Back in college at MCAD I was taking a Graphic Design 101 course. For all class periods we had one assignment: make a design using the defined elements. Each week we would spend the 60 minute class reviewing everyone’s creations. That’s it. No text, no lectures, no direction.

On 8.5″ x 11″ white paper with black elements

Class 1: One straight line
Class 2: Two straight lines
Class 3: One line, one circle
Class 4: One triangle, two lines
Class 5: One rectangle, one b&w photo
and so on...

It was amazing. The creativity was phenomenal. There was never a similar design. I think people are at their best when they have to become creative to solve a problem.