Maze

Overview

Maze is a thought-organizing tool designed by designers for designers. It helps make sense of your mind, offering inspiration and facilitating the generation of ideas in a flexible, intuitive way.

"Maze celebrates the messiness of creativity, encouraging designers to explore and develop their ideas without constraint."

The Challenge

Many designers struggle with retrieving previously saved links and ideas, especially when inspiration strikes outside of work hours. Traditional methods, like saving ideas in folders, often result in those ideas being forgotten or lost. This realization led me to explore a solution that could serve as an interactive idea hub—a "visual second brain."

Solution Concept

Maze began as a simple solution to easily save links but evolved into a comprehensive tool for capturing and nurturing even the smallest thoughts. It's designed to be an effortless addition to a designer's toolbox, focusing on how ideas are saved and retrieved, particularly those that come at unexpected moments.

Research & Insights

The foundation of Maze was built on in-depth research into the creative processes of designers. I conducted interviews with a diverse group of designers to understand their thought processes beyond their daily routines. This research revealed that idea generation is often a spontaneous and unpredictable process, requiring multiple contact points for quick access. I explored various methods of saving thoughts, from text and voice notes to tweets and annotated links, ensuring that Maze could accommodate the fluid nature of inspiration.

Design & Development

Maze was designed to embrace the chaotic and often nonlinear nature of the creative process. Instead of forcing ideas into rigid structures, Maze provides a flexible, visual space where ideas can grow organically. The design prioritizes ease of use, allowing designers to quickly capture and organize their thoughts without disrupting their creative flow.

Final Thoughts

Maze aims to support the creative process by providing a space where inspiration can thrive. Rather than imposing order, Maze celebrates the messiness of creativity, encouraging designers to explore and develop their ideas without constraint. As I continue to develop this project, my focus remains on enhancing the tool's ability to adapt to the unpredictable nature of idea generation, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for designers.