Annotate Anchor Chart

I was no longer just making choices based on what "looked good. I had to determine its minimum size, the smallest it could be reproduced in print or on screen before it became an illegible smudge. Typically, it consists of a set of three to five powerful keywords or phrases, such as "Innovation," "Integrity," "Customer-Centricity," "Teamwork," and "Accountability. You start with the central theme of the project in the middle of a page and just start branching out with associated words, concepts, and images. In our modern world, the printable chart has found a new and vital role as a haven for focused thought, a tangible anchor in a sea of digital distraction. For a chair design, for instance: What if we *substitute* the wood with recycled plastic? What if we *combine* it with a bookshelf? How can we *adapt* the design of a bird's nest to its structure? Can we *modify* the scale to make it a giant's chair or a doll's chair? What if we *put it to another use* as a plant stand? What if we *eliminate* the backrest? What if we *reverse* it and hang it from the ceiling? Most of the results will be absurd, but the process forces you to break out of your conventional thinking patterns and can sometimes lead to a genuinely innovative breakthrough.