How can you make brainstorming sessions more playful and effective?

2 Use different formats

Instead of sticking to the traditional format of brainstorming, where everyone sits around a table and takes turns to share their ideas, try using different formats to stimulate different modes of thinking and expression. For example, you can use visual brainstorming, where you use drawings, sketches, or diagrams to illustrate your ideas. You can also use verbal brainstorming, where you use words, phrases, or stories to convey your ideas. You can also use physical brainstorming, where you use gestures, movements, or props to act out your ideas.

3 Mix and match ideas

Another way to make brainstorming sessions more playful and effective is to mix and match ideas from different sources, perspectives, or domains. You can use techniques such as SCAMPER, which stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse, to modify existing ideas or generate new ones. You can also use techniques such as random word association, analogy, or metaphor to connect unrelated ideas or concepts. By mixing and matching ideas, you can create novel and unexpected combinations that can spark new insights and solutions.

5 Test and refine ideas

Finally, after you have generated a lot of ideas, you need to test and refine them to see which ones are feasible, desirable, and viable. You can use techniques such as dot voting, where you use stickers or markers to vote for your favorite ideas, or criteria matrix, where you use a table to evaluate your ideas based on different criteria. You can also use techniques such as prototyping, where you create a simple and tangible representation of your ideas, or feedback, where you solicit opinions and suggestions from your team or other stakeholders. By testing and refining ideas, you can improve their quality and suitability for your project goals.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?