IKEA has ice trays for making ice in unusual shapes. The photos below show one of the ice trays that makes long thin ice cubes. But in this case, they should be called not “cubes” but ice sticks I guess. Anyway, when I saw them, I thought they were cool objects, and since I wasn’t sure what they were at first, I started wondering what they might be. This is one side, which you would fill with water to make ice sticks.

This is the other side. It’s the bottom in relation to the water-filling side, but in some of the ways I’ve used these objects, I’ve come to think of the side shown below as the top! I may add more photos/video later to show some of the ways I’ve repurposed these ice trays, but I describe them in the mind map farther down this page.

The mind map below explores this situation. It describes some ways to repurpose these ice trays, and shows how some proximity thinking was used. Click the image below to open it full-size. Once open, you can zoom it even larger.

NOTE — THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS BASICALLY JUST FOR SEARCH ENGINES.
Since search engines can’t index the text in an image, I’m including the text from the graphic below. However, I’d recommend only looking at the graphic, as it will make a lot more sense. Also, WordPress is adding some blank lines in the outline below, and I can’t fix it. So please imagine there are no blank lines!

• A proximity thinking example, including a few basic definitions. To learn more, visit proxthink.com.
• Situation – A “situation” is whatever you are dealing with or considering.
• Element – Loosely, an “element” can be anything. Any person, place, thing, idea, feeling, time, group, relationship, situation, proximity, etc.
• Proximity – The “proximity” consists of elements related or potentially related to a situation, in physical, mental and other ways.

• SITUATION
  Repurposing an IKEA Ice Tray
  —
  Elements in the proximity
  of this situation.
  • It’s a cool, modern,
    sleek object.
    • Both sides are usable
      and look good.
  • Cheap ($0.99),
    durable and
    rinse-to-clean.
  • It doesn’t really
    look like an ice tray!
  • It has gooves and slots.
  • What uses do the shapes of
    the ice tray suggest?
    • Business cards stand.
    • Postcard stand.
    • Place for pens or things that
      might roll off the table.
  • What things in your life
    might go with this object?
    • Becomes place for
      keys, wallet,
      chapstick, coins, etc.
    • Becomes a stand for your mobile phone
      at night. (Can flip ice tray either way.)
  • What other objects can it
    be combined with?
    • Combine with stainless utensil holder ($3-$6 at
      IKEA) to make a little table with storage inside.
    • Combine ice tray with metal fence pole
      tops or other items to make a sculpture!
    • Use ice tray as base for upside down pencil
      holder, which then becomes a stand for my clock.
  • How can you repurpose
    IKEA ice trays?
    • And what proximity
      thinking did you do?
  • How was proximity
    thinking used here?
    • ProxPatterns
      • ProxAwareness
        • Becoming aware of the different characteristics of the ice tray,
          and elements in your life it might go with or combine with.
      • Relate a Variety
        • Being open to unusual combinations, and a wide of variety of different combinations.
      • Allow Uncertainty
        • Just trying things and seeing what happens, then adjusting or adapting as needed.
      • Honor Integrity
        • Honoring the shapes and characteristics of the ice tray. Respecting what they can do and cannot do.
      • Introduce Related
        • Introducing other objects into the proximity which are related in some way.

• Questions? Contact us via proxthink.com.
• Created by David Loughry.
• As you find this rewarding, please proxri with the proximity in mind via proxthink.com.