Week 4 Summary: Ideation and Synthesis
- Design thinking is not a linear process, there are cycles throughout the stages.
- Divergent thinking, or ideation, is creative and generative (creating choices).
- Prepare for ideation by reviewing user research and noting questions about the findings.
- To begin ideation:
- Select an ideation facilitator and note-taker
- Find a comfortable, open place to work
- Gather all the materials you will need
- Have the team set ground rules for ideation sessions (defer judgment, encourage wild ideas, build on other’s ideas, be visual, focus on quantity)
- Do activities that spark creativity in the team
- Move to ideation methods, such as brainwriting, mind mapping, Note and Vote, Worst Possible Idea, SCAMPER.
- Record ideas with words and a sketch to allow the team to visualize solutions.
- Simple sketches provide more information than just words
- A sketch gives the team something to refer to during the discussion
- Sketches provide the look, shape, and feel of the idea
- Ideas may be shared as they are thought of or there may be a dedicated time to share ideas.
- You are likely finished ideating when:
- Everyone has had an opportunity to contribute
- Many of the same ideas are being suggested
- You have many ideas to choose from
- Continuing seems unproductive
- Convergent thinking, or synthesis, is analytical (making choices) and helps you identify ideas that are mostly likely to solve the problem.
- Initial evaluation methods include the 3-Circle Sorting, Affinity Diagram, and Criteria Marking.
- Critiques of ideas can provide feedback to improve ideas and help narrow down choices for prototyping.
- Further narrowing of ideas can be accomplished using a Decision Matrix Analysis, a Paired Comparison Analysis, or Strategic Direction Map.
- Keep records of all ideas because they may be useful for another problem.
- Determine what ideas will proceed to prototyping.
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