The Link-Up is the combining of two established ideas to create new and different ideas.
The Link-Up is the principal action of creativity. It is the bonding of two creative elements to form new creative matter: a new idea: a new creative possibility. It is the basic reaction taking place at the core of Material Fusion.
How does 'Link-Ups' work?
All creativity moves from the Specific (the subject of interest that is being analysed through creativity) to the General (the new creative ideas coming out the Mixology stage of creative thinking).
The Specific Idea is the material, concept, theory, understanding (etc) that a creative work is analysing, and from which the creative work is intended to be built.
- Begin with specific ideas. It will help if each specific idea is set out in the form of a problem statement. See IWWM & 5W1H for examples of ideas formatted as problem statements.
- Take two or more separate ideas - these can be related or unrelated to the specific idea. Ideas can be emotions, objects, actions, colours etc. The more challenging and diverse the ideas, the more original will be the creative outcome.
- Explore different ways of linking these ideas together.
- Search out concepts (i.e. new ideas, thoughts and approaches) arising from the linking process.
- Apply these new concepts back to a specific idea.
- This process will result in base (or seed) ideas that can develop into opportunities for the creative development of your specific idea (known as 'points of departure').
The Link-Ups Creative Techniquesis implemented as follows:
Illustration: Link-Ups
The following shows how the Link-Ups Creative Technique has been used in the construction of "The Tailor".
One of the themes of the Tailor is 'the river that runs through the valley where the story takes place.'
The character Anjali's relationship with the river symbolises her inevitable progression towards the aspirations formed by her experiences.
The specific idea involved can be written in the format IWWM:
IWWM the river become instrumental in directing Anjali's course of action?
Now Link-up the three discrete ideas from which creative General Ideas are derived:
Memory - Water - Mud
- Clarity emerging out of darkness.
- Water washes away the obscure.
- Water as metaphor.
- We are all wallowing in mud and dreaming of solid ground.
- Our only certainty consists of the small finds we dig out of mud.
- Memories flow past us like water.
- We can never stop the flow of memory, but we can harness it.
Concepts derived from this Link-Up:
Illustration: The Narrative from The Tailor
By applying these concepts back to the initial specific ideas, the following narrative passage was created using the Link-Ups Creative Technique:
Anjali followed the footpath, which was muddy in places, and sat down on the dry stone wall edging of the bridge. She could see the water playing across boulders and tugging at willow branches as it ran down towards her from upstream. The cold and angled light of the late afternoon made the water appear to flow like silk. To Anjali it also had the allure of silk. When you stand amongst it, touch it, smell it, you know that those who deny its power are the ones who lack the honesty that silk has in its every stitch. The most beautiful of fabrics will always support you. You just need to reach out to them.
Designing garments springs from necessity, just as the river springs from the unavoidable flow of water from the hills. Water makes a river, and the river has no choice but to flow. Design makes a true tailor, and a true tailor has no choice but to create.'
Anjali fell silent. She had suddenly realised that these were just words. She had started to doubt herself. Design is the answer to a series of questions. Questions arise out of doubt. All design is built on a foundation of doubt.
Anjali looked down into the quiet river, hoping that some explanation would be swirling in its steady depths. All she could see was the empty flow of water against the scattered gravel bed of the river.
Then there was a ripple of wind across the valley. The flat surface of the waters creased and a light drizzle, which had come from nowhere, trimmed the surface with a sequin of circles. The pattern had altered. The river was running with reflections again.
Anjali stared deeply into the weaving waters and the outline of an idea soaked into her mind.
'Did you think I would forget you?' said the river.