Purpose

The simplest reason to hold a brainstorming meeting is to increase the volume of possible ideas, and to also bring people together into the creative process. By distributing a problem across 5 or 10 people in a brainstorming process, in theory, you should be able to obtain a wider array of different ideas much faster than any one person could on their own.

Instructions

Place the group around a table. Make sure everyone have some post-its and pens. Discuss what framework or rules this brainstorming process will have. It is important that the whole group agrees and understands the boundaries and rules for the task, before you start. Then take 10 minutes to let the group individually write down their ideas and thoughts. Encourage wild ideas. When everyone is done, let each person present their ideas and put their post-its on a big wall or drawing board. If someone in the group has feedback, additions or opinions, let them make a red cross on that post it. When that person have presented their ideas, take two minutes to let the rest of the group give feedback. This method could be followed up by trying to combine different ideas or thoughts. This is how you proceed with the process:

Do

  • Think big
  • Each idea is equally important
  • Focus on new angles
  • Allow and encourage crazy ideas.

Don’t

  • Don’t critizise.
  • Don’t think that your ideas MUST be directly connected to your brief or problem
  • Don’t be to detailed

Example

A group is trying to find a solution to the problem: How can we make school kids eat better food? They sit and talk and come up with different ideas – simple, complex, normal & crazy ones. Elaborate on each other’s ideas. Think sideways and from different angels. Some ideas might lead to a good solution that will solve the problem in a good way.


Facilitator’s role

The facilitator is there to give the group instructions for the brainstorming session. It is the facilitators role to make sure that the work is conducted according to rules and framework established by the group.

Reflection questions

  • How was it?
  • Do you want to change something for the next brainstorming session?
  • Did you feel that this was valuable for our project? In what way?