The real potential of a digital organizational system is to be a tool for capturing and systematically reminding you of past ideas, inspirations, insights, and connections. The heart of creativity and innovation is making spontaneous connections between seemingly unrelated things, and note-taking programs can, when used correctly, serve as a... See more

Beyond collecting and storing information, new tools for thought allow users to resurface, connect, and generate knowledge. Whether visual or textual, this new breed of tools encourage users to link their ideas together, find interesting patterns, and create original content based on their research.

• Capture the ideas and insights that spark your interest. A sticky note, a voice memo, or an app like Notion—whatever works.


• Organize them so you can find them later. Categories, tags, or even a simple “Projects” list will do.


• Distill your notes into their essential meaning. Ask: What’s the big takeaway here?


• Express your ideas by using them in

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