Ideate

Ideate is the step of the design process where we think up ideas and solutions to the problem. This is the time to explore, think weirdly and differently, and challenge what we think we already know.

Often at this stage, designers will create questions that start with “How might we….?” to start the ideate process. The goal is to turn obstacles to opportunities, and create smaller, more actionable steps. The ideate process could also include other strategies from storyboarding to thinking of the worst possible idea!

In this unit, students will begin to discuss what information they've gathered from their research in regards to their problem. They will generate questions and brainstorm possible solutions.

Learning Activity:

Within their group, students will share what they've learned and begin forming a consensus of what they must do and how it solves their problem.

    • Step 5: Continue Ideate and Prototype: Have regular meetings/conferences to note progress, problems and to teach process skills.

1. Students will then try various ideate strategies in group Zoom breakout sessions to create several possible solutions.

2. Students will be required to note down in their logs at least 4 different ideas to encourage creativity, and a growth mindset as not all ideas may work out.

3. Students will learn about and try out the following strategies:

  • Worst Possible Idea: Similar to reverse thinking, the worst possible idea technique is great for putting the group at ease and removing creative blocks. Even if the ideation session has been declared a judgement-free zone, there is inevitably a certain amount of pressure to find a viable solution that your peers will like. Going in search of the worst possible idea takes away this pressure. Not only that: Reflecting on what’s so terrible about these ideas can reveal valuable insights into what a good idea might look like (Stevens 2019).

  • Mindmapping: Developed by Tony Buzan in 1972, mindmapping is a visual ideation technique that encourages you to draw connections between different sets of ideas or information. You’ll start by writing a keyword in the middle of the page (normally related to your problem statement). On the same piece of paper, you then surround this word with any and all ideas that come to mind. Finally, you’ll think about how these ideas are connected, depicting said connections with lines and curves—resulting in a visual map (Stevens 2019).

  • One strategy assigned by teacher mentor that is specifically chosen for their problem.

4. Throughout this step, both mentors will circulate through breakout sessions and assign a customized ideate strategy depending on the problem and group of students.

5. Strategies from: Stevens, E. (2019, May 28). What is ideation in design thinking? A guide to the most important ideation techniques. Career Foundry. https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/ux-design/what-is-ideation-in-design-thinking/