Comments on: How Do You Brainstorm?

By: Financial Aid Podcast Daily Free MP3 Internet Radio » Thinking Different: 5 Techniques to Inspire Creativity

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:40:46 +0000

[...] CC Chapman recently asked in a blog post about how people brainstorm. Coincidentally, I did a presentation at PodCamp NYC titled Thinking Different, 5 Techniques to Inspire Creativity. I just found ProfCast for the Mac which lets me present and records the audio and slide timing together to make a nice kiosk presentation. Here’s the presentation – about 7 minutes long. [...]

By: David Jacobs

David Jacobs — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:14:56 +0000

For me, it’s all about talking. I can talk faster than I can write, draw or even type. To get your mind to really let go and free associate, you need to work fast. For some reason, driving works too. I have gotten some of the most productive thinking done driving around and talking it out. Obviously a portable recording is essential.

When I’m writing, a proposal for example, music does help me focus in and go. It also blocks out all the external sounds that can distract.

By: Ben Yoskovitz

Ben Yoskovitz — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:14:01 +0000

In bed, before sleeping.

Brainstorm.

Of course, these days, I’m not getting much sleep so it’s not very effective. But I take 1 thing I want to focus on, and roll it over in my mind.

It usually results in me jumping up and writing some notes down. Or, focusing on one specific idea that comes out of the brainstorm, so in the morning I pounce on it.

By: Dan York

Dan York — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:25:15 +0000

C.C., if I’m looking to just “brainstorm”, I usually try to get outside… go for a walk, bike ride… or just find somewhere relatively quiet to sit and think. (like going down to a nearby beach and sitting looking out at Lake Champlain) If I’m on deadline or suffering a severe case of writer’s block, though, I go the other way and find that LOUD rock music really seems to work. Perhaps it’s something about overwhelming the brain and blocking out other external sounds. As far as music, don’t ask me why but cranking the Scorpions seems to work really well for me.

By: Drew Stein

Drew Stein — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:33:26 +0000

As to brainstorming – I take one hour of alone time, several notebooks and/or doodle pads, mix in a fair amount of tunes, starting with godsmacks voodoo to bring me to a proper headpsace and ending with godsmacks serenity to bring me back (yes I actually do have a brainstorming play list). Then add in one hour rapid fire give and take with a trusted collaborator to see where the initial thoughts go, and there you have it, one positive idea generation session! baring that, put me in front of a client, give me no warning and just a problem to solve or campaign to create, and I can usually pull a fully formed idea out of the ensuing conversation. I call it the ideation via trail by fire method

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:21:40 +0000

Alone with a blank whiteboard is a great starting point. And if I don’t have that handy dandy printout capability, I take a picture of the board with the camera and will share it w/ others.

I work right next to the Charles River in Boston. Taking a walk w/ the iPod playing always gets the blood pumping, esp. to the brain.

However, if I decide to go for a drive, I turn everything off and let the wind and the world around me provide the soundtrack.

Any of those scenarios helps me a great deal.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:06:44 +0000

My best brainstorming comes at odd times; when talking to others about god knows what; when driving in the car, listening to the radio- the trick is keeping some of these “brainwaves” logged for use later on. I thought up great stuff with Paige the other day- there’s a certain input leads to great output aspect of things.
I like keeping my hand in business books even though I talk about parenting, because managing people or kids is fundamentally the same thing. I like the MIT Open-course wear podcasts, too. Anything can work. Caffeine helps, too.

By: neil...

neil... — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:45:42 +0000

Alone I use as large a whiteboard as I can get my hands on and scribble with as much energy as possible. Large, fast arm movements get the brain energised and if working on a visual element this can create abstract shapes and patterns which trigger further ideas.

Alternatively, if I’m struggling with an idea, I do something totally unrelated, such as draw. Most of my drawing after the initial concept is graft and technique so it acts almost as a meditation.

Another key element for me is to change physical location – get away from the desk, anywhere as it will stimulate the brain just a little more, sofa, garden, coffee shop, wherever.

In a group, I try and generate creativity through unfocused exercises to generate random connections between broadly unconnected words, phrases, or ideas. Most importantly to break down barriers of participants pre-filtering ideas.

I’d very much love the opportunity to use Edward de Bono’s ‘Six Hats’ method, but never been in a group with enough time to learn it!

By: Kathryn Lagden

Kathryn Lagden — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:37:01 +0000

for me it’s all about getting away from the tunes. i head out for a run and leave the ipod at home. i’m bored for the first 15 minutes and then my head relaxes enough to start thinking creatively.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:30:03 +0000

Sometimes I take a shower. Seriously. So, this is generally after I’ve put some thought into things and at least have an idea or two, but need to solidify it. Mind you, I’ve never said, “I need to think, guess I’ll jump in the shower”, but some of my best ideas were thunk up in the shower, so sometimes when working from home I’ll put off the morning shower until a little later, just in case.

Supposing, however, that you’re already clean, close runner ups are a good walk or run. Even hanging out on the lawn in the sun works sometimes.

I love to swim, but when you’re timing breathting with your strokes and turns, it gets a little harder to let your mind run loose. Similar problems with riding bike, what with the traffic (or trees) and all.

Finally, if you’re not under the gun with a deadline, often great ideas will come after reading thought provoking books or articles. The number of great ideas I’ve had for some of my clients while reading Wikinomics are too numerous to recount.

By: Grace McDunnough

Grace McDunnough — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:27:10 +0000

I start by locking up all the extroverts .. j/k. If I need to work out something on my own I take a long walk in a crowded mall — there is usually a lot of light, white noise and stimulus without having to engage. I don’t write ideas – I record my ramblings via dvr – that keeps me going without worrying about the exact phrase, etc. Then, I play it back on the way home or later that day and then start capturing patterns on a mind map.

By: Steve Holden

Steve Holden — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:26:12 +0000

Hello!

I personally would rather have more quiet than noise. If it has to be music it would probably have to be instrumental.

I do like whiteboards as long as they have a print out or data capture capability. I usually do all my brianstorming in MindJet MindManager (Mac or PC).

I suggest folks give a listen to Manager-Tools.com Brainstorming podcasts (1&2). They have a great set of suggestions:

http://www.manager-tools.com/2006/07/brainstorming-part-1-of-2/

Steve

By: Skye Lemmon

Skye Lemmon — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:23:14 +0000

My main tools are sheets of A3 paper, Post-Its and a moleskin notebook that I keep with me wherever I go. Oh, and for some reason I +have+ to write using a mechanical pencil instead of a pen. Don’t know why, I guess I’m just weird like that.

When I am brainstorming I like to plug in my headphones and listen to either IDM music (Autechre, Boards of Canada) or melodic EBM/Synthpop (Covenant, Dignity of labour, Wolfsheim) on my laptop or iPod.

If I am writing a draft or drawing, I like to listen to more aggressive EBM/Industrial stuff (Wumpscut, Hocico, Dulce Liquido). I think there’s something about the high energy in the music that helps me channel some of that creativity and get the creative juices flowing.

By: David Finch

David Finch — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:15:25 +0000

CC, I always enjoy reading how people brainstorm and create. I’m constantly learning from others, thanks for sharing your brainstorming hacks.

Personally, for me I’m an atmosphere type of guy. Places like cafes, bookstores and art galleries always seem like a launching pad for ideas for me. And like yourself, I write everything down.

By: Intellagirl

Intellagirl — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:40:55 +0000

I can’t brainstorm alone. I’m such an extrovert that my ideas feel like rabid ping pong balls bouncing around in my head looking for a way to get out. Then I start talking about what I’m thinking about and the ideas just flow. If I’m alone I’m kinda screwed. Luckily, thanks to the internet, I’m never really alone.
I need a bobble-headed assistant. Just nod and listen and I’ll be fine.