Purpose
This method encourages your imagination to create different perspectives and new angles on your idea or the problem you’re facing.
Instructions
Prepare with a lot of different random images. Sit together around a table and show one image for 1 minute. During that one minute, each member in the group writes whatever he or she associates with these images on post-its. The outcome should be as many crazy associations as possible. If the team gets stuck, change image. Continue this process until you feel that you have enough associations. This method could be followed up by trying to combine your associations with your already existing idea or trying to come up with new ones. Read about how to do that here.
Do
- Think big
- Write the first things that come to your mind
- Think the opposite
- Use a lot of different random images, preferably that have nothing to do with your idea, problem or focus questions.
Don’t
- Stay too long at one image. If you get stuck, just change.
Example
A group is tasked with finding solutions to the question ‘How could citizens be encouraged to use bikes more?’ Random pictures are used to associate to the question. How could a Blueberry be related to that?
These are examples of outcomes:
- Giving away blueberry hats together with information on health benefits from biking
- Making blueberry lamps for bikes
- Building a giant Blueberry-like biking dome.
The new ideas can be related in many ways. Around shapes, memories, smells, thinking big or small, quantity. Relate both close and distant ideas.
Facilitator’s role
The facilitator is there to give the group instructions for the task. The facilitator is responsible for changing images and inspire the group members to think big and wild.
Reflection questions
- How was it?
- Did you feel that this was valuable for our project?