Ideas in the Space Between Selection and Rejection: Towards a Theory of Stockpiling Creative Ideas

Abstract

A growing body of research on creativity has focused on the evaluation of creative ideas, exploring in particular the circumstances under which people might select or reject ideas. Through an inductive qualitative study of 70 individuals working in two creative contexts - architecture and theatre – we show that in addition to selection and rejection, creative workers sometimes engage in the practice of stockpiling; i.e., holding ideas in the space between selection and rejection. By analyzing participant interviews, diary entries and observations, we discovered that stockpiling can include holding ideas as strategic resources (strategic stockpiling) and holding ideas as symbolic reminders (symbolic stockpiling). Holding ideas as strategic resources helps creative workers match opportunities that arise in their context, and develop other ideas – both of which support individual creative efforts. On the other hand, holding ideas that act as reminders of past efforts and future plans, allows creative workers to derive a sense of purpose, reframe failure and surface evidence of growth – all of which help to sustain their ongoing engagement in creative work. Understanding stockpiling shifts our focus away from a dichotomous view of creative decision making. The theoretical insights developed from this study have significant implications for understanding how stockpiling functions in the continuous production of creative work, and for understanding different ways in which ideas can be used by creative workers.