5 techniques for the most creative ideas
Do you sometimes have absolutely no inspiration to come up with a creative idea? Perhaps this keeps you busy throughout the working day and, to no avail, you scour the entire internet for some inspiration. You probably agree that this is not the most efficient way to come up with a creative idea.
Many companies therefore regularly organise a brainstorming session to tackle a problem or come up with something new. Unfortunately, this is regularly deployed incorrectly, because not every company knows the best methods either. This blog highlights some techniques that are guaranteed to help your company come up with the best and most creative ideas.
Diverge and converge
The first step is to generate ideas. This is also called diverging. Eventually, it is necessary to filter these ideas to make certain choices. This is also known as convergence. Companies often pay a lot of attention to the diverging part, while converging is just as important. It allows you to discover that there is actually no good idea at all among them and that you need to diverge again.
Brainwriting
One of the most popular divergence techniques is brainwriting. The group works in silence, writing ideas on notes which they then pass around or put in the middle. Then each person takes a note from the other and responds to each other in silence. In this way, up to eight ideas can be conceived and written down at the same time. After the first step, the ideas are clustered by category and another session takes place on that basis. An advantage of this technique is that there is plenty of time to think and also introverts dare to share their ideas.
Synectics & Forced fit
These are two divergence techniques where the group generates ideas by connecting two seemingly irrelevant things. In both techniques, you go through a step-by-step process where you randomly put pictures, objects or words next to the problem statement. For example, by drawing cards with words and/or images and placing them next to the problem statement. The cards stimulate creativity because they force you to look at other angles. This can ultimately lead to creative breakthroughs.
Morphological map
This is a matrix with a variety of partial problems on the vertical axis and partial solutions on the horizontal axis. The map is constructed in this way by dividing the problem into sub-problems that are as independent as possible. For example, you divide 'waste separation' into 'separation', 'compression' and 'disposal'. Then you come up with solutions for each sub-problem, such as 'shredding' for compaction. Combining partial solutions with others leads to unexpected and interesting solutions.
SCAMPER
Another widely used divergent and systematic technique is SCAMPER. On this technique, you combine the new with existing things. This creates new and creative solutions. For example, suppose you could give waste another purpose, what purpose might that be? Perhaps then you might think of waste being suitable for raising the Netherlands, to protect against rising sea levels.
Stripe method
After the diverge phase, where as many ideas as possible are conceived, it is time to converge. Here, all ideas are reduced to concrete and feasible ideas. The dash method is a commonly used technique. Each team member may distribute a set number of dashes among the ideas, e.g. five to 10. It is also possible to add several dashes to one idea. An advantage of this method is transparency. Namely, it becomes clear which ideas the whole group likes better. A second advantage is that, as an individual, you can ensure that one particular idea is taken into the next round anyway. You can do this by making all your dashes for one idea.
If you catch yourself stuck in an issue again where you want to come up with a creative idea, remember these techniques above all. It is important to take careful time for the diverge phase first. Thanks to the converge phase, the best ideas will eventually make it to the final stage. The key to success is that creativity is a journey and not a destination. So, keep experimenting, thinking and creating to come up with the most brilliant ideas and make an impact within your business.
Made by Arianne Sanderse
Footnotes
Source: Book ‘Design Thinking' by Guido Stompff