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BRAINSTORMING FOR DELIGHT.

In an earlier post, we shared the principles of Design Thinking: deep customer empathy, creating many ideas and then narrowing them down, and rapid experimentation with customers. Big-picture thinking is essential, but how do you make this principle work day-to-day?

It starts at the beginning of the creative process. Brainstorming and those full-team sessions can often leave you feeling stuck if great ideas aren’t generated right out of the gate (we’ve all been there). At Delight: 2015, we tried some ideation exercises to help get the creative juices flowing and prevent creative clam-up. We’ve been impressed with the experience – and we think you will be too. Give the following tips a try, and discover how to take the pressure off the ideation process while making it fun and productive.

Collide ideas
Think unconventionally and combine unlike ideas. What happens when you take unrelated things and put them together? It can lead to new and exciting ideas … like dinner theaters, camera phones and pet yoga! Often the more bizarre it seems, the more original the idea. This grouping of two seemingly isolated ideas can be seen throughout every industry – think digital wallets and health concierge.

Be curious
Take interest in something or someone you don’t think can benefit you. You might be surprised about how a different mindset can unlock a whole new perspective.

Let go
Keep in mind that that nothing is too precious. Clear all expectations and let your mind wander. The more ideas, the better so let go of attachment to make room for new ideas.

Be fit and well
This is about attitude. Have confidence and competence in the face of uncertainty. Approach a challenge by saying, “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’s going to be great.”

Channeling delightful thinking can bring the excitement back to the creative process and inspire the development of truly unique ideas. We’ve seen some exciting results here at Fusion Hill. Give the tips a try – and tell us what you think on social media.