Ideation Techniques for Individuals: Braindump, Mindmap, Sketch, and Brainwrite

In my last blog post, I touched on Ideate, the third step in the UX Design Thinking process. Ideation is a practice that involves thinking of various ways to address a user’s needs. These potential solutions can seem wild and outrageous. However, it is encouraged to view the problem alternatively, get creative, and think outside the box. In this stage, multiple ideas are generated without judgment or criticism. Additionally, quantity wins over quality. It’s okay to come up with quick, rough, unfinished ideas because, later on, there will be room to build on these ideas. Although our instinctual go-to for formulating new ideas is likely brainstorming, there are many other ideation techniques suitable for individuals and groups.

Point Of View Exercise

Recently, I completed a Point Of View (POV) Exercise for three different iPad illustration applications: Procreate, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, and ArtStudio Pro. Reading positive, negative, and constructive reviews from users of these apps gave me insight into the users’ experiences. Once I developed a general understanding of the users’ perspectives, I developed two Point Of View statements per app to directly pinpoint user needs. Below are the POV statements I came up with for each app.

Ideation Techniques in Practice

This week, I experimented with four ideation techniques to formulate ideas for solutions to each of my POV statements. For each statement, I used two different ideation techniques. All of the methods I utilized are suitable for individuals and can be effective for a one-person UX team.

My Four Ideation Techniques for Individuals

• Braindump: Very similar to the brainstorm technique, braindump is a silent ideation technique achieved individually. With a timer set, participants write down their ideas on sheets of paper, cards, or sticky notes. Generally, it’s important to write down one idea per note. When the time is up, all ideas are posted on one board for further assessment and development.

• Mindmap: Mindmapping is a graphical ideation technique that starts with a problem statement in the middle of the page. Participants write related ideas and solutions on the same page in the space around the problem statement. Finally, lines of connection are drawn between the various ideas on the page. This technique builds a web of relationships.

• Sketch: Creating rough sketches of possible solutions is a visual way to generate ideas. Sketching sparks creativity and innovation, things needed for a successful ideation session. The key to the sketch technique is to refrain from committing a lot of time to well-developed sketches. The sketches should be as simple and rough as possible with just enough detail to convey meaning.

• Brainwrite: Brainwriting is a silent ideation technique in which participants write down their ideas on paper. Next, the paper is passed onto another person to elaborate on the idea. After a few minutes, papers are passed on again. This process can be repeated multiple times to build on ideas. Individually, one can create an initial list of general ideas and cycle through the list, revisiting each list item a couple of times to develop their ideas further.

Ideating for Procreate

For a quick look into each of my ideation techniques, I’ll share how I crafted ideas to solve both of my Procreate problem statements. For a deeper look into how I utilized these techniques for all three apps, download the ideation technique PDF.

Procreate POV Statement 1

Users that produce detailed projects over a longer period need access to their entire edit history because work can easily be destroyed or deleted permanently with no restorative capabilities.

Braindump

I started each braindump session with a fresh sheet of paper in my sketchbook and a stack of sticky notes. I wrote my POV statement in the top left corner of the page, locating a specific need to focus on: access to the entire edit history of a project. With my timer set to 4 minutes, I wrote all of the general ideas and solutions that came to mind on individual sticky note sheets and spread them out on the page.

In my process, I found that braindumping was a great way to start ideation. Although braindumping may not result in fully developed ideas or solutions, it’s a good starting point. Braindumping helped me organize all of the thoughts floating around in my mind. This technique opened the door for me to expand my ideas using other techniques.

Mindmap

For each of my mindmapping sessions, I took to my iPad. Using a fresh canvas in Procreate (how ironic) I started with my problem statement in the center of the page and worked my way outward with general solution ideas. Once I had my solutions written down, I simplified some of them into functions and capabilities for a deeper understanding of how these features might operate. Next, I drew lines to connect my general ideas to their components and my problem statement. I also drew lines of connection between related ideas and dotted lines between similar capabilities.

Mindmapping turned out to be a more structured way to generate solutions. I was able to organize my ideas, simplify them, create hierarchy, and identify relationships amongst my solutions in a clear and concise manner.

Procreate POV Statement 2

Users that utilize Procreate regularly need access to external or cloud-based storage because Procreate projects require
a lot of memory and can easily max out iPad storage.

Sketch

My sketching sessions consisted of another blank sheet in my sketchbook, a pencil, and a timer set to four minutes. I wrote my second POV statement in the top left corner of the page for reference and started thinking of ways to give Procreate users access to external storage. Once I had a good set of ideas sketched out, I went back and penciled in names and/or short descriptions for each of my sketches.

Sketching was definitely a good way to get me thinking creatively as I drafted new ideas for a problem that seemed to have a straightforward solution. Creating visual representations of my ideas fostered more innovation, allowing me to view things alternatively.

Brainwrite

For my last ideation technique, brainwrite, I decided to write out my solutions in list form utilizing a new note on my iPad. I started by writing down general ideas that could potentially meet the need for external storage. Once I had a solid list of varying ideas, I cycled through my list to build upon each idea with one additional sub-detail. Finally, I cycled through each idea once more to add a little more detail.

Brainwriting assisted me in thinking practically. Adding bullet points beneath each of my general ideas pushed me to question what each solution would look like in a realistic scenario. To me, brainwriting is an ideation technique that produces more concrete and accessible solutions.

Procreate Ideation Results

Overall, I learned that each of my ideation techniques was useful, but I may turn to different ideation techniques for varied reasons. Regardless of the technique I choose, I may end up with alike ideas. However, if I want my ideation experience to be more creative and innovative, I will likely turn to the Braindump and Sketch techniques. For ideas that have more depth and practicality, I would utilize the Mindmap and Brainwrite techniques. Nevertheless, all four of my individual ideation techniques presented me with ideas worth pursuing including adding in a backup feature, history panel, edits panel, iCloud storage, or Procreate cloud storage. Comparing ideation techniques proved that, even in UX design, many roads can in fact lead to one destination.

Final Thoughts

Ideation is one of the more enjoyable stages of the Design Thinking process. It’s a space for you to stretch your thought processes and get your creative juices flowing. Seeking a solution for a user’s problem can seem challenging and intimidating. However, ideation makes it exciting and interesting by fostering an environment void of judgment and criticism and full of “weird, wacky, and wild ideas.” The next time you are stuck in a brainstorming loop, try a new ideation technique! It may be unfamiliar, but it will probably turn out to be refreshing and rewarding.