Why Creativity Thrives Under Constraints
By narrowing the field, limits push thinkers beyond defaults and into more inventive combinations.
Happy New Year! I hope 2026 brings you good health, good fortune, and much joy and love.
🎉 🍾 🎉 🍾 🎉 🍾 🎉 🍾 🎉 🍾 🎉 🍾 🎉 🍾 🎉 🍾
In my book, “Creative Velocity”, I discuss constraints and how they can help improve creative problem-solving. When we think about problem-solving, it’s natural to assume that fewer limits = better outcomes. After all, greater freedom should allow us to explore every possible avenue.
Surprisingly, research and real-world practice show the opposite: constraints often improve problem-solving and spark more inventive outcomes
And, this idea is reinforced by the insights from several accomplished executives I interviewed for the book, such as Tony Fadell , author of Build and founder of Nest. Tony believes constraints are helpful when solving problems.
“They are an absolute asset, because they force you to put a positive pressure on the situation. As long as they’re reasonable constraints. If they’re unreasonable constraints, you’re not going to get anywhere. But reasonable
constraints push you to get to an idea that becomes a thing. Great artists have to ship. Great artists have to show the world what they do.”
Read Tony’s full interview, including bonus content not included in my book, by clicking here.
Likewise, Denny Post explains, “The constraints around you may require you to go deeper rather than shallower. So often, when people don’t have constraints, ideas remain shallow, scattered, and lack the required true cohesion and collaboration...Constraints need not be negative. Some constraints are very positive in the sense that they provide clarity about who my end user is, or where the work fits in. You know, some of those constraints are very clarifying and illuminating. I think about constraints shining a bright light on exactly where you should focus.”
Read Denny’s full interview, including bonus content not included in my book, by clicking here.
At a basic cognitive level, constraints focus the mind in ways that free-flowing thinking doesn’t. When you have unlimited options, it’s easy to drift toward familiar or obvious ideas because your brain can wander into comfortable territory rather than dig for deeper insight.
Don’t get me wrong, not every limitation helps. If constraints are too onerous so there may be only one or two possible paths forward, they can stifle creative thinking instead of stimulating it. There's a perfect balance where constraints provide helpful structure to guide your thinking, yet still leave room for exploring a wide range of ideas.
Psychological research supports this paradoxical effect. In creativity experiments, participants given specific constraints, such as a forced word in a writing task or a defined visual cue, often produced more creative outcomes than those with no constraints at all.
Well-crafted constraints serve as inspiring catalysts for creativity. They help sharpen focus, promote deep thinking rather than just surface-level responses, and elevate problem solving from routine reactions to truly innovative ideas. When you feel the pressure of time, budget, and resources, you have to think like MacGyver: improvise, adapt, and activate with focus on what matters most.
And please enjoy this clip from the MacGyver TV show reboot. It’s a great demonstration of how constraints drive an innovative solution design.