My Preferred Ideation Methods

We’ve already discussed the importance and benefits of ideation in design, but what about the different ways to ideate and develop solutions to our problems? 

While there are many options and methods for ideation, the most common methods include brainstorming, brain dumps, sketching, Crazy 8s, and storyboarding. Each method is valid for ideation; however, I also believe that as you grow as a designer, you will start to favor some methods over others. I personally have found myself drawn to more “simple” ideation methods. Not because they're simple, but because they are the easiest way for me to get my ideas out and on paper (or a Word doc) to accurately express the vision I have for the solution. I have always been a visual person who needs to be able to see what and how a problem will be solved. The methods I have found myself drawn to have been brain dumping/storming and sketching (including crazy 8s). In a recent assignment, I chose to focus mainly on sketching and brain dumping. 

Using a set of POV statements created for three apps in a previous module, I then used two ideation methodologies to begin to create solutions to the POV statements and the “users' needs. Below, I have attached the PDF of the work I completed for this assignment. First, I wanted to discuss how each method played a role in the solutions developed. I chose to use brain dumping as my first method because I'm sure a lot of designers can relate to this: when we are first handed a problem, our brains immediately start coming up with solutions at a rapid pace. Brain dumping allows me just to spill out all the ideas on paper and not judge whether anything is “good” or “bad”- just letting thoughts flow and ideas come up as they are. Then I will carefully review all the ideas, choose a handful I think are good or need improvement, and begin the next methodology. 

I will begin to sketch out the ideas as I see them in my head. I purposely choose ideas that I think are good and the ones that need to be expanded on or adjusted, because I often find the good ideas are sometimes too simple or not as innovative as I once thought. Sometimes the best ideas are ones that need to be adjusted in the sketching process. Or need multiple sketches with adjustments added, or aspects removed, or sometimes even combining two decent ideas into a great solution. Sketching also helps me have a physical copy of a solution in front of me or in front of clients. These two ideations work hand in hand to help me bring solutions to life or take ideas back to the drawing board for further ideation.