idéidén

idéidén is a term used in contemporary discussions of creativity and philosophy to denote the phenomenon of ideas about ideas, or meta-ideation. The word appears as a neologism in design and cognitive science writings rather than as a term in standard dictionaries, and its usage varies by author.

Definition and scope: In its broadest sense, idéidén refers to reflexive thinking about the generation of ideas—an examination of how ideas arise, how they circulate, and how their contexts shape them—rather than the substantive content of the ideas themselves. It encompasses metacognitive assessment of the ideation process, including question-asking, constraint-awareness, and the evaluation of assumptions.

Usage and contexts: Proponents employ idéidén to critique a purely content-driven view of creativity and to foreground process-oriented analysis. In design thinking and philosophy of mind, it is used to discuss how early-stage ideas influence later inventions, and how communicative framing can alter perceived value.

Origins and reception: The term is not standardized and is used mainly in niche writings, sometimes as a playful coinage. It has attracted limited scholarly attention and is not included in major lexica; some writers treat it as a provisional label for a meta-level inquiry in ideation.

Relation to related concepts: It is related to metacognition and to ideation, but specifically emphasizes the meta-level of idea generation rather than final solutions. Critics argue that its vagueness limits practical applicability.

See also: ideation, metacognition, meta-ideation, design thinking.