Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a creative problem-solving technique used to generate a wide range of ideas or solutions in a collaborative and unstructured way. It is a fundamental tool in both Design Thinking and Growth Hacking, fostering innovation and driving progress towards user-centred and growth-oriented goals.

In Design Thinking:

• Fostering Creativity: Brainstorming is essential during the Ideate stage of Design Thinking, encouraging teams to think divergently and explore a variety of potential solutions to user problems.
• Collaboration and Inclusion: By bringing together diverse perspectives, brainstorming sessions tap into the collective creativity of multidisciplinary teams, ensuring that ideas are inclusive and well-rounded.
• Building on Ideas: The process encourages participants to build upon each other’s ideas, leading to more refined and innovative solutions that may not have emerged individually.
• No Judgement: A key principle of brainstorming in Design Thinking is to defer criticism, creating a safe environment where participants feel free to propose bold or unconventional ideas.

In Growth Hacking:

• Idea Generation for Experiments: Growth teams use brainstorming to generate creative strategies for acquisition, retention, or conversion, often focusing on unconventional or low-cost methods.
• Quick Iteration: Brainstorming helps identify multiple small, testable ideas that can be implemented rapidly, aligning with the fast-paced, experimental nature of growth hacking.
• Cross-Functional Input: By involving members from various teams—such as marketing, product, and data—brainstorming ensures that growth ideas are both innovative and practical.
• Prioritisation Frameworks: While brainstorming itself is idea-focused, the output can be aligned with frameworks like ICE (Impact, Confidence, Effort) to prioritise growth initiatives effectively.

Examples of Application:

• In Design Thinking: Brainstorming solutions to improve a public transportation app by addressing user frustrations like route planning and ticketing convenience.
• In Growth Hacking: Generating creative campaign ideas for a product launch, such as leveraging user-generated content or tapping into new social media platforms.

Brainstorming is a cornerstone of innovation in both Design Thinking and Growth Hacking. It empowers teams to explore new possibilities, combine insights, and collaboratively build pathways to address user needs and achieve growth goals. By fostering an open and creative environment, it drives forward-thinking solutions that challenge the status quo.