Hey there, fellow product enthusiasts! Remember when we thought sticky notes and whiteboards were the height of innovation? Well hmmmm …😓 maybe it became a bit boring so how to stimulate creativity consistently and effectively? I hear you, so today I share with you my 3 favorites techniques that the best product teams use to stay ahead in the innovation race.
(u’re welcome)
1. The Collaborative “Design Studio” 🎨
What is it?
The Design Studio is an intensive method that combines rapid ideation and collaborative iteration. It is particularly effective for solving complex product design problems.
How does it work?
- Divide the team into small groups
- Each group quickly sketches solutions (10-15 minutes)
- Pitch and critique the ideas as a team
- Iterate and refine the best proposals
Why does it work?
This technique encourages divergent thinking while allowing rapid convergence towards the best ideas. It also promotes collective ownership of solutions and act as a team building activity.
2. Silent “Brainwriting” 🤫✍️
What is it?
Tired of the loudest voice winning? Enter Brainwriting, the silent assassin of bad brainstorming habits !! Unlike classic brainstorming, brainwriting is done in silence. Each participant writes down their ideas on post-its before sharing them.
How does it work?
- Pose a clear question or challenge
- Give participants 5-10 minutes to write down their ideas in silence
- Display all the ideas on a wall
- Group and discuss the proposals collectively
But wait, there’s more! Let me introduce you to some spicy variations that’ll make your ideas pop like champagne corks.
The Idea Fishing Pond 🎣
Imagine a table where ideas swim freely. Here’s how it works:
- Jot down ideas on Post-its and toss them into the center “pond”
- Fish out others’ ideas to spark your creativity
- Remix, combine, or evolve the ideas you catch
- Throw your new brainchild back into the pond
It’s like a silent idea potluck – you never know what tasty morsel you’ll pick up!
The 6-3-5 Method: Ideas on Overdrive
This one’s a real crowd-pleaser:
- 6 people, 3 ideas each, 5 minutes per round
- Each person starts with a problem sheet and a 6×3 grid
- Fill the first row with 3 ideas in 5 minutes
- Pass the sheet to your right neighbor
- Repeat until all sheets are full
Do the math – that’s 108 ideas in 30 minutes! Not too shabby, eh?Pro tip: Feeling adventurous? Try 4 people, 5 ideas, 6 minutes per round. You’ll still hit 100 ideas, just with a bit more brain sweat!
The Idea Card Conga Line 💃
This one’s a real party:
- Write ideas on cards and stack them to your right
- Your left neighbor can peek at your stack for inspiration
- Used an idea? Pass it to the right!
- Keep the idea conga line moving until each card’s made a full circle
It’s like playing telephone, but with brilliance instead of nonsense!
The Guided Missile Approach 🎯
For when you need to rein in the chaos:
- Prepare sheets with specific constraints or sub-problems
- Toss these guided missiles into the center
- Grab a sheet, brainstorm within those boundaries
- Out of ideas? Swap for a new sheet and keep the party going
Perfect for when you need to focus that creative energy like a laser beam!
Why does it work?
This method avoids anchoring bias and allows introverts to fully express themselves. It often generates more ideas than oral brainstorming.
3. The SCAMPER Method 🔄
What is it?
SCAMPER is a structured brainstorming technique that helps generate ideas by asking specific questions about an existing product or service. SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Rearrange.
How does it work?
For each letter of SCAMPER, ask specific questions:
- Substitute: What can we replace?
- Combine: What ideas or resources can we combine?
- Adapt: What can we adapt for better results?
- Modify: What can we modify or magnify?
- Put to another use: What other uses can we imagine?
- Eliminate: What can we eliminate to simplify?
- Rearrange: What can we rearrange for better efficiency?
Why does it work?
SCAMPER provides a clear structure to explore different dimensions of a problem or product, thus stimulating creativity systematically.
Here a great video from the awesome Michael Masters from smalltowncreative.com ( i strongly recommend you to subscribe their Youtube channel)
These three techniques – the Design Studio, Brainwriting, and SCAMPER – are powerful tools to stimulate innovation in your product teams. They encourage everyone’s participation, structure creative thinking, and result in richer and more diverse solutions.
To go further, I recommend reading “Sprint” by Jake Knapp, which details a 5-day Design Studio method, or “Gamestorming” by Dave Gray, an excellent collection of innovative brainstorming techniques.
Do you want to energize your brainstorming sessions and boost innovation within your product team? Contact me for a personalized workshop or cool brainstorming session !