Brainstorming
Principles
- •Quantity over quality: Generate many ideas first
- •No judgment: Defer criticism until later
- •Build on ideas: Combine and extend
- •Wild ideas welcome: Encourage creativity
Techniques
Mind Mapping
Start with central concept, branch out associations.
code
┌── Mobile App
│
┌── UI ────┼── Web App
│ │
│ └── CLI
│
Product ─┼── Features ── [list features]
│
│ ┌── PostgreSQL
└── Data ──┤
└── Redis
SCAMPER
- •Substitute: What can be replaced?
- •Combine: What can be merged?
- •Adapt: What can be borrowed from elsewhere?
- •Modify: What can be changed?
- •Put to other uses: Different applications?
- •Eliminate: What can be removed?
- •Reverse: What if we flip it?
How Might We (HMW)
Reframe problems as opportunities.
code
Problem: Users abandon signup HMW: How might we make signup feel rewarding? HMW: How might we reduce signup friction? HMW: How might we show value before signup?
Crazy 8s
- •Fold paper into 8 sections
- •8 ideas in 8 minutes
- •One idea per section
- •Sketch or write
Idea Evaluation
After brainstorming, evaluate ideas:
| Idea | Impact | Effort | Risk | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idea 1 | High | Low | Low | Do First |
| Idea 2 | High | High | Med | Plan |
| Idea 3 | Low | Low | Low | Maybe |
Diverge → Converge
- •Diverge: Generate many ideas (no filter)
- •Organize: Group similar ideas
- •Converge: Select best ideas to pursue