Neil Leonard is a designer and educator; he is a freelance designer and used to work at the Arts University College at Bournemouth, UK, lecturing on the BA in Visual Communication. A graduate of the London College of Communication, his experience of graphic design is broad and encompasses areas as diverse as typography, illustration and new media. Through each of these disciplines an investigative research interest plays a vital part and informs his freelance practice.Gavin Ambrose is a practising graphic designer whose client base includes the art sector, galleries, publishers and advertising agencies. He has written and designed several books on graphic design, branding and packaging.

Clear, concise and comprehensive, with focused exercises and examples throughout, Idea Generation serves as a great introduction to the world of creative and lateral thinking.

• Chapter 1: Basic principlesGetting startedKick-starting the processWorking in a groupStudio interview ExerciseChapter 2: Creative thinking and idea generationStrategies and methodsExploring idea generationStudio interview ExerciseChapter 3: Audience and contextAudience-specific techniquesClient and competitionObject, construction and materialsStudio interview ExerciseChapter 4: Practical idea generationWorking in the studioWorking in the environmentStudio interview ExerciseChapter 5: Developing and informing your ideasInforming your ideasSynthesis and developmentStudio interview ExerciseChapter 6: ApplicationPresenting and communicating ideasApplying idea generationStudio interview Exercise