When it comes to creativity and innovation, it’s easy to get caught up in the endless stream of ideas. But how do we know which ideas are worth developing? Here, ikigai, a Japanese concept of meaningful living, can be a powerful tool – not only for personal development, but also as a creative method for evaluating and building on ideas.
What is ikigai?
Ikigai is a Japanese word that roughly translates to “the reason to get up in the morning”. It’s about finding the unique intersection between four important areas:
- What you love
- What you are good at
- What the world needs
- What you can get paid for
When these areas overlap, a sense of meaning and direction is created in life. Many people use ikigai as a tool to reflect on their own path in life, but it is also a model that can be applied to ideas and concept development.
Ikigai as a method for developing ideas
Using ikigai in a creative process means testing ideas not only for their basic functionality, but also for their ability to create value and meaning. By evaluating an idea through the four perspectives of the ikigai model, you can:
- Add more dimensions to the idea
An idea becomes not just a solution, but a conceptual whole that is rooted in the needs of both the user and society. - Understand the need behind the idea
For an idea to be successful, it must address real needs – not only practical but also emotional and social. - Sort and Prioritize Ideas
By placing ideas into an ikigai framework, you can understand which ones have the most potential and which ones may need to be reworked or set aside.
How to use ikigai in idea generation and evaluation
1. Gather your ideas
Start by writing down all the ideas you have, whether they are finished concepts or just loose thoughts. The important thing is to have a breadth to work with.
2. Evaluate each idea based on the ikigai model
For each idea, ask questions that help you place it in the ikigai perspective:
- What you love: Would this idea create commitment and passion in you and others?
- What you are good at: Are there skills and resources to develop and implement the idea?
- What the world needs: Does the idea solve a real problem or fill an important need?
- What you can get paid for: Is there a business value or sustainable funding for the idea?
3. Analyze overlaps and gaps
The best ideas lie in the overlap between these perspectives. For example, if an idea is something you love and are good at, but it doesn’t meet a real need, it may need to be tweaked to become more relevant. If an idea fills a need and has market potential but lacks passion, it may be a sign that it needs further development or a lower priority.
4. Build on ideas
Once you’ve identified which ideas have potential, use ikigai to refine them. For example, an idea for an environmentally friendly product for household use can evolve from “a smart solution” to a concept that also educates users about sustainability and creates community.
Ikigai in practice
Let’s say you have an idea to create an app that helps people reduce food waste in their homes. Using ikigai, you can analyze the idea like this:
- What you love: You are passionate about sustainability and technology.
- What you are good at: You have a background in app development and design.
- What the world needs: Food waste is a global problem that affects both the environment and household finances.
- What you can get paid for: A subscription model or collaborations with grocery chains can generate revenue.
When you see that the idea is near the center of the ikigai model, you know it has potential. You can then use the analysis to create more dimensions – for example, you can add features like recipe suggestions based on the contents of the fridge or gamification to make the process more fun.
Ikigai creates stronger ideas and clearer focus
Using ikigai as a creative method for evaluating ideas gives you a powerful structure for moving from loose thoughts to well-founded concepts. It not only helps you understand which ideas are worth developing, but also how they can be made even better. And perhaps most importantly: it makes the process meaningful, both for yourself and for the people who will benefit from your idea.
So the next time you’re faced with a flood of ideas, take a step back and let ikigai guide you. You will not only find the right idea – you will also discover why it is worth investing in.
