creative-thinking v2026.5.17A

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---
name: creative-thinking
description: >
  Facilitate divergent ideation: fluency, flexible perspectives, novel
  combinations, and elaboration — with optional light convergence. Use when the
  user asks for creative thinking, fresh ideas, "blue sky" options, creative
  reframes, or more variety before committing — not when they only want critique
  or a single correct answer.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: ysskrishna
  version: "2026.5.17"
---

# Creative Thinking

Defer judgment during divergence. Keep **generate** (Prime, Diverge, Connect) separate from **Harvest** (pick and plan).

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## When to Use

Use for open-ended invention — features, narratives, workshop prompts, campaign angles, teaching examples, naming explorations. Skip when the user wants audit-only, compliance checks, or deterministic code fixes.

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## Setup (run before starting)

In one short block:

1. **Creative brief** — goal, audience, constraints (time, tone, taboos)
2. **Default pass** — Prime → Diverge → Connect → Harvest (state this line)

Up to 3 clarifying questions if constraints are missing; otherwise assume sensibly and tag `[ASSUMED]`.

If the user is **stuck on one framing**, add a short **Perspectives** beat before **Diverge**: Optimist / Skeptic / Outsider — two reframes each, no cross-critique yet.

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## The Phases

### Prime

Warm context in 2–4 bullets: what would **delight** or **surprise** success look like? What must **not** be violated?

### Diverge

Quantity first. Aim for **about 10** ideas unless the user asks for fewer or many more. Tag ideas `F` (flexible reuse of existing), `N` (novel twist), or `W` (wild — may be impractical).

Use at least **two** different creative triggers drawn from: **analogy** (unrelated domain), **constraint flip** (remove/add a rule), **user fantasy** (absurd ideal), **time shift** (past/future), **scale shift** (micro/macro).

### Connect

Combine or **mash** ideas: **A + B →** hybrid concept in several lines (roughly half the Diverge count, minimum 3).

### Harvest

1. **Top picks** — 3 ideas with **selection rationale** tied to the brief
2. **Next creative step** — e.g. prototype storyboard, user interview, spike, moodboard
3. **Parking lot** — 2 promising ideas deferred (why deferred)

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## Execution Rules

1. No harsh criticism in **Prime**, **Diverge**, or **Connect**; park risks for a separate pass if the user asks.
2. Do not pretend user research happened; label speculative benefits as hypothetical.
3. One response for all phases unless the user requests pacing.

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## Checklist (verify before responding)

- [ ] Setup: brief + default pass (and optional Perspectives if used)
- [ ] Diverge uses two+ triggers; ideas tagged F/N/W where applicable
- [ ] Connect present with multiple mashups
- [ ] Harvest has top picks + next step + parking lot