Medium shift breaks habitual communication patterns.

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3. Psychology of Constraints

Why constraints boost creativity (science-backed principles):

Principle 1: Cognitive Load Reduction

Theory: Unlimited options overwhelm working memory. Constraints reduce cognitive load, freeing mental energy for creativity. Application: When team is overwhelmed, add constraints to reduce decision space. Example: "Choose from 3 pre-selected options" vs "anything is possible"

Principle 2: Breaking Automaticity

Theory: Brains default to habitual patterns (energy-efficient). Constraints force conscious, deliberate thinking. Application: When stuck in patterns, add constraints that forbid the habit. Example: "No bullet points" forces different communication structure

Principle 3: Psychological Reactance

Theory: Being told "you can't" triggers motivation to prove you can (within the rules). Application: Frame constraints as challenges, not limitations. Example: "Design without using any images" becomes a creative challenge

Principle 4: Permission Through Limitation

Theory: Constraints provide "excuse" for radical ideas ("we HAD to because of X"). Application: Use constraints to create safety for risky ideas. Example: "$100 budget" gives permission for guerrilla marketing tactics

Principle 5: Forced Combination

Theory: Constraints force novel combinations that wouldn't occur in unconstrained thinking. Application: Use constraints that require merging unrelated concepts. Example: "Explain technical architecture using cooking metaphors only"

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4. Advanced Idea Generation

Techniques beyond basic listing:

Technique 1: Parallel Constraint Exploration

Run multiple constraint sets simultaneously, compare results.

Process:

1. Choose 3 different constraint types
2. Set timer for 10 minutes per constraint
3. Generate ideas for Constraint A (10 min)
4. Switch to Constraint B (10 min)
5. Switch to Constraint C (10 min)
6. Compare: which constraint produced most novel ideas?
7. Double down on that constraint type

Example: Logo design

• Constraint A: 3 colors maximum → 8 ideas
• Constraint B: Circles only → 12 ideas
• Constraint C: Black/white only → 15 ideas (winner)
• → Continue with black/white constraint

Technique 2: Constraint Rotation Sprints

Rapid cycling through different constraints to prevent fixation.

Process:

1. Set 5-minute timer
2. Generate ideas for Constraint 1
3. When timer rings, IMMEDIATELY switch to Constraint 2
4. Generate for 5 minutes, switch to Constraint 3
5. After 3 constraints, review all ideas
6. Select strongest, refine for 10 minutes

Prevents over-thinking any single constraint.

Technique 3: Meta-Constraint Thinking

Apply constraints to the constraint-selection process itself.

Meta-constraints:

• "Must use constraint type I've never tried"
• "Must combine 2 opposite constraints" (e.g., "minimal" + "maximal")
• "Must choose constraint that scares me"
• "Must use constraint from unrelated domain" (e.g., music constraints for business problem)

Technique 4: The "Yes, But What If" Ladder

Progressive constraint tightening with idea building.

Process:

1. Start with idea from loose constraint
2. "Yes, but what if [tighter constraint]?" → Adapt idea
3. "Yes, but what if [even tighter]?" → Adapt again
4. Continue until idea breaks or becomes brilliant

Example: Marketing campaign

• Idea: Email newsletter
• Yes, but what if no images? → Text-only newsletter with strong copy
• Yes, but what if 50 words max? → Punchy, Hemingway-style newsletter
• Yes, but what if one sentence only? → Twitter-thread-style micro-newsletter
• Yes, but what if 6 words only? → Six-word story newsletter (breaks through!)

Technique 5: Constraint Archaeology

Mine history for proven constraint-driven successes, adapt to current challenge.

Historical constraint successes:

• Twitter's 140 characters → Brevity revolution
• Haiku's 5-7-5 syllables → Poetic concision
• Dr. Seuss's 50-word challenge (Green Eggs and Ham) → Children's lit classic
• Dogme 95 film rules → Cinema movement
• Helvetica font (limited character set) → Timeless design

Process:

1. Research historical constraint-driven successes in any domain
2. Extract the constraint principle
3. Adapt to your challenge
4. Test if same principle unlocks creativity

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5. Constraint Combination Patterns

Strategic ways to layer multiple constraints:

Pattern 1: Complementary Pairing

Combine constraints that reinforce each other.

Examples:

• Resource + Format: "$100 budget" + "One-page proposal"
• Time + Technical: "48-hour deadline" + "Use existing tools only"
• Audience + Medium: "For 5-year-olds" + "Visual only, no text"

Why it works: Constraints push in same direction, compounding effect.

Pattern 2: Tension Pairing

Combine constraints that conflict, forcing creative resolution.

Examples:

• "Minimal design" + "Maximum information density"
• "Professional tone" + "No corporate jargon"
• "Fast execution" + "Zero technical debt"

Why it works: Tension forces innovation to satisfy both.

Pattern 3: Progressive Layering

Add constraints sequentially, not all at once.

Process:

1. Start with Constraint 1 → Generate 10 ideas
2. Add Constraint 2 → Adapt best ideas or generate new ones
3. Add Constraint 3 → Further refinement

Example: Product launch

1. Constraint 1: "Organic channels only" → 10 ideas
2. Add Constraint 2: "+ $500 budget max" → 6 adapted ideas
3. Add Constraint 3: "+ 48-hour timeline" → 3 final ideas (highly constrained, highly creative)

Pattern 4: Domain Transfer

Apply constraints from one domain to another.

Examples:

• Music constraints → Business (rhythm, harmony, tempo applied to workflow)
• Sports constraints → Product (rules, positions, scoring applied to features)
• Cooking constraints → Writing (ingredients, timing, presentation applied to content)

Why it works: Cross-domain constraints break industry-specific patterns.

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6. Constraint Escalation

Systematically tightening constraints to find breakthrough moments:

The Escalation Curve

Constraint Tightness →
                    ↑ Creativity
         Comfort Zone  | Moderate ideas
    Productive Struggle | Interesting ideas
           Breakthrough | NOVEL ideas ← Target this zone
              Paralysis | Zero ideas (too tight)

Escalation Process

Step 1: Establish Baseline

• Start with loose constraint
• Generate 5 ideas
• Assess novelty (probably low)

Step 2: First Escalation (50% tighter)

• Tighten constraint by half
• Generate 5 ideas
• Assess novelty (probably moderate)

Step 3: Second Escalation (75% tighter)

• Tighten significantly
• Generate 5 ideas
• Assess novelty (should be high)
• This is usually the breakthrough zone

Step 4: Third Escalation (90% tighter)

• Tighten to near-impossibility
• Attempt to generate ideas
• If zero ideas → You've hit paralysis, back off to Step 3
• If ideas emerge → Exceptional breakthroughs

Escalation Examples

Budget escalation:

• Baseline: $50K budget → Conventional ideas
• 50%: $25K budget → Efficient ideas
• 75%: $12.5K budget → Creative ideas
• 90%: $5K budget → Breakthrough guerrilla ideas
• 95%: $2.5K budget → Possible paralysis

Time escalation:

• Baseline: 4 weeks → Standard timeline
• 50%: 2 weeks → Aggressive timeline
• 75%: 1 week → Breakthrough rapid ideas
• 90%: 48 hours → Extreme ideas or paralysis
• 95%: 24 hours → Likely paralysis

Feature escalation:

• Baseline: 10 features → Feature bloat
• 50%: 5 features → Focused product
• 75%: 3 features → Breakthrough simplicity
• 90%: 1 feature → Single-purpose tool (possible brilliance)
• 95%: 0.5 features → Probably paralysis

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7. Troubleshooting

When constraints don't produce creativity:

Problem 1: Constraint Too Loose

Symptom: Ideas feel conventional, no creative tension Diagnosis: Constraint isn't actually constraining behavior Fix: Escalate constraint (see Section 6). Make it tighter until you feel resistance.

Problem 2: Constraint Too Tight

Symptom: Zero ideas generated, complete paralysis, frustration Diagnosis: Constraint exceeded breakthrough zone into paralysis Fix: Back off one level. Use Constraint Ladder (Framework 3) to find sweet spot.

Problem 3: Wrong Constraint Type

Symptom: Lots of ideas but none address the original block Diagnosis: Constraint doesn't counter the diagnosed creative block Fix: Return to Section 1 (Diagnosing Creative Blocks). Match constraint type to block type.

Problem 4: Constraint Not Enforced

Symptom: Ideas "bend" the constraint or ignore it entirely Diagnosis: Treating constraint as suggestion rather than rule Fix: Make constraint enforcement explicit. Reject any idea that violates constraint.

Problem 5: Too Many Constraints

Symptom: Overwhelmed, don't know where to start, ideas satisfy some constraints but not others Diagnosis: Over-constrained (4+ simultaneous constraints) Fix: Reduce to 1-2 constraints maximum. Use Progressive Layering (Pattern 3) if multiple constraints needed.

Problem 6: Arbitrary Constraint

Symptom: Constraint feels random, no clear purpose Diagnosis: Constraint wasn't strategically designed Fix: Use Strategic Constraint Design frameworks (Section 2). Constraint should counter specific block.

Problem 7: Evaluating Too Early

Symptom: Only 3-5 ideas generated before giving up Diagnosis: Judging ideas before achieving volume Fix: Force 20+ ideas minimum before any evaluation. Quantity first, quality later.

Problem 8: Missing the Causality

Symptom: Solutions are good but could exist without the constraint Diagnosis: Not truly constraint-driven creativity Fix: Ask: "Would this idea exist in unconstrained brainstorming?" If yes, keep generating. If no, you've found constraint-driven creativity.

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8. Advanced Patterns

Pattern: Constraint-Driven Positioning

Use constraint as market differentiator.

Example: Basecamp's "No" list

• Constraint: No enterprise features, no unlimited plans, no customization
• Result: Positioned as "simple project management" vs complex competitors
• Outcome: Constraint became brand identity

Pattern: The Constraint Manifesto

Publicly commit to constraints as values.

Example: Craigslist

• Constraint: No modern UI, no VC funding, no ads (except jobs/housing)
• Result: Authenticity, trustworthiness, community focus
• Outcome: Constraint-driven culture

Pattern: Constraint as Filter

Use constraints to make decisions effortless.

Example: "If it's not a hell yes, it's a no" (Derek Sivers)

• Constraint: Binary decision (yes/no only, no maybe)
• Result: Clarity, focus, fewer regrets
• Outcome: Constraint simplifies complex decisions

Pattern: Constraint Stacking

Layer constraints over time as you master each.

Process:

1. Month 1: Master Constraint A (e.g., "Ship weekly")
2. Month 2: Add Constraint B (e.g., "+ under 100 lines")
3. Month 3: Add Constraint C (e.g., "+ zero dependencies")
4. Result: Constraint-driven expertise

Pattern: The Anti-Portfolio

Document what you're NOT doing (constraint as strategy).

Example: Y Combinator's anti-portfolio

• Constraint: "We passed on X because [reason]"
• Result: Learning from constraint violations
• Outcome: Refine constraint strategy

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9. Constraint Design Workshop

For teams stuck in creative blocks, run this structured workshop:

Pre-Work (15 min):

• Each person lists 5 ideas from unconstrained brainstorming
• Share: Notice how similar ideas are

Round 1: Diagnosis (15 min):

• As team, diagnose the creative block type (Section 1)
• Vote on constraint type to try

Round 2: Constraint Generation (30 min):

• Split into 3 groups, each with different constraint
• Each group generates 10 ideas in 10 minutes
• Share all ideas (30 total)

Round 3: Constraint Escalation (20 min):

• Choose winning constraint from Round 2
• Tighten it (50% more restrictive)
• Generate 10 more ideas as full team

Round 4: Evaluation (20 min):

• Identify top 3 ideas
• Explain how constraint drove the creativity
• Plan next steps

Total time: 100 minutes Expected outcome: 40+ ideas, 3 constraint-driven breakthroughs