diverge · Ideation · 30–60 min · 3-20 people · medium energy
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a powerful technique for generating a wide range of ideas and potential solutions to a problem. It encourages participants to think creatively and build upon each other's suggestions, leading to innovative outcomes.
When to use Brainstorming
Use brainstorming when you need to generate a large quantity of ideas quickly, explore different perspectives, and foster a collaborative environment for problem-solving.
What it solves
Lack of creative ideas, limited perspectives, dominant voices overshadowing others.
How to run Brainstorming, step by step
- Individual Idea Generation (5-10 minutes). Each participant silently generates their own ideas related to the problem or challenge and writes them down on sticky notes.
- Idea Sharing (15-20 minutes). Participants take turns sharing their ideas, one at a time. The facilitator captures each idea on a whiteboard or virtual whiteboard, without judgment or discussion.
- Idea Building (10-15 minutes). Encourage participants to build upon each other's ideas, combining and modifying them to create new possibilities.
- Clustering and Prioritization (10-15 minutes). Group similar ideas together and then prioritize the clusters based on feasibility, impact, or other relevant criteria.
Materials needed
- Sticky notes
- Markers
- Whiteboard or large paper
- Timer
- Dot stickers (for voting)
Facilitator tips
- Encourage wild ideas and defer judgment during the idea generation phase.
- Actively facilitate the discussion to ensure everyone has a chance to contribute.
- Keep the energy high and the pace moving to maintain momentum.
Common pitfalls
- Participants censoring their ideas due to fear of judgment.
- Dominant voices monopolizing the conversation.
- Getting stuck on one idea and failing to explore other possibilities.
Variations
- Brainwriting (silent brainstorming)
- Reverse Brainstorming (identifying potential problems)
- SCAMPER (using a checklist to spark new ideas)
Running it online or hybrid
Use a virtual whiteboard tool like Miro or Mural to capture ideas. Encourage participants to use digital sticky notes and vote on ideas using the platform's built-in features.
What it produces
A collection of ideas, often categorized and prioritized, ready for further development and refinement.
Origin
Adapted from Service Design Tools — source
Build a session around Brainstorming
METODIC places Brainstorming inside a complete, timed session plan — agenda, worksheets, facilitator guide and slides — matched to your group and goal.