To get a new descriptive, ideas, unheard of, you need to go beyond the classical brainstorming process. A set of new tools allows you to do so, and to truly explore a world of new possibilities. Structured in various workshops, knowledge management techniques and facilitation, those tools help team and organisation explore groundbreaking ideas and go further, then usual.
How we run Ideation Workshop
Getting and selecting idea is 2 step process:
Idea Generation: proposing ideas with no constraints whatsoever and aim to produce as many as possible
Idea Selection: among the different idea you have, define criterias that will guide you to select what you evaluate as the best idea given the knowledge you have to the context today
Divergent and convergent thinking are different parts of the same process of finding ideas.
Diverge = Explore new possibilities. Idea Generation. Converge = Deciding what to pursue. Idea Selection.
The technique we use during the ideation workshop varies based on the context of the team and business need. Here are some examples.
​Ideation Technique | Description | Time |
Ideation alone | Engaging in individual brainstorming or idea generation sessions to explore creative concepts independently. | 1-2 hours |
Basic Brainstorming | A group activity where participants freely share ideas without criticism, encouraging a free flow of creativity and building upon each other's suggestions. | 2 hours to ½ day |
Innovation games | Interactive activities or exercises designed to stimulate creative thinking and generate innovative ideas within a group setting. | ½ day to 1 day |
MindMap | A visual technique that involves creating a diagram to connect and organize ideas, allowing for the exploration of various associations and relationships. | 2 hours - ½ day |
SCAMPER | A mnemonic technique that prompts participants to ask questions and explore different aspects of a concept, such as Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. | 1-2 hours |
Bodystorming / Brainwriting | A technique that encourages physical movement and role-playing to generate ideas, or written idea generation where participants write down their thoughts before sharing them. | 2 hours - ½ day |
What if... / Worst Idea | Challenging assumptions and exploring unconventional or extreme ideas to push the boundaries of creativity and potentially uncover unexpected solutions. | 2 hours |
Six Thinking Hats | A method that assigns different perspectives or thinking styles (represented by colored hats) to participants, allowing them to explore ideas from various angles and avoid biases. | 2 hours - ½ day |
Design Fiction | Using storytelling and speculative design to imagine future scenarios and explore potential innovations, allowing for a deeper understanding of user needs and desires. | 1 day |
Art Thinking | Incorporating artistic and creative processes into problem-solving and idea generation, fostering imaginative and out-of-the-box thinking. | 2 days |
Ideation Camp | A structured workshop or retreat where participants engage in intensive ideation sessions and collaborative activities to generate innovative ideas and solutions. | 2 days |
Concept Knowledge | Leveraging existing knowledge and concepts to inspire new ideas and adapt them to different contexts or applications. | 5-10 sessions |
Design Sprint | A time-bound, intensive process that combines elements of ideation, prototyping, and user testing to rapidly develop and iterate on innovative solutions. | ​5 days |