SELECT IDEA

You have probably got lots of drawings and ideas up on the Brainstorm Board and Creative Matrix, so now it is time to start moving them around and forming them into more complex solutions.

Once an ideation session has finished, it’s time to collect, categorise, refine and narrow down the best idea, solution, or strategy.

A Co-Creation Session is a great way to get feedback on your ideas. Convene a group of people you are designing for and then bring them into the design process. Hear their views, make note of the criticisms, concerns, challenges AND empower them to Vote for the best idea.

🗝️ STEPS

Start by CLUSTERING similar ideas into groups. Talk about the best elements of those clusters and combine them with other clusters.

Focus on translating what you have heard into practice, rather than just identifying similar ideas.

Once you have a few idea groupings, ask yourself how the best elements of your thinking might live in a system (THEMES). You are now moving from individual ideas to full-on solutions!

The team should now VOTE for the best ideas under each Theme.

💯 TIPS

 IDEAS WILL CHANGE

Ideas are constantly changing. Critique is about making them better and putting forth the best possible solution. Holding on to ideas and fighting constructive criticism is counterproductive. Keep in mind that it is not personal and everyone is working toward the same goal.

USE SENTENCE STARTERS

Phrases like “I wish...”, “Maybe...”, and “Yes and...” combine critique with design, making it easier to synthesise and build off of ideas during a critique session, while keeping the conversation positive.

BE SPECIFIC

When critiquing an idea, focus on specifics that tell the team where to make changes or what to build on. Just saying you do not like an overall idea is not helpful and limits iteration.

ASK WHY

Asking for an explanation can be a great conversation starter about an idea and lead to iteration or greater understanding of why a concept is or isn’t working.

MAKE A SANDWICH

When critiquing an idea, place the negatives between two positives - soften the blow and keep all team members together.

WASTE NOT

Don't trash the unused ideas - they just may trigger add-on or future products or services.