What you need before running an ideation session for a project
Ideation sessions can be useful in all phases of a project, but the most important part is in the alpha stage when you have collected and prioritised user needs and pain points. In ideation, you usually start with a clear user-centred challenge to solve. You can start with a problem statement, point of view or a “how might we...” question.
These plays can help get you on the right track before you start ideation:
- Problem definition
- Stakeholder mapping
- Impact mapping
- Desktop research
- User research planning
- How might we
Mindsets for ideation
Creativity problem-solving is at the centre of ideation. It is a common misconception that creativity is a talent reserved for the select few. Anyone can be creative with practice and the right mindsets! Teams can practise and improve their ability to innovate by using ideation activities frequently. Most ideation methods welcome a large quantity of ideas more than the quality of one idea. This attitude can help teams relax and open up, without worrying about how “good” an idea is.
By understanding and actively practising the mindsets you need for effective ideation, it will be easier to plan and run ideation activities with your team.
Agile approach
An Agile mindset is typified by customer focus, collaboration, iteration and continuous learning. A truly agile way of working includes quickly learning what works and what doesn't, and what we may need to do differently next time.
Failure is a chance to grow, develop and adapt your product or service, and yourself. Willingness to try and possibly fail is something that teams and organisations need to embrace in order to succeed in a fast-moving, digital age.
Comfort with ambiguity
Ambiguity is when an idea or situation is unclear or confusing or can be understood in more than one way. In a world that's constantly changing it's rare for things to be completely clear or precise. Having the ability to act and make decisions without having every detail is a key component in dealing with ambiguity. Getting comfortable with ambiguity is also about the ability to put aside traditional strategies and replace them with explorative approaches such as Design Thinking. The benefit of embracing ambiguity is that it allows you to pursue lots of different ideas, and to arrive at unexpected and innovative solutions.
Explorer's mind
By being curious you will be able to see new possibilities that are not normally visible. Curiosity can also be very valuable through times of uncertainty and rapid change, to help people manage the fear of the unknown. Curiosity helps people look outwards and be interested about what they will learn from the new experience. Learning something new, overcoming challenges and exploring our potential are all possible because we are curious and have the desire to explore.
Embracing diversity
Organisations with diverse and inclusive workforces are more likely to generate a wider range of ideas and perspectives. The more opinions, the more variety, and the more diversity we bring to the table the more we can build our creativity and learn new and different ways of doing things.
When we don't take all perspectives into account, when teams work in silos, and when disadvantaged groups aren't given a seat at the table, we stifle innovation and miss opportunities to improve. Being surrounded by people with different backgrounds and perspectives can sometimes be uncomfortable but it's everyone's responsibility to be mindful and accepting of one another.
Divergent and convergent thinking
Divergent thinking involves generating a wide range of possible solutions with a free-flowing, open-minded approach to exploring new ideas. Ideation workshops always start with a divergent thinking activity.
Convergent thinking involves selecting and refining ideas, based on the criteria and constraints set for the problem at hand. The goal of convergent thinking is to narrow down the options and identify the best possible solution that can effectively address the challenge.
Group ideation
When done in a group setting, ideation activities are especially effective for generating a wide range of ideas and perspectives. By giving everyone in the group an equal voice, you have a higher chance of generating more diverse and innovative ideas.
Including users and stakeholders in ideation and co-design activities is a great way to gain instant feedback and make quick decisions on the spot. That will save time and effort, and make sure timelines are met, because you will test your ideas early in the project process.
Often there are playful elements as part of ideation workshops. Some activities might seem silly or childlike at first glance, but the playful parts always serve a purpose. When we play, we are more relaxed, less self-conscious, and more willing to take risks. ideation activities allow us to explore different ideas without worrying about the consequences, which can lead to innovative solutions and breakthrough ideas.
Ideation toolbox
When choosing an ideation activity, it's important to consider the specific needs of your project, as well as the team involved. We have developed ideation plays that we have found the most useful for a wide range of projects.
The following ideation plays are currently part of our playbook: