methodatlas
Method guideInnovation

Brainstorming

A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.

ComplexityLow
Time30-60 min
Participants4-12
FormatWorkshop
MaturityCanonical
Plan Brainstorming
01

Prerequisite

What needs to be finished first

Complete firstClear scope

Agree the subject, boundary and decision before filling the model.

A broad or mixed scope produces a misleading model.
Complete firstAccess to relevant evidence

Bring source material and people who know the work; distinguish facts from assumptions.

Unverified interpretations become false certainty.
02

Preparation

What needs to be ready before start

Materials

Shared visual workspace, source evidence, and an agreed decision question.

People / roles

Facilitator, 4–8 people with relevant perspectives, decision owner for selection.

Pre-read

Collect existing data, examples, constraints and relevant stakeholder perspectives.

Time needed

30–60 min for one challenge; evaluation and testing are separate.

Setup

Pose one open, bounded question and explain deferred judgment. Generate ideas in parallel before group discussion; encourage quantity and variation. Share each idea without critique; build on ideas while keeping originals visible. Clarify and cluster duplicates without turning clusters into claims. Select concepts against agreed criteria and hand off to prototyping or research.

03

Core question

The one question this method answers

Which ideas could address the defined challenge?

04

Flow

Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall

Generates and develops a broad set of ideas before evaluating candidates against a shared question.

Brainstorming capture

Fictional worked example

Fictional prompt “How might we make appointment confirmation clear?” A separate idea round produces: add to calendar; summarize in SMS; include change link; let users choose reminder timing. Then cluster similar proposals and agree selection criteria. None is documented as a tested solution.

Prompt

Write an open, bounded prompt without assuming a solution.

How might we make booking confirmation clear?

Generate ideas

Collect ideas individually before critique.

Fictional: SMS summary; calendar export.

Share and build

Explain ideas and add variations while preserving originals.

Add-on: include a reschedule link.

Cluster

Group similar contributions without treating count as evidence.

Confirmation details and rescheduling options.

Next step

Apply criteria and assign research or prototyping.

Test whether a link reduces support requests.

The example text is fictional; replace it with sourced project information.

IDEO U: 7 Simple Rules of Brainstorming

  1. 1

    Prompt

    Frame question and rules

    Goal

    Facilitation brief and prompt

    Inputs for this step

    • Decision need, audience and participant knowledge

    Actions

    • Write an open, bounded prompt; agree on silent contribution, building on ideas and deferred judgment.

    Output

    Facilitation brief and prompt

    Facilitation brief and prompt

    Quality check

    Does the question invite different solutions?

    Pitfall

    The prompt already prescribes or judges an answer. State the need instead of a preferred response.

    Timing: Allow time according to scope and evidence; no universal duration.

  2. 2

    Ideas

    Generate ideas in parallel

    Goal

    Independent idea cards

    Inputs for this step

    • Individual notes, paper or digital cards

    Actions

    • Let participants silently write ideas and variations before group discussion.

    Output

    Independent idea cards

    Independent idea cards

    Quality check

    Does everyone have space to contribute?

    Pitfall

    Early shout-outs anchor the group. Pause discussion and give silent writing time.

    Timing: Allow time according to scope and evidence; no universal duration.

  3. 3

    Share

    Share and build

    Goal

    Shared and expanded collection

    Inputs for this step

    • Visible cards and facilitator

    Actions

    • Share in turn without critique; invite specific additions and preserve distinct variants.

    Output

    Shared and expanded collection

    Shared and expanded collection

    Quality check

    Are original ideas distinct from additions?

    Pitfall

    Evaluation or defence stops variation. Defer judgment and ask for a different direction.

    Timing: Allow time according to scope and evidence; no universal duration.

  4. 4

    Select

    Cluster and choose follow-up

    Goal

    Clusters and next-step shortlist

    Inputs for this step

    • Complete collection and selection criteria

    Actions

    • Group similar ideas, clarify ambiguity and select a few for research or prototyping using agreed criteria.

    Output

    Clusters and next-step shortlist

    Clusters and next-step shortlist

    Quality check

    Are clusters kept separate from evidence or popularity?

    Pitfall

    Votes are treated as proof of effectiveness. Label selection as a hypothesis and test impact.

    Timing: Allow time according to scope and evidence; no universal duration.

05

Artifact

What comes out at the end

Sketch: what the artifact looks like

Brainstorming · Divergenz und BündelungChallenge, Regeln, Ideenraum, Cluster und Shortlist als Workshop-Fluss sichtbar machen
BrainstormingDie Skizze zeigt eine Challenge, Brainstorming-Regeln, einen offenen Ideenraum, Cluster und eine Shortlist.Ideenmenge öffnen, später bündelnErst viele Möglichkeiten sichtbar machen, dann Muster erkennen und die nächste Shortlist bilden.ChallengeHow might we ...?Problem öffnenkeine Lösung vorwegnehmenRegelnMenge vor BewertungUrteil parkenauf Ideen aufbauenDivergierenviele einzelne Ideen sichtbar machenIdee 01Idee 02Idee 03Idee 04Idee 05Idee 06Idee 07Idee 08ClusterMuster bildenOnboardingAutomatisierungSupportShortlistTop-Ideen weiterführenTop 1Top 2
Form

Generates and develops a broad set of ideas before evaluating candidates against a shared question. Record scope, evidence, assumptions, owner and next review in the versioned artifact.

Versioning / ownership

Record scope, date, participants, source version and owner. Note changed assumptions and the reason for each revision.

Tool alternatives
  • Shared whiteboard or paper template
  • Source links, records or measurement data

brainstorming-working-template.md

Prepare the decision, source evidence and next review.

Brainstorming: Worksheet

Question

To be confirmed

Desired outcome

To be confirmed

Scope

Run the method Time: See catalog planning range; no universal duration.

Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.

Preparation for this scope

Method setup

  • Materials: Shared visual workspace, source evidence, and an agreed decision question.
  • Roles: Facilitator, 4–8 people with relevant perspectives, decision owner for selection.
  • Advance information: Collect existing data, examples, constraints and relevant stakeholder perspectives.
  • Overall time needed: 30–60 min for one challenge; evaluation and testing are separate.
  • Setup: Pose one open, bounded question and explain deferred judgment. Generate ideas in parallel before group discussion; encourage quantity and variation. Share each idea without critique; build on ideas while keeping originals visible. Clarify and cluster duplicates without turning clusters into claims. Select concepts against agreed criteria and hand off to prototyping or research.

Prepare for the work steps

Prompt: Frame question and rules

  • Decision need, audience and participant knowledge

Ideas: Generate ideas in parallel

  • Individual notes, paper or digital cards

Share: Share and build

  • Visible cards and facilitator

Select: Cluster and choose follow-up

  • Complete collection and selection criteria

Brainstorming capture

Prompt

Write an open, bounded prompt without assuming a solution.

...

Generate ideas

Collect ideas individually before critique.

...

Share and build

Explain ideas and add variations while preserving originals.

...

Cluster

Group similar contributions without treating count as evidence.

...

Next step

Apply criteria and assign research or prototyping.

...

This blank document contains only section prompts.

IDEO U: 7 Simple Rules of Brainstorming

Prompt: Frame question and rules

Expected artifact: Facilitation brief and prompt

Facilitation brief and prompt

Entry:

...

  • Does the question invite different solutions?

Ideas: Generate ideas in parallel

Expected artifact: Independent idea cards

Independent idea cards

Entry:

...

  • Does everyone have space to contribute?

Share: Share and build

Expected artifact: Shared and expanded collection

Shared and expanded collection

Entry:

...

  • Are original ideas distinct from additions?

Select: Cluster and choose follow-up

Expected artifact: Clusters and next-step shortlist

Clusters and next-step shortlist

Entry:

...

  • Are clusters kept separate from evidence or popularity?

Open questions and next steps

...

Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/brainstorming/run-sheet

06

Example output

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.

brainstorming-beispiel.md

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional prompt “How might we make appointment confirmation clear?” A separate idea round produces: add to calendar; summarize in SMS; include change link; let users choose reminder timing. Then cluster similar proposals and agree selection criteria. None is documented as a tested solution.

07

Pitfalls

Recognize symptoms and steer against them

Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow

  1. Frame question and rulesThe prompt already prescribes or judges an answer.View in phase
  2. Generate ideas in parallelEarly shout-outs anchor the group.View in phase
  3. Share and buildEvaluation or defence stops variation.View in phase
  4. Cluster and choose follow-upVotes are treated as proof of effectiveness.View in phase
08

Stop criteria

When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach

Stop if the decision question or scope is disputed; align it first.
Stop if key inputs are unavailable; list what evidence is needed.
Stop if the group treats assumptions as observed facts.

Method after Alex F. Osborn. Brainstorming was coined by Alex F. Osborn. Curated with 1 sources.

Sources: IDEO U: 7 Simple Rules of Brainstorming

Flow, timeboxes, and pitfalls are editorially curated practice recommendations based on the listed sources.

Where to go next?

Paper illustration of shared options, independently placed voting dots, and a highlighted shortlist.
Facilitation
Dot Voting

Condenses the resulting idea collection into a shortlist.

Paper illustration of an eight-panel idea sheet with varied sketches beside a timer set to eight minutes.
Innovation
Crazy 8s

Sketches the most promising clusters as eight concrete variants.

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