Power Up Your Brainstorming

There's nothing quite like the meeting of creative minds. All design professionals engage in regular brainstorming sessions. But how can you make the most of your brainstorming sessions and ensure they don't degenerate into a seemingly never ending jail term in the land of nothingness?  These tips are your ticket to effective brainstorming:

Always start your brainstorming session with a clear goal or purpose in mind. Not knowing where you need to be heading is a recipe for disaster and vague ideas that will be off brief.

Never walk into a brainstorming session without a set time limit. That sort of brainstorming can drag for hours on end and is not the best way to get groundbreaking ideas. Have a brainstorming session for say 45 minutes then stop. Go do something else and meet again later or the next day if need be.

The fruits of brainstorming are directly related to the people taking part in this creative act. So think about who you would like to be present. This could be a game changer. Sometimes inviting someone from another area of specialization or with a different perspective or a team member who hasn't been working on this particular project can make all the difference.

It's well known that space and interiors have an impact on us. Select a place you feel would be conducive to brainstorming. If the meeting room feels too stifling, then consider your regular office or a cafe or even the great outdoors.

Brainstorming is not just about writing down ideas or bullet points. Many people, especially in design, are visual. So feel free to brainstorm by sketching, mind mapping, using photos and more.

Don't let one person take control of the brainstorming session. Make sure everyone has the chance to contribute.

No matter how silly, insane, stupid or implausible an idea might seem, don't judge it or dismiss it. On the contrary, take note of it. This crazy idea might turn out to be the best when further developed or coupled with another idea. And if it really is atrocious, then you can always discard it later.

Groupthink is "a pattern of thought characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and ethics" (Merriam Webster Dictionary). While it's great not to have major disagreements, falling into the trap of everyone agreeing without thinking twice is just as bad. This means mediocrity will rule supreme. And this leads us to the next point...

The best way to break free from groupthink is to play the devil's advocate. How? By asking questions, pinpointing weaknesses, presenting alternatives and approaching things from different angles. This will enrich the ideas.

After that roller coaster ride, it's important to reach agreement on which ideas will be developed and translated into design.

Don't let your ideas go to waste. While some might not be ideal for the project at hand, they might be great for a future one. You can go retro and keep a journal for your ideas or can go high-tech and save them on your computer or on the cloud.