Ideation · beginner · 20 min

Idea Shower

Participants silently generate three ideas on a piece of paper, then pass it to the next person who builds on those ideas. This process repeats, creating a 'shower' of interconnected concepts.

What participants gain

  • Generate a high volume of diverse ideas.
  • Build on the ideas of others in a collaborative setting.
  • Overcome mental blocks and unleash creative potential.
  • Experience the power of parallel thinking.
  • Develop skills in rapid ideation and concept development.

Materials needed

  • A4 paper (one per participant)
  • Pens or markers
  • Timer
  • Whiteboard or flip chart
  • Upbeat music (optional)

How to run Idea Shower, step by step

  1. Introduce the activity and its purpose (5 min).
  2. Divide participants into groups of 4-5 people.
  3. Distribute a sheet of paper and a pen to each participant.
  4. Explain that each person will write down three initial ideas related to the brainstorming topic (3 min).
  5. After 3 minutes, have participants pass their paper to the person on their right.
  6. The next person reads the existing ideas and adds three new ideas, building on the previous ones (3 min).
  7. Repeat the passing and building process until each paper has returned to its original owner (5 min).
  8. Each participant shares the collection of ideas from their paper with the group (4 min).
  9. Facilitate a brief discussion to identify common themes and promising concepts (5 min).

Facilitator tips

  • Emphasize quantity over quality during the initial rounds.
  • Encourage participants to build on each other's ideas, not criticize them.
  • Keep the energy high with upbeat music and positive encouragement.
  • Remind participants to write legibly so others can understand their ideas.
  • Prepare extra paper and pens to ensure everyone has what they need.

Common challenges

  • Participants struggle to come up with initial ideas - Provide prompts or examples to spark creativity.
  • Some participants dominate the conversation - Enforce time limits and encourage equal participation.
  • Ideas become repetitive - Introduce new prompts or challenges to break the cycle.
  • Participants are hesitant to build on others' ideas - Emphasize the value of collaboration and positive feedback.

Running it virtually

Use a shared online document (e.g., Google Docs) where participants can add their ideas in separate sections. Set clear expectations for respectful collaboration.

Expected results

A diverse collection of interconnected ideas, ready for further evaluation and refinement. Participants will experience the power of collaborative ideation and creative problem-solving.

Build a session around Idea Shower

METODIC drops Idea Shower into a complete session plan with timing, materials, worksheets, and a facilitator guide — for any workshop, meeting, or team session.

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