How can you optimize team brainstorming for product design?

Define the problem space and the solution space , brainstorming on both the spaces and choose the best solution by voting on it.

Most of the time a good problem definition will lead to a good brainstorming. Don't put design constrain in the definition snice sometime it kills the creativity of the group. Also chose the people little diverse with experience , new as well as the people who never worked on the product which gives you a fresh perspective of their take on the design

I would recommend beginning each session by reviewing the concrete user needs identified through research. This grounds the brainstorm in real insights rather than assumptions. Having well-defined personas in view can also help maintain focus on solving problems for specific customers versus generalized ideas.

We tasked each other to complete Crazy 8’s . The rule is ,you have to give crazy 8 ideas while brainstorming on a topic and then divide in groups and make a project keeping this ideas as the baseline .

For brainstorming I have always used miro board, I find it really helpful using sticky notes and free design architectures for project planning to execution . Best thing ever . Please go for it .

To optimize team brainstorming for product design, foster an open, inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are encouraged. Start with a clear problem statement, use visual aids to stimulate ideas, and set time limits to encourage focus. Employ techniques like mind mapping, role-playing, or 'what-if' scenarios to spur creativity. Encourage wild ideas, defer judgment, and prioritize quantity over quality initially. Finally, consolidate, refine, and build upon the best ideas collaboratively for innovative product design.

Diversify your ideas by keeping the most generic ideas as static and written beforehand and hence people can not say what it already written and have to start thinking something out of the box when the generic ideas are already discovered. Hence mention the generic ideas before starting the brainstorming session so that people are bound to think something unique. Hope this trick finds you well .

One thing i found useful is to have a open mind to the ideas, most of the time when the ideas comes in we tend to look at the constrain in the design or process, that will restrict the diversity of ideas. Most of the time the out of box ideas tend to the question the current design status quo

I believe that the first step towards conducting a productive session is to establish specific objectives that will guide the team. Once the objectives are clear, it is important to assess any ideas that are proposed based on how well they align with these goals. It is also essential to prioritize the ideas based on their impact and feasibility and avoid overwhelming the team with too many options. Finally, to encourage creativity and collaboration, it is important to maintain an open and communicative environment throughout the session.

Voting the ideas gathered , I use a little twist in it by putting a timer to 45 seconds and then you get not time to be partial or judgmental but you are more into voting what finds you well in that short time as you don’t want to miss your vote.

A good facilitator not only ensures the session stays on track but also plays a pivotal role in steering the brainstorming process effectively. By controlling the duration and preventing topic deviations, a facilitator ensures a focused and productive brainstorming session.