Generate ideas
Reverse brainstorm
Also called Reverse brainstorming, Worst possible idea
Brainstorm how to make the problem worse, then turn each bad idea around to find good ones.
- Time20 to 30 minutes
- People3 to 12 people
- Steps4
What it's for
When a team is stuck or the obvious ideas are used up, asking how to cause the problem is easier and more fun. People are good at spotting what makes things bad, and the bad ideas often point at exactly what to fix.
It also lowers the stakes: nobody worries about a silly idea when silly is the brief.
How to run it
Flip the question3 min
"How do we help customers find answers?" becomes "How could we make sure they never find answers?"
Make it worse8 min
Add as many ways to make the problem worse as you can.
Turn them around10 min
For each bad idea, write its opposite or what it suggests.
Pick ideas to try5 min3 votes each
Vote, then move the best into the last frame.
Tips
- Some bad ideas describe what you already do. Those are the most useful ones.
- Keep the energy up in the first round. Judgement comes later.
Where it comes from
A long-standing variation on brainstorming. Its origin is unclear, and it is described in many creativity and facilitation guides.
Pairs well with
Premortem
Imagine the project has failed, then work out why, so risks get named while there is still time to act on them.
Mind map
Start with one topic in the middle and branch outwards, so related ideas sit together and gaps become visible.
How might we
Turn problems and insights into questions that start with "How might we", which invite ideas instead of arguments.