Challenging Assumptions and Reframing

Lesson objectives● To introduce the key creativity sub-skills of challenging

assumptions and reframing

● To outline some practical steps you can take to improve your

ability to challenge assumptions and reframe

● To practise challenging assumptions and reframing in small

groups

Part 1Discussion of pre-session task

Task 1: Selling Swimwear in Antarctica

Task 2: Two versions!

Breakout taskIn breakout groups, tell each other about your ideas for

● “Selling swimwear in the Antarctic” - bit.ly/30z999G

● EITHER “birthday party” - bit.ly/30va9M6

● OR “memorable day” - bit.ly/30yBFbp

Your tutor will share the links to the padlets in the chat window now.

Please copy them into another document before we form breakout

groups.

Challenging Assumptions● Challenging assumptions means pushing past the first

answer which comes to your head and searching for other,

less obvious ones.

● One way you can train yourself to do this is by deliberately

thinking of STUPID or RIDICULOUS ideas first.

● You can then think of ways to re-evaluate these ideas to

turn them into something which is original and valuable.

● Your question should be “I know this is a terrible idea, but

under what circumstances would be appropriate to…

{advertise swimwear in the Antarctic]

Reframing● Reframing is when you change the way you look at

something, rather than changing the thing itself.

● One way you can train yourself to do this when you are

looking for solutions is to make sure that you are asking the

right questions

● How can I give my friend a memorable day? Is a much more

interesting question that How can I throw a good party for

my friend?

● The question is the frame into which the answer will fall and

you will get much more original solutions from the former

than the latter.

Part 2Practising challenging assumptions and reframing

● Newton discovered the laws of gravity after

observing an apple falling to the ground and

asking why this happened?

● Copernicus developed the heliocentric model of

the solar system by wondering what the

movement of the planets would look like if they

were all actually revolving around the sun rather

than the earth

Why? and What if...?

● These two questions can help challenge assumptions that are limiting your

perspective and discover new ways of reframing your subject.

● At the start of creative project, list all the cliches

associated with your subject

● Kilts, castles, Braveheart, mountains, Loch Ness

Monster, mist, whisky, bagpipes, golf… etc.

● Now find a solution which avoids these cliches

● All the people in the world who are attracted to kilts

and castles, etc. are already in love with Scotland. What

you need to do is challenge the assumption that

Scotland can only offer these things.

Challenge Assumptions by Listing Clichés

● Follow copernicus and take a different point of view. This

incredible exploration of point of view is one of the most

powerful reframes I have ever experienced.

● You can also research how different cultures, historical

periods and academic disciplines view your subject. Or even

different species and planets!

● The Coronavirus crisis can also be reinterpreted as an

opportunity for change, e.g. to build better health services,

or invest in Green technology for economic recovery.

Reframe by taking a different point of view or reinterpreting

● A cowboy rides into town on Friday. He stays two nights at

the only hotel in the town, and leaves on Wednesday. How

is this possible?

Challenge Assumptions by doing lateral thinking puzzles

● Puzzles like this one are difficult to solve because as soon as

we read the description of the problem, we generate false

assumptions which frame the problem in an unhelpful way.

● For example, when you read the word Friday in the

question, you probably assumed that Friday referred to a

day of the week, whereas actually, Friday was the same of

the cowboy’s horse :-)

● Many lateral thinking puzzles work in the same way and are

therefore a great way to practise challenging assumptions.

Challenge Assumptions by doing lateral thinking puzzles

● What’s the best thing someone

can say about you at your

funeral?

Reframe by analysing jokes

● “Look! He’s moving!”

Reframe by analysing jokes

● At their most simple, jokes have a set-up and a

punchline. The set-up introduces the

characters and events and makes us believe we

are listening to a familiar story. When we hear

the punchline, the frame suddenly switches

and the same characters and events suddenly

take on a completely unexpected meaning.

● Analysing jokes is a fun way to practise

reframing!

Reframe by analysing jokes

Part 3Breakout task

Framing and reframing using metaphor● Metaphors are powerful framing devices. When we create a

metaphor, we reinterpret our subject and see it from the point of

view of something else.

● For example when we say “Friendship is a tower that you build

together”, we view○ friendship as a source of strength and protection; something which takes time, effort

and sacrifice to build; a notable achievement in the landscape of your life

○ And we view friends as collaborators who share our goals and help us achieve them.

Breakout Task

● The images on the next slide show show three more metaphors for

friendship:

○ A journey

○ Water

○ A garden

● Use each of the images and their associations to define friendship, friends

and life as I have done for “friendship is a tower”.

Lesson objectives● To introduce the key creativity sub-skills of challenging

assumptions and reframing

● To outline some practical steps you can take to improve your

ability to challenge assumptions and reframe

● To practise challenging assumptions and reframing in small

groups

What now?● Build on this session by practising challenging assumptions

and reframing using some of the other techniques mentioned:○ Ask Why and What if?

○ List and actively avoid cliches

○ Take a different perspective on your subject

○ Reinterpret the familiar

○ Solve lateral thinking puzzles

○ Analyse jokes