Rapid Ideation
This activity uses timed ideation “sprints” and creative prompts to help you generate a large number of diverse ideas quickly. It’s designed to break you out of conventional thinking and explore innovative solutions to social impact challenges.
Example Scenario: Your organization wants to generate new, creative place-based methods for recruiting participants in rural communities.
Instructions:
Introduce the first prompt:
Present the first creative prompt to the group. Explain the prompt clearly and ensure everyone understands what they are being asked to consider. Work from the list of starter prompts or create your own.
Ideation sprint 1:
Set a timer for a specific duration (e.g., 5 minutes). Individually generate ideas related to the prompt, writing or drawing one idea per post-it note. If time allows, briefly share ideas as a group to spark new ideas and build on existing ones.
Repeat with subsequent prompts:
Introduce the next prompt, and conduct another sprint.
Categorize and synthesize:
After completing all ideation sprints, group similar ideas together. Discuss themes, patterns, and potential solutions. Identify the ideas for further exploration or development.
Notes:
Adapt the prompts to fit the specific challenges and context of your work.
The goal is to ideate a range of options, not to find the “perfect” solution. Do your best NOT to overthink.
All ideas are welcome, and judgment should be suspended during the ideation phase.