How good is your brainstorming?

• Quantity: How many ideas did you generate?

• Flexibility: How different are the ideas that you generated from each other?

• Originality: How unique are the ideas that you generated from those of other people?

Click here to read more: Idea Revolution: Guidelines and Prompts for Brainstorming Alone, in Groups or With Clients (Graphic Design)

Brainstorming

Why BrainstormingFails
• People are self-conscious
• There is no focus
• People evaluate each other’s ideas
• People get defensive
• Ideas are variations on a theme
• One person dominates
• Some people do not participate
• The group loses energy
• There are no really new ideas

Guidelines for Brainstorming
• Focus matters: Know your objective
• Start alone, then join together
• No criticism, no evaluation
• Freewheeling is not just welcome, but encouraged
• Go for quantity: Quantity catalyzes quality
• Discuss each idea, but only for clarification & elaboration
• Combine & improve on each other’s ideas
• Alternative between individual and group modes
• Take a play break every now and then
• Hold a safe vote at the end

The Do It Yourself Lobotomy: Open Your Mind to Greater Creative Thinking

BRAINSTORMING

Why Brainstorming Fails
• People are self-conscious.
• There is no focus.
• People evaluate each other’s ideas.
• People get defensive.
• Ideas are variations on a theme.
• One person dominates.
• Some people do not participate.
• The group loses energy.
• There are no really new ideas.

Guidelines for Guidelines for Brainstorming
• Focus matters: Know your objective.
• Start alone, then join together.
• No criticism, no evaluation.
• Freewheeling is not just welcome, but encouraged.
• Go for quantity: Quantity catalyzes quality.
• Discuss each idea, but only for clarification & elaboration.
• Combine & improve on each other’s ideas.
• Alternative between individual and group modes.
• Take a play break every now and then.
• Hold a safe vote at the end.