We’ve all brainstormed. Whether this is in the workplace or on a private basis, most people are familiar with it. You can brainstorm in many ways or through various techniques. We will highlight a number of methods to keep you up to date.

5 brainstorming methods

1. 101 Brainstorming

This method is all about generating as many ideas as possible. Here are a few steps you need to follow:

• Together with your team you choose a central challenge;
• The team consists of a minimum of four and a maximum of ten people to come up with ideas;
• Come up with 101 ideas in a given time;
• Analyze the results together.

2. 635 brainstorming

The 635 brainstorming method aims to generate 108 ideas in 18 minutes. This is a structured brainstorm in which you go through the following steps:

• There are six participants present;
• Everyone has a sheet of paper with the problem to be solved;
• The sheet of paper contains a matrix consisting of three columns and six rows;
• All participants are given three minutes to generate three ideas;
• The sheet of paper is passed to the person on the left after every three minutes;
• For example, the next one comes up with three more ideas and tries to integrate previous ideas;
• Continue until the sheets are full.

3. Brainstorming only

Perhaps you prefer to think about certain things for yourself. It can then be effective to brainstorm alone. Find a quiet place and start with a problem. Write down at least 20 points. Once you’ve written these ideas down, it’s time to analyze them and then present them to others. They can then vote for your best ideas.

4. Brainstorming for all senses

Sight and thinking are not the only things that play a role during brainstorming. Multiple senses can be involved. You can think of smell, taste or hearing. These senses help you come up with ideas. First, a problem statement is formulated. Then you take 20 minutes for each sense and each participant generates at least five ideas per sense. Ultimately, all ideas from the different senses must be combined to arrive at insights.

5. The Disney Method

This method involves looking at an issue from four perspectives. Those four perspectives are:

• The critics
• the dreamers
• The Realists
• The audience

Take a particular perspective with a team for 30 minutes. You keep adding a new perspective. So you first look at the problem from the critics’ point of view, then from the dreamers, and so you rotate to the others.

Brainstorming with STUDIO.WHY

STUDIO.WHY is happy to help you go through the brainstorming methods and set up a successful session. Are you curious about how we give substance to brainstorming? Then follow  our free webinars, free email course or training courses. Do you want to know more or do you have any questions? Please fill in the contact form below without obligation so that we can discuss the possibilities together!