Brainstorming

Brainstorming

Principles

1. Quantity over quality: Generate many ideas first
2. No judgment: Defer criticism until later
3. Build on ideas: Combine and extend
4. Wild ideas welcome: Encourage creativity

Techniques

Mind Mapping

Start with central concept, branch out associations.

                    ┌── 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.

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

1. Fold paper into 8 sections
2. 8 ideas in 8 minutes
3. One idea per section
4. Sketch or write

Idea Evaluation

After brainstorming, evaluate ideas:

Diverge → Converge

1. Diverge: Generate many ideas (no filter)
2. Organize: Group similar ideas
3. Converge: Select best ideas to pursue