How to conduct brainstorms

When and why brainstorm? Programmed thinking Analysis, research Procedures Detailed design Lateral thinking Generate quantity of ideas Build upon existing ideas Creative leaps Plus It’s fun It’s healthy brainstorm ..vs..

Programmed thinking

Analysis, research

Procedures

Detailed design

Lateral thinking

Generate quantity of ideas

Build upon existing ideas

Creative leaps

Plus

It’s fun

It’s healthy

Preparation Consider how to define the challenge clearly and interestingly Tell (e.g. read brief) …OK Show (e.g. video of focus-group or user-testing finding) …BETTER Experience ( e.g. visit store, use product, re-create issue) …GREAT! Circulate brief background info in advance Consider invitees Will it be stimulating or not to have ‘the boss’ present? Consider everyone! Non-experts! Finance! 1 2 3

Consider how to define the challenge clearly and interestingly

Tell (e.g. read brief) …OK

Show (e.g. video of focus-group or user-testing finding) …BETTER

Experience ( e.g. visit store, use product, re-create issue) …GREAT!

Circulate brief background info in advance

Consider invitees

Will it be stimulating or not to have ‘the boss’ present?

Consider everyone! Non-experts! Finance!

Set-up environment: playful democratic energetic comfortable fun… Tools Coloured pens, paper, post-its, stickers, prompt cards Refreshments Fruit, sugar, caffeine! Room Set-up to encourage MOVEMENT and CLOSE CO-OPERATION Open space, small tables, chairs close together, use walls Stimulus Playful talking points: e.g. magazines, masks, gizmos, photos Democratic atmosphere Ensure boundaries and agendas are kept away – there is no ‘boss’ in this session! Consider allowing facilitator to introduce session 1 2 3 4 5

environment: playful democratic energetic comfortable fun…

Tools

Coloured pens, paper, post-its, stickers, prompt cards

Refreshments

Fruit, sugar, caffeine!

Room

Set-up to encourage MOVEMENT and CLOSE CO-OPERATION

Open space, small tables, chairs close together, use walls

Stimulus

Playful talking points: e.g. magazines, masks, gizmos, photos

Democratic atmosphere

Ensure boundaries and agendas are kept away – there is no ‘boss’ in this session!

Consider allowing facilitator to introduce session

Process The Set-Up should get people communicating freely. If not, use a warm-up. There are loads online. Some of our favourites: Bring a simple object. Can you find 50 alternative uses for it? Start with any word, go round the room, coming up with a word which is in no way associated with the prior word Bring a brown bag of vegetables. People pick one at random. You also give them a context such as “accessory” “friend” “business” “instrument”. In detail, they have to describe a scenario of them using the vegetable in this context announce facilitate warm-up close Paperclip Word dis- association Vegetable

The Set-Up should get people communicating freely.

If not, use a warm-up.

There are loads online. Some of our favourites:

Bring a simple object. Can you find 50 alternative uses for it?

Start with any word, go round the room, coming up with a word which is in no way associated with the prior word

Bring a brown bag of vegetables. People pick one at random. You also give them a context such as “accessory” “friend” “business” “instrument”. In detail, they have to describe a scenario of them using the vegetable in this context

Process State: The challenge (clearly and interestingly) Target number of ideas Time limit The rules: Quantity not quality No criticism, debate, critique “yes, but..” “yes, and..” Where possible be visual diagram/stick-men/map… but quickly! Weird ideas are welcome! 1 2 3 4 announce facilitate warm-up close

State:

The challenge (clearly and interestingly)

Target number of ideas

Time limit

The rules:

Quantity not quality

No criticism, debate, critique “yes, but..” “yes, and..”

Where possible be visual diagram/stick-men/map… but quickly!

Weird ideas are welcome!

Process Capture everything, in raw form This is a focal point for the room & reflects the energy levels Don’t interpret, or make notes...this activates ‘programmed thinking’ Look for ways to: BUILD “great, what other ways..?” JUMP “let’s consider something different(ly)..” Encourage ordered chaos Not systematically working round the room Encourage energy and enthusiasm (without dominating) If needed, use these techniques… 1 2 3 4 announce facilitate warm-up close The facilitator’s job: 5

Capture everything, in raw form

This is a focal point for the room & reflects the energy levels

Don’t interpret, or make notes...this activates ‘programmed thinking’

Look for ways to:

BUILD “great, what other ways..?”

JUMP “let’s consider something different(ly)..”

Encourage ordered chaos

Not systematically working round the room

Encourage energy and enthusiasm (without dominating)

If needed, use these techniques…

Process Try to achieve the opposite : “ how could we achieve the UK’s worst customer service” “ how can we ensure shoppers are never attracted by the products on the website” Throw in a random word / idea, to stimulate fresh thought : Family / Skyscraper / Competition / Identity / Neighbour / Law / Sunrise / Safety / Tea / Recession / Slippers / 1983 / Bicycle / Dinner party / Surprise.. Pose a purposefully provocative question: “ What if… we got rid of the website?” “ What if… we made it a members-only shop?” “ what if… we let customers vote on…” Reversal announce facilitate warm-up close Techniques: Random Input Provocation

Try to achieve the opposite :

“ how could we achieve the UK’s worst customer service”

“ how can we ensure shoppers are never attracted by the products on the website”

Throw in a random word / idea, to stimulate fresh thought :

Family / Skyscraper / Competition / Identity / Neighbour / Law / Sunrise / Safety / Tea / Recession / Slippers / 1983 / Bicycle / Dinner party / Surprise..

Pose a purposefully provocative question:

“ What if… we got rid of the website?”

“ What if… we made it a members-only shop?”

“ what if… we let customers vote on…”

Process S ubstitute—components, material, people For example, using high tech materials to enhance a product, like stainless steel, carbon fibre C ombine—mix, combine, with other products, services or technology For example, the iPod and iTunes Music Store A dapt—alter, change function, use part of another element For example, the Baygen radio that needs no batteries, due to a hand crank, from cell phones to VOIP phones M odify—increase or reduce in scale, change shape, modify attributes For example, GE Aviation, from “We make jet engines” to “We’re in the propulsion business” P ut to Another Use For example, using baking soda as tooth paste or a deodorizer E liminate—remove elements, make as simple as possible For example, Basecamp versus SharePoint or Quick place, a Bose 3,2,1 versus a typical home theatre R everse—turn inside out or upside down (similar to reversal) Make a PDA into a remote control, a car into an entertainment centre SCAMPER announce facilitate warm-up close Techniques:

S ubstitute—components, material, people

For example, using high tech materials to enhance a product, like stainless steel, carbon fibre

C ombine—mix, combine, with other products, services or technology

For example, the iPod and iTunes Music Store

A dapt—alter, change function, use part of another element

For example, the Baygen radio that needs no batteries, due to a hand crank, from cell phones to VOIP phones

M odify—increase or reduce in scale, change shape, modify attributes

For example, GE Aviation, from “We make jet engines” to “We’re in the propulsion business”

P ut to Another Use

For example, using baking soda as tooth paste or a deodorizer

E liminate—remove elements, make as simple as possible

For example, Basecamp versus SharePoint or Quick place, a Bose 3,2,1 versus a typical home theatre

R everse—turn inside out or upside down (similar to reversal)

Make a PDA into a remote control, a car into an entertainment centre

Process End when time is up / captured desired number of ideas After session, filter ideas against original brief Feedback to the group when possible So people realise it is a productive process 1 2 3 announce facilitate warm-up close

End when time is up / captured desired number of ideas

After session, filter ideas against original brief

Feedback to the group when possible

So people realise it is a productive process

Resources Web www.mindtools.com http://www.scottberkun.com/essays/34-how-to-run-a-brainstorming-meeting/ http://www.slideshare.net/chrisbernard/brainstorming-278999 http://www.slideshare.net/jaygoldman/ideo-brainstormers-presentation http://www.slideshare.net/thecroaker/brainstorming-for-fund-and-profit Books Lateral Thinking Edward De Bono Thinkertoys Michael Michalko Lateral Thinking Skills Paul Sloane iPhone Whack Pack iphone App Roger Von Oech Packs Thinkpak Michael Michalko Innovative Whack Pack Roger Von Oech

Web

www.mindtools.com

http://www.scottberkun.com/essays/34-how-to-run-a-brainstorming-meeting/

http://www.slideshare.net/chrisbernard/brainstorming-278999

http://www.slideshare.net/jaygoldman/ideo-brainstormers-presentation

http://www.slideshare.net/thecroaker/brainstorming-for-fund-and-profit

Books

Lateral Thinking Edward De Bono

Thinkertoys Michael Michalko

Lateral Thinking Skills Paul Sloane

iPhone

Whack Pack iphone App Roger Von Oech

Packs

Thinkpak Michael Michalko

Innovative Whack Pack Roger Von Oech