Brainstorming Add/remove

Purpose:

The purpose of a brainstorming session is to create as many ideas as possible within a certain timeframe.  It uses the constraint of time to enhance creativity, to get a lot of shortly described or sketched ideas.

Step by step Facilitating tips Materials needed Goes well with

Tips to include participants who are not able to:

Touch

If a participant is unable to touch, make sure to have a partner to spar with that can do the writing. This could be a helper, documenter, facilitator or other group members. The participants should though still explain their own ideas to not feel excluded.

Hold

If a participant is unable to hold, make sure to have a partner to spar with that can do the writing. This could be a helper, documenter, facilitator or other group members. The participants should though still explain their own ideas to not feel excluded.

See

If participants are unable to see, make sure to have a partner to spar with that can do the writing. This could be a helper, documenter, facilitator or other group members. The participants should though still explain their own ideas to not feel excluded.

Belong

If some participant are not comfortable in their groups, try and switch up the groups. If a participant is uncomfortable it might hinder their creativity.

Focus

If the ability to focus is limited because of time crunch, shorten down the time spent on brainstorming. If the ability is limited because of distractions, make sure facilitators keep a calm and attentive attitude, and prolong time for brainstorming.

Think

If participants have a hard time grasping the task, pairing up might be beneficial to let participants help each other understanding and getting ideas for the brainstorm.

Hear

If participants are unable to hear, sign language or other symbol language could be used if an interpreter is present. If not, the steps can be done in writing form. Make sure all ideas have a written explanation.

Drawing ideas from brainstorming to further enhance communication is also possible.

Speak

If participants are unable to speak, sign language or other symbol language could be used if an interpreter is present. If not, the steps can be done in writing form. Make sure all ideas have a written explanation.

Drawing ones ideas to further enhance communication is also possible.

Overview

Input

Themes or problems that needs exploring

Output

Ideas

Complexity

Simple-Moderate

Time

14-30 min

Participants

2-10

Activity

  • Writing/drawing
  • Communicating
  • Listening
  • Focusing

Step by step:

  1. Hand out post-its and pens to the participants.

  2. Provide the participants with an overall problem that they are going to brainstorm about.

  3. Ask the participants to brainstorm individually and sketch or note down as many ideas they can think of.

  4. Ask the participants to present their ideas to the rest of the group (time spent depends on the amount of participants).

  5. Repeat step 3 and 4 as needed.

  6. Use the ideas in another exercise for choosing and detailing.

When doing this method you should consider:

  • Have a diverse group of people ideate as they have different viewpoints on solutions based on their experience.
  • Consider using larger post-its and thick pens
  • Use lighter colored post-its with dark pens
  • Make sure that all ideas are accepted no matter who presents them – All ideas are valid

Materials needed:

  • Post-its
  • Pens