Creative Exercises
Obliques
The Oblique Strategies are a deck of cards. They were first developed by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt as a tool to overcome moments of creative pressure or stagnation.
In my design work, the constraints of time can sometimes steer me away from modes of thinking that would lead to better, more innovative work. Obliques are a way to nudge myself back toward creative problem-solving - reminding me of the unexpected surprises that occur when I have time and freedom to create something new.
I first learned about Obliques from one of my design mentors, Christopher Knowles. They've become a cornerstone of my creative practice, and some of my favorite work has come from the challenges presented by these prompts.
I try to do an Oblique at least once per week. Here are just a few of them.