About

An idea storm is a popular way for a group of designers to work together to think of many ideas, or to solve design problems. Professional designers call this method ‘brainstorming.’
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FIGURE: Draw or write down your ideas, a single idea on a single sheet of paper, then stick the idea on the board or on a table for everyone to see.

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What you need

• A small group of designers to work together.
• A place to talk openly, with chairs and tables.
• Papers and pens or pencils, or you can write on a chalkboard or whiteboard.
• About an hour to do it properly.

How it’s done

• Write the subject of the idea storm on a piece of paper or on the board. The subject is the design topic of the design thinking project.
• Concentrate and work together. As each designer speaks, the others listen.
• Your job is to think of as many ideas for the subject as you can. Try to have at least 20 ideas, that’s 100 ideas for a group of five designers.
• When you have an idea, say it, and draw or note it down. (Draw or note down all your ideas.)
• Keep going until you are completely empty of ideas.

Tips

• Share your ideas, the more you give, the more you get!
• Wild or crazy ideas are welcome! Let your imagination run free.
• Do not judge ideas or criticise them. You will do that later.
• You can improve, change, or add to another person’s idea.
• Have fun! Laughing and applauding are allowed!
• After doing the Idea Storm, you can choose the best ideas using Dot Voting (III).