How to Use "Image Streaming" to Unleash Creative Breakthroughs
by Doug Farrick
If you have difficulty visualizing use "Image Streaming" to help generate spontaneous and breakthrough marketing and design solutions. Image Streaming is not new but was popularized by creative consultant Win Wenger in his book, "Einstein Factor" which I definitely recommend.
Here's the basic steps on how to do it:
Step 1: Setting the Stage
First, we need to do a little upfront "prep work" first.
Sit in a comfortable chair, in a quiet environment, close your eyes and turn on a device to record your voice.
Start by describing OUT LOUD in as much rich and vivid detail as possible the room you are sitting ion or a scene outside your window. The important point is to use ALL your sense not just describe how something looks but also describe it's texture, smell, sound, etc.
Keep talking continually. Do not edit or self-correct your grammar. Just continue forward. Initially just try for 5 minutes, then stop.
Make sure to speak loudly and not to mumble or whisper. It is the speaking out loud (in sensory detail) that helps opens up whole new channels of communication within your own neurology.
Step 2: Setting the Stage II
After a week or so of practicing the skill of describing out loud, begin describing scenes and images that are in your mind. In other words, use your imagination.
This is the same as before, describing each scene in rich, vivid detail.
Do this for several days to "ground" the technique. To be on the safe side I would target doing these exercise for a week each.
Step 3: Spontaneous Breakthrough Images
All the work done previously will now set the stage for true image streaming.
We are now going to be speaking of spontaneous imagery - those slippery fish of your unconscious that come and go in wink, that just "pop" into your mind while driving or while you are doing other "mindless" activities.
Make an intention to solve a particular issue the use these spontaneous images to find compelling design solutions or increase revenues, add synergistic services, solve a pesky client relationship or other issues.
To invite spontaneous imagery, stay alert. Don't force anything but as Wenger says, "The moment an image appears in your mind, describe the dickens out of it!"
Do NOT be concerned if the image fades or you lose your focus, just continue describing as it first appeared to you.
Image streaming will soon (when you least expect it) tap into the wellspring of thoughts, ideas and images stored in your subconscious - sometimes resulting in breakthrough ideas and creative solutions.
As I have worked with this technique an interesting phenomenon starts to happen called synesthesia, which is a merging of the senses where we begin describing colors in terms or smell and taste and vision in terms of feel or sounds or bits and pieces of them all.
Image streaming builds upon itself and becomes stronger and stronger the more you do it - eventually becoming quite effortless.
You will soon have a parade of images often linking together in subtle and often unexpected ways.
Wenger suggests that you review the recordings you made and try to determine WHY your mind chose certain kinds of images, how they were sequenced and whether some images have more "heat" or emotion than others.
Keep in mind, there is no "right" way to do this exercise perfectly so don't even bother. That is not the point. Just follow the directions as best you can and stay alert.
Who knows, one of these "sessions" might be just the creative spark you were looking for.
Book: Win Wenger's "Einstein Factor"
