Oblique Strategies
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
A set of cards designed by musician Brian Eno, each containing an instruction to break a deadlock (e.g., "Use an old idea," "Emphasize the flaws," "Do something different").
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Break creative constipation. When you are stuck in a mental dead end, randomly draw an "oblique" instruction and force yourself to execute it. It uses randomness to force the brain to jump out of its current logical track.
Anchor fast decisions
Cards designed by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt, each containing an instruction to break conventional thinking ("Use an old idea," "Emphasize the flaws," "Do something different"). When a creator is stuck, randomly draw a card and force execution, using external random constraints to break the "stream-of-consciousness loop," forcing a switch to non-default paths and stimulating lateral thinking.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/5Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblique_Strategiesverified
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