Fig.: to think creatively and unconventionally, without the limits of rules, tradition or of what could be expected

Get creative with space. The kitchen island doesn't always need to be centered in the room –
think outside the box where needed (Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2024)

Siate creativi con gli spazi. L'isola della cucina non deve necessariamente essere sempre al centro dell'ambiente – pensate fuori dagli schemi dove necessario (Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2024)

To make innovations in the industrial sector, you have to be able to think outside the box and not just depend on traditional past solutions

Per fare innovazioni in campo industriale, bisogna essere capaci di pensare fuori dagli schemi e non basarsi solo sulle soluzioni tradizionali del passato

I know the situation is very difficult, but think outside the box! I'm sure you'll come up with a creative solution

La situazione è molto difficile, lo so, ma prova a pensare fuori dagli schemi. Vedrai che troverai una soluzione creativa

Lots of creative ideas came out of the pandemic lockdown, when you had to think outside the box just to be able to accomplish the easiest tasks

Molte idee creative sono nate durante il periodo di lockdown pandemico, quando bisognava assolutamente pensare fuori dagli schemi per poter eseguire anche i compiti più semplici

Often used in business, this expression comes from the classic logic game called “nine dots puzzle”, where you must link nine dots that are arranged in a 3x3 square grid (box), using four straight lines without lifting your pen or going back any lines.
The key to solving this puzzle is to literally “think outside the box”, meaning using also the area outside the grid by extending the connecting lines beyond the box