Constraints shape and focus problems and provide clear challenges to overcome. Creativity thrives best when constrained.
But constraints must be balanced with a healthy disregard for the impossible. Too many curbs can lead to pessimism and despair. Disregarding the bounds of what we know or accept gives rise to ideas that are non-obvious, unconventional or unexplored. The creativity realized in this balance between constraint and disregard for the impossible is fueled by passion and leads to revolutionary change.
Constraints can actually speed development. For instance, we often can get a sense of just how good a new concept is if we only prototype for a single day or week. Or we'll keep team size to three people or fewer. By limiting how long we work on something or how many people work on it, we limit our investment.
Speed also lets you fail faster. A limited investment makes it easier to move on to something else that has a better chance of success.
Henry Ford once said: "If I'd listened to customers, I'd have given them a faster horse." True creativity makes the impossible possible.
Source: Marissa Ann Mayer, vice president for search products and user experience at Google, in BusinessWeek, February 13, 2006