Constraint-Based Creativity

Table of Contents

• Purpose
• When to Use
• What Is It
• Workflow
• Constraint Types
• Common Patterns
• Guardrails
• Quick Reference

Purpose

Turn limitations into creative fuel by strategically imposing constraints that force novel thinking, break habitual patterns, and reveal unexpected solutions.

When to Use

Invoke this skill when you observe:

• Unconstrained brainstorming produces predictable, generic ideas
• Team defaulting to "same old approaches"
• Creative block despite ample resources
• Need to work within tight limitations (budget, time, materials, technical)
• Want to differentiate from competitors using similar unlimited resources
• Seeking simplicity and focus over feature bloat
• Innovation feels incremental rather than breakthrough

Common trigger phrases:

• "We keep coming up with the same ideas"
• "How do we innovate on a tight budget?"
• "Think outside the box"
• "We're stuck"
• "What if we could only use X?"
• "Design this with severe limitations"
• "Create something radically different"

What Is It

Constraint-based creativity deliberately limits freedom (resources, rules, materials, format) to force creative problem-solving. Paradoxically, constraints often boost creativity by:

1. Reducing decision paralysis - Fewer options = clearer focus
2. Breaking habitual patterns - Can't use usual solutions
3. Forcing novel combinations - Must work with what's allowed
4. Increasing psychological safety - "We had to because of X"
5. Creating memorable differentiation - Constraints make solutions distinctive

Quick example: Twitter's original 140-character limit forced concise, punchy writing. Haiku's 5-7-5 syllable structure produces poetry. $10K budget forces guerrilla marketing over Super Bowl ads. Building with only CSS (no images) creates distinctive visual style.

Workflow

Copy this checklist and track your progress:

Constraint-Based Creativity Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Understand the problem and context
- [ ] Step 2: Choose or design strategic constraints
- [ ] Step 3: Generate ideas within constraints
- [ ] Step 4: Evaluate and refine solutions
- [ ] Step 5: Validate quality and deliver

Step 1: Understand the problem and context

Ask user for the creative challenge (what needs solving), current state (what's been tried, why it's not working), ideal outcome (success criteria), and any existing constraints (real limitations already in place). Understanding why ideas feel stale or stuck helps identify which constraints will unlock creativity. See Constraint Types for strategic options.

Step 2: Choose or design strategic constraints

If user has existing constraints (tight budget, short timeline, limited materials) → Use resources/template.md to work within them creatively. If no constraints exist and ideation is stuck → Study resources/methodology.md to design strategic constraints that force new thinking patterns. Choose 1-3 constraints maximum to avoid over-constraining.

Step 3: Generate ideas within constraints

Apply chosen constraints rigorously during ideation. Create constraint-based-creativity.md file documenting: problem statement, active constraints (what's forbidden/required/limited), idea generation process, and all ideas produced (including "failed" attempts that revealed insights). Quantity matters - aim for 20+ ideas before evaluating. See resources/template.md for structured generation process.

Step 4: Evaluate and refine solutions

Assess ideas using dual criteria: (1) Does it satisfy all constraints? (2) Does it solve the original problem? Select strongest 2-3 ideas. Refine by combining elements, removing unnecessary complexity, and strengthening the constraint-driven insight. Document why certain ideas stand out - often the constraint reveals an unexpected angle. See resources/methodology.md for evaluation frameworks.

Step 5: Validate quality and deliver

Self-assess using resources/evaluators/rubric_constraint_based_creativity.json. Verify: constraints were genuinely respected (not bent/broken), solutions are novel (not slight variations of existing), the constraint created the creativity (solution wouldn't exist without it), ideas are actionable (not just conceptual), and creative insight is explained (why this constraint unlocked this idea). Minimum standard: Average score ≥ 3.5. Present completed constraint-based-creativity.md file highlighting the constraint-driven breakthroughs.

Constraint Types

Strategic constraints fall into categories. Choose based on what pattern you want to break:

Resource Constraints (force efficien

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