Idea/Project Toolkit Notes

• 7 Steps to making a Better Mindmap: 

1. Start in the centre of the page
2. Use an image or picture for central idea
3. Use colours throughout
4. Connect your main branches
5. Make the connecting branches curved (For some reason it's easier to remember than when straight lines art used) 
6. One keyword per line
7. Use images throughout

• Mindmaps can actually be a fun work of art
• Brainstorming: Think of as many ideas as possible, encourage eccentric lines of thought, resist evaluating ideas until later, look for associations between ideas, make random associations (Random Words, think of their connotations instead of simply thinking of them literally) (Oblique strategies or twitter helps out with creative blocks)
• SCAMPER: Substitute. Combine. Adapt. Modify. Put to another use. Eliminate. Reverse.
• Substitute: Can you use different equipment/medium/materials/processes, swap a character in the story, a different location?
• Combine: Could two characters function as one (Be made into one), Time Management (Can several 'assets' be done one), combine skills of other people and strong pieces of concept art into one design
• Adapt (Good for Responsive Module): Could you use your idea for a Game or Animation in a non-broadcast context (Eg, Museum Display), Change role of character or situation, Reuse/Recycle materials/Old armatures/Props (Seeing that animation is a timely concept especially, keep a library of old works that can be reused for future works)
• Modify: What other contexts can be used (Settings/Themes), what could be emphasised, what can be added to make it better, more fun?
• Put in another work: Other Audiences, Research can be used for other projects later on, Save an asset for another project, share assets with other, retarget animated rigs for 3 models
• Eliminate: Can you improve the idea and make it faster and lighter
• Reverse: Swap roles (Such as the main role of Alien), look at a story back to front, doing a process in a different sequence, bad guy is a good guy - seeing from a different perspective
• SWOT: Strengths. Weaknesses. Opportunities. Threats

1. Strengths: What are you good at? Unique selling points, experience/knowledge, resources, innovation, location/geography
2. Weaknesses: Gaps in knowledge (Do I know this subject well enough?), things that can effect a persons ability on a project, timescales, reputation, commitment, planning
3. Opportunities: What do I get out of this? Networking/Partnerships, Building an audience, learning new skills, research, understanding markets, new developments, influencer
4. Threats: What do I need to keep an eye on? Time management, competition, changing technologies, distractions, audience's expectations, legislation/politics, environment effects

• It is suggested that you choose a brief that challenges you, one that pushes you to improve on your weaknesses, rather than simply taking the easier way out
• Popular briefs might be a threat, especially when you go up against a large amount of competitors
• Can strengths and opportunities match?
• Convert weaknesses into strengths and threats into opportunities
• The SWOT Toolkit is especially beneficial for freelancers, considering all the different briefs one will uptake from different clients