Unlocking creativity through rapid ideation

In Alice Kogan’s Creativity, Innovation, and Design course, students recently participated in a fast-paced brainstorming sprint designed to stretch their creative thinking. Tasked with finding new purposes for a familiar object, a brick, they were encouraged to exhaust the most obvious ideas first—then dig deeper to uncover more imaginative possibilities.

This exercise highlights the power of volume iteration and perspective in the creative process. By lifting constraints and exploring multiple angles, students learned to overcome self-doubt and embrace bold, unconventional ideas.

One former student described the course as a turning point in their Princeton experience. “It was the first class I took at Princeton that not only allowed me to think outside of the box but also heavily encouraged it. I saw the potential for impact and service in a way that felt tangible and personable, and I knew I wanted to keep putting myself in spaces on this campus that prompted that same feeling.”

The course not only sparks creativity—it inspires action. Students carried their ideas beyond the classroom, piloting projects and pursuing new academic paths. Kogan’s mentorship continues to shape how they approach problem-solving across disciplines and life. It’s a vivid example of how Keller Center programs foster innovation through hands-on, exploratory learning.