At Minduck, we believe AI should serve as an agent, empowering humans to focus on what matters most. By analyzing the modern creator’s process, we’ve identified five key phases in the “Creation Value Chain”:

Idea (The Aha Moment)

The creative journey often starts with a sudden "aha moment"—a flash of insight where thoughts come together, bringing clarity and excitement. Psychologists suggest these moments leave lasting marks on our brains, helping us solve problems through insight.

"Aha moments" are the birthplace of ideas, often sparked by reflection or unexpected realizations.

Thinking (Before the Aha Moment)

What happens before that moment of clarity? As Descartes said, "I think, therefore I am." Humans are natural thinkers. Stored knowledge, experiences, and ongoing thought processes—whether deliberate or subconscious—lay the groundwork for these insights.

This phase highlights the importance of continuous thinking in the creative process.

Creative Formats (After the Aha Moment)

Once ideas emerge, creators capture them in unique ways:

• Sketching in a notebook

• Creating diagrams on a whiteboard

• Recording notes or voice memos on their devices

These “creative formats” are the first records of ideas, serving as the foundation for further development.

Business Formats

Creative formats are then transformed into “business formats”—deliverables that hold practical value. These outputs vary across industries and roles, including:

• Market research reports

• Training manuals

• Product development plans

• Marketing videos and presentations

At this stage, "modern creators"—researchers, product managers, content creators, and team leaders—translate ideas into actionable outputs.

Value Exchange

In the final stage, business formats facilitate value exchange:

• Between departments within a company

• Between companies and suppliers

• Between companies and consumers

This phase completes the journey of turning ideas into tangible impact, where AI can play a vital role in enhancing efficiency and creativity.

How AI Empowers This Value Chain

Throughout the five phases, AI enhances the creative process by:

• Helping us think more clearly to uncover “aha moments”

• Refining ideas into structured, actionable plans

• Assisting in processing and developing creative formats

• …

Minduck: AI + Your Thinking Logic

Minduck is designed to align AI with human thought processes. As an AI-native mind map software, it helps creators focus on their thinking logic and IDEAs, empowering them to create more effectively.

Thank you for reading! This framework outlines how modern creators can leverage AI to amplify their creativity and impact. If you're curious about where our journey started and want to explore our early footsteps, check out our ProductHunt launch and join us in shaping the future of creation.