Brainstorming is a method for creative problem-solving or idea generation. This technique is widely used in various fields, including product development, business problem-solving, research and development, marketing, and even in educational settings to stimulate creative thinking. Below are the steps to successfully brainstorm, for instance, when searching for a product name. The duration is usually set to 60 minutes.
- Set Objectives and Criteria: Before the session, determine what you expect from a good name. Should it be short? Descriptive? Original?
- Provide Materials: Have whiteboards, markers, post-its (paper or digital), and laptops ready for use.
- Speaking Tokens: Use tokens or similar objects to ensure everyone gets a chance to speak.
During the Session (40 minutes)
- Creative Warm-Up: Start with a quick and creative activity to get everyone in the right mindset. For example, ask each person to name their favorite superhero and why.
- Brainstorming Rules: Remind everyone that in this phase, all ideas are valid and there should be no criticism.
- Ideation: ? Round Table: Each person proposes an idea in turn. ? Brainwriting: Everyone writes their ideas on pieces of paper/post-its for a period of time, then sticks them on a board. ? Small Groups: Divide participants into small groups and have them work on specific aspects.
- Free Association and Combination: Once ideas have been generated, try combining them or playing with words to create new options.
- Ranking and Voting: Use colored stickers or markers for everyone to vote for their favorite names.
After the Session (10 minutes for steps 1 & 2)
- Recap and Next Steps: Summarize the most popular ideas and discuss next steps to decide or test the name.
- Feedback: Ask participants for their opinion on the process to improve it for future sessions.
- Validation: Once the name is chosen, ensure it is legally available and there are no similar trademarks.
