Ideation sessions are structured brainstorming activities aimed at generating a wide array of innovative solutions to address user needs, solve problems, or seize new opportunities. These sessions encourage the free flow of ideas among team members, leveraging diverse perspectives and expertise.
Goal
The goal of ideation sessions is to foster a collaborative environment where teams can generate a multitude of potential solutions to address specific user needs, problems, or opportunities. By exploring a wide range of ideas, teams can identify promising solutions that can be further developed and refined.
Context
Our first idea is rarely our best idea yet we often jump on the first solution that comes to mind. In addition, the range of solutions we can think of is limited by our background and experience. Different people will have different ideas and perspectives.
Methods
| Practice | Description | Benefits | Considerations | Best Suited For |
|---|
| 6-3-5 Brainwriting | A structured method where six participants write down three ideas in five minutes, then pass their ideas to the next person to build upon. | - Generates a large number of ideas in a short time.
- Ensures equal participation and diverse perspectives.
| - Requires active facilitation to manage the process and discussion.
- May not be suitable for all types of ideas.
| Early-stage ideation when seeking a broad set of ideas. |
| SCAMPER | A technique that prompts ideas by asking questions based on seven strategies: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. | - Provides structured guidance for idea generation.
- Can lead to novel perspectives on existing problems.
| - May require facilitation for effective use.
- Less free-form than other ideation techniques.
| Refining or iterating on existing products or features. |
Other Methods
| Practice | Description | ZeroBlockers Opinion |
|---|
| Brainstorming | A group activity focused on generating a large number of ideas without immediate judgement or evaluation. | Similar to brainwriting but there is too big a risk of people rallying around the first idea that comes to mind. |
| Sketching and Prototyping | Creating quick visual or physical representations of ideas to explore and communicate concepts. | Could incorporate this into brainwriting but not everyone feels comfortable with sketching so it could limit their involvement. |
| Six Thinking Hats | A parallel thinking process that requires team members to adopt different perspectives, such as emotional, analytical, and creative thinking. | Similar to SCAMPER but we believe the structure of SCAMPER is more effective. |
| Worst Possible Idea | A technique that encourages participants to generate the worst possible ideas, which can lead to creative and innovative thinking. | While it might be useful if blocked, it can also be a waste of time and energy. |
| Crazy 8s | A rapid sketching exercise where participants generate eight ideas in eight minutes, then share and discuss the ideas. | Could incorporate this into brainwriting but not everyone feels comfortable with sketching so it could limit their involvement. |
| Artifact | Description |
|---|
| Prioritised Opportunities | The most pressing problems or opportunities that the team is seeking to address, along with any relevant user research or insights. |
Outputs
| Artifact | Description |
|---|
| Unvalidated Solutions | A list of potential solutions generated during the ideation session which can be further explored and validated. |
Anti-patterns
- Echo Chamber Effect: Allowing similar ideas to dominate without challenging assumptions or exploring diverse perspectives.
- Premature Criticism: Critiquing ideas too early in the process can stifle creativity and discourage participation.
- Overemphasis on Feasibility: Focusing too heavily on the practicality of ideas, which can limit the exploration of innovative or out-of-the-box solutions.
- Solution Fixation: Becoming overly attached to certain ideas, preventing objective evaluation and consideration of alternatives.