Brainstorming Tips

When we talk about brainstorming we mean -- collecting ideas about a concept or topic through the free association of all members in a group.

Brainstorming:

• Encourages participants to freely express their ideas and notions about a topic or concept in order to develop an idea of the range of things that might be included
• Can give a design club leader a good sense of where participants are on their understanding of a particular topic or concept.

To support participants in spontaneously proposing ideas and/or solutions, certain ground rules need to be established and roles designated.

• There must be a recorder, someone who writes down all responses.
• A facilitator asks for elaboration when necessary and when no one else in he group does.
• Censoring of responses is not allowed. Any and all reponses are listed.
• Don't underline obstacles, construct possibilities.
• Sometimes a participant repeats a response that already exists. Redirect that participant; encourage the participant to come up with her own idea.