Creativity Skills’ Post

A Design Circle is a structured way to brainstorm and generate ideas, especially in a collaborative setting. Here are strategies for using a Design Circle effectively: 1. **Gather a Diverse Group:** Assemble a diverse team with different backgrounds, skills, and 2. **Define the Problem:** Clearly state the problem or challenge you're trying to address. Make sure everyone understands the context and constraints. 3. **Silent Brainstorming:** Give each participant a set amount of time (e.g., 5 minutes) to generate ideas silently, without discussing them. They can write or draw their ideas on sticky notes or paper. 4. **Round-Robin Sharing:** In a circle, have each participant share one idea at a time. Encourage them to be concise and avoid criticism or discussion during this phase. 5. **Idea Expansion:** After the initial round, allow participants to discuss and build upon the shared ideas. Encourage them to ask questions, suggest improvements, or combine ideas. 6. **Sketch or Visualize:** If relevant, encourage participants to sketch or visualize their ideas. Visual representations can often convey concepts more effectively than words alone. 7. **Critique and Refine:** Engage in constructive criticism and refinement. Discuss the pros and cons of each idea, and identify potential challenges and solutions. 8. **Dot Voting:** Provide each participant with a set number of dots (e.g., three). Have them place dots next to the ideas they find most promising or innovative. This helps prioritize ideas. 9. **Rank and Prioritize:** Based on the dot voting results, rank the ideas in order of importance or feasibility. Identify the top ideas that the group wants to explore further. 10. **Action Planning:** Create a plan for further development and implementation of the selected ideas. Define roles and responsibilities, set timelines, and outline the steps needed to bring the ideas to life. 11. **Follow-Up:** Ensure that the ideas generated during the Design Circle are tracked and implemented. Regularly check progress and adjust the plan as necessary.

Designers should stop brainstorming. It doesn't work. Time and time again research shows that brainstorming (in the way it's mostly done) doesn't work. Here's why, and how to make it work 👇 🗣️ The brainstorming sessions get dominated by the loudest people 🤷♀️ There's a lack of urgency to cooperate (also because of 👆) 🧠 Group thinking differs from individual thinking 😱 Fear of social disapproval Here's the thing, brainstorming when "invented", wasn't designed for all participants to "brainstorm" together. They should come up with ideas individually and get together with the group to exchange feedback, and repeat. Design sprints are designed like this. Brainstorming sessions got completely distorted and everyone does them wrong. So when someone wants to do a brainstorming session, tell them about this. Here's a beautiful article by Lars Jerichau to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eWsNNrft

Use the I.D.E.A. agenda for your next creative session! Just running another brainstorm session won't give you the results you're looking for. Creativity needs some structure and guidance. It needs a bit of blue thinking. Whether you're looking for new product ideas, efficiencies in a process or solutions for your sustainability challenges, the I.D.E.A. agenda will level-up your sessions! Make sure the participants are aware of the topic at hand before the session. Include your How Might We-question in the invite and attach some background information that your people can explore upfront. Then during the session, run I.D.E.A. cycles: Inspire Start with inspiring the people in your session, and get them in the right mindset. Energize people with warm-ups or lateral thinking. Experience new things by sharing relevant stories from other industries. Empty your heads by taking a walk or do a short meditation even. Design Design is about coming up with ideas. Make sure your How Might We-question is clearly displayed and let your team come up with ideas. Use methods like 1-2-4-All, the Crazy 8s or a negative brainstorm, and use a post-it per idea. DO NOT use a group-wide brainstorm where everybody shouts out ideas; it's ineffective. Evaluate Evaluate your ideas with a 2x2 matrix. Compare effort to effect to identify your low hanging fruits. Or use criteria specific for your problem definition as axes to identify the most interesting ideas. Further narrow down the ideas in the most interesting quadrant through categorization and/or dot voting. Assign Decide upon next steps for the top ideas and assign these tasks to a participant in the room. Even if this person is not the one responsible for execution, he/she is accountable that it happens. Do not leave the room with unassigned ideas. Make sure you agree on deadlines and follow-up for accountability. Run an I.D.E.A. cycle per How Might We-question, but don't address more than 3 per session. It'll drain your participants and that'll negatively affect the outcomes. What do you think? Please share your feedback or additions in the comments below! 👇 Looking for someone to support your next creative session? Send me a DM! Happy Friday! ≈ ≈ ≈ 🙋♂️Hi, I’m Roel 💪Unleashing your people’s innovation power 👨🏫Providing training, consultancy, workshops, and keynotes Liked this post? 🔗 Connect with me 🔔 Hit the bell icon ❤️ Follow #peopledriveninnovation #ideation #incubation #intrapreneurship #corporateinnovation

I came across this article on the "Hot Potato" process — while it's specifically about product design, it was nice to see something that resonated with my overall design ethos. During my time working on magazines, I found that getting draft stories early on allowed me to contribute to the creative process and influence how these stories were told. Sometimes, I would devise a layout idea that helped them rethink how they told their story or structured their information. This collaborative approach led to a better magazine since the writers and editors could see how the design could enhance their storytelling early on. Instead of waiting for the story to be crystalized, we actively bounced ideas back and forth, resulting in a stronger output. In my consulting experience, I always loved being involved with teams creating content for pitches, readouts, and other presentations. Designers have a different perspective on storytelling, and we can help teams figure out how to make their point visually. Once again, by engaging in quick, iterative feedback loops, we achieved better results than simply handing off the content for a design pass. Including clients in this process can be effective as well. By including them in our early thinking, we can gain valuable insights we might otherwise overlook. Working together in this way fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration, shifting the focus from a "big reveal" to a shared creation. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gKzGiCXX

Design, Thinking, and Brainstorming are powerful methods for solving complex problems and creating innovative solutions. Let's delve deeper into each of the five essential steps:   1: Generating Ideas Allow your creativity to flow freely during this initial phase. Consider it the "imagine" stage. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible. Don't be concerned about being judged; there are no bad ideas. Accept different points of view and encourage teamwork. To generate ideas, consider using techniques such as brainstorming sessions, mind maps, or mood boards.   2: Identifying Problems Once you've gathered a collection of ideas, it's time to zero in on the real problems. This step is all about empathy and comprehension. Put yourself in your audience's shoes, identify their pain points, and ask the right questions. Google searches, surveys, and user interviews can all help you gather useful information. You should have a crystal-clear problem statement by the end of this phase.   3: Taking Action It's now time to turn your chosen idea into a workable plan. Consider this step to be the "do" stage. Create a roadmap outlining how you intend to address the identified issue. To visualize your concept, create prototypes, sketches, or wireframes. Keep the needs of the user in mind and involve your team in the execution process. Collaboration tools such as Google Workspace can be extremely useful in this situation.   4: Achieving Results This is where your ideas will be realized. Execute your strategy, create your product or solution, and put it into action in the real world. It's time to "deliver." Maintain agility and adaptability as needed. To assess the impact and effectiveness of your solution, use Google Analytics and other data-driven tools. Remember, the goal isn't just to make something; it's to make something meaningful.   Step 5: Review and Improve Take a step back after implementation to reflect on what worked and what didn't. Solicit feedback from users, stakeholders, and members of your team. To gather insights and opinions, use Google Forms or surveys. Then, based on this feedback, iterate and refine your solution. The goal is to constantly improve. Keep in mind that innovation is a continuous process, not a one-time event.   In short, Design Thinking and Brainstorming are not linear processes but iterative ones. By following these five steps, you can foster a culture of innovation and problem-solving within your organization. Embrace creativity, stay user-focused, and use tools like Google Search, Google Workspace, and Google Analytics to support your journey. Design thinking is not just a methodology; it's a mindset that can lead to remarkable results. Start today, and watch your ideas transform into impactful solutions. Read More: https://lnkd.in/dU2DFj2t #nextlevelwebsolution #idea #problemsolvingskills #action #results #review #growth #graphicdesign #uidesign

Dear founders, Do you have the right team? (Don’t be so sure, continue reading) The essence of a great product lies in the synergy between a proficient design team and an adept marketing team. These components are indispensable for any brand or company aiming to achieve significant growth. A top-notch design team comprises GOOD product designers, product managers, graphics experts, and most importantly, experience. However, when we mention EXPERIENCE, it's not merely about the years spent in the field. Rather, it's about possessing a profound understanding and a high level of expertise. Surprisingly, designers with only a couple of years of experience can often outperform those with several years under their belt. This isn't just empty rhetoric; it's something I've observed firsthand. A "GOOD" design team, as emphasized, is crucial because even with all the other elements in place, having a less experienced product designer can pose significant challenges. Similarly, a competent marketing team encompasses a diverse range of professionals, including marketing managers, digital marketers, content creators, social media specialists, advertising experts, data analysts, and sometimes public relations specialists. Together, these teams form the backbone of the organization or product you aim to sell. It's important to note that the success of your venture isn't solely reliant on its features but rather on the collaborative efforts and expertise of these teams. Did you learn something new? Send a dm now with the word “DESIGN” if your team is lacking a GOOD product designer

Steps of Design Thinking Brainstorm Step 1: Generating Ideas: Kickstart your creative thinking process to brainstorm fresh ideas that work.   Step 2: Identifying Problems: Learn how to spot and understand the main issues that need solving.   Step 3: Taking Action: Turn your ideas into practical plans, making your concepts real.   Step 4: Achieving Results: Transform your plans into finished products that make a difference.   Step 5: Review and Improve: Look back, gather feedback, and make your process better each time. Read More: https://lnkd.in/dv5ua6ug  #nextlevelwebsolution #nextlevelthinking #nextlevelbusiness #seo #design #graphicdesign #ideas #problemsolving #action #results #review

No matter what we're creating or how we're innovating, there’s one step we can’t forget. Ever. The brainstorm. When I was still working in game design, as my partner in crime Paul Dunn (PLEASE check out this man’s work) will attest, brainstorming day was my favourite part of any project. Honestly, it still is. It’s that golden 10% at the start of any discovery process, where all outcomes are still possible. When we’re brainstorming, it’s our responsibility to: 💭 Ask questions. 💭Leave blank spaces. 💭Think without boundaries. 💭Run wild, and leave the editing to our future selves. Unfortunately, so many of us – myself included - fall into the trap of skipping this step altogether, because we’re lacking a fundamental resource. Time. We build the plan while flying it, rather than drawing up schematics before we leave the ground, because we have somewhere to be. But when the plane starts to fall apart in the air, we’re just going nowhere, fast. Brainstorms allow us to fail fast and adapt faster. They’re a warm-up, a cross-functional skill at home in every discipline, because they demand a ‘why’ from us. ‘Why’s get us where we’re going, like North Stars, and they’re essential to success. So, here’s my challenge to all of us embarking on creative projects. MAKE time for the brainstorm. It saves massively on stress down the line. If they serve, here are the brainstorm tips that have guided me over the years: ⚡ Block out the time on your calendar, and turn off your phone. It’s you, your collaborators, and the storm. ⚡Use impermanence. Whiteboards, post-it notes, scratch paper. They don’t ask us for concrete answers, just scraps of ideas we can assemble later. ⚡Jam. Whatever gets you in your creative flow, use it. I jam the same playlist every time I brainstorm solo, but silence works better for others. ⚡Discredit the edit. If you feel the urge to edit while brainstorming, shut it down. Future you will make sense of it all. It's time for your creativity to shine. Brainstorm. Draw your schematics. Ask ‘why’ now. Genuinely curious: what do you do, when you brainstorm? #creativity #gamedesign #writingtips #brainstorming #problemsolving