Brainstorming Techniques

[redships]

I had asked davi about posting a brainstorming thread on a variety of different methods i've learned. i think it would be a good idea start this thread for anyone who would like find out how other people come up with concepts in there different fields. so anyone who'd like to throw out some methods they use please feel free.


a few techinques i've learned can be used in a group or if you're flying solo. Some may seem obvious or perhaps most of you have already learned or aquired these techniques so i'll try not to bore you but still be detailed in my descriptions.

[redships]

One method is the the " bubble " technique as i've come to hear. you start by picking a topic or thing and drawing a circle around it. then drawlines to branch out and think of as many things from that topic as you can. As a toy designer this helps me because it allows me to track all my thoughts. the objective is to really stretch your thinking and if done correctly can really help in coming up with ideas.

i'll try and post examples of each of these for better understanding.


i start with a creature. then go through and think what is it loud, does it fly, is it angry, scary, etc.

from there i picked flying. okay so how does it fly and so on and so on.


http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/redships/Bubble.jpg



i end up with a creature that flies by shooting water from it's wings.

it may seem basic, and does not apply to everyone or everything, but it is a excellent example of how to put your thought on paper.

it can also be used in a group with a large sheet of butcher paper or if your with your team pass each of yours around and let the other person put there thoughts down.

[redships]

Another method is to create a wheel by cutting out three circles of sequencial order and writing descriptive words in the first two and a subject or noun inthe smallest. then use bracket or something to stick in the middle to hold it together. you can now spin the wheel to line up the words to make crazy combinations. it may sound lame, but you can quickly come up with absurd combinations that can allow for some interesting ideas.


like a jumping smelly vehicle
or a lazy burning enviorment etc.


http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/redships/idea_wheel_copy.jpg

[redships]

One technique that works well in a group and is kinda fun too is to buy afew beach balls and markers. blow up the beach balls and toss them around writing nouns adj. etc. on the sides of the ball. you can even make categories on the sides. toss them to your group and just keep having them tossed around and jotting down ideas. this can be great because it it can loosen up a group and can really stretch the ideas.

[redships]

A simple and obvious technique also can be to cross catergorize. i'm sure most people use and know about this but i thought i'd post it anyways.

example:

doll for boys = Action figure
storytelling + Plush animal = Teddy Ruxbin
man + bat = Batman

maybe not the most effective examples but you get the idea.

[redships]

another obvious one is " how to make this better? "

it can be a toy, a car, any concept or design. sitting down jotting out a quick list can really come up with some great ideas.

another version of this is " how to make this worse? " it seems ineffective but the purpose is to expand your regular ideas and come up with a new concept.




remember to loosen up when you do these. in the end the more fun you have the better your ideas will be. so be crazy wild extreme push the limits of your brainstorming and your concepts will imporve i promise.

the most important thing is there are NO BAD IDEAS when brainstorming. even if it seems stupid at the time say it or srite it down. once you are finished or exhuasted your thinking then go back through and edit.

[fredflickstone]

Here are another few. I am not sure what kind of brainstorming you are leading to, but if you were to:


For character designing: Take markers, the kind that bleed alot, and have a scribble fest on a top sheet of paper. Make lots of little blobs, all different configurations. Then turn the sheet over and look at teh spillover on the backside, it could give you great visual shapes to start with.

Or, do this ontop of threee of four other sheets of paper. Preferably xerox paper. That paper bleeds the most. Take the top sheet off when completed in the scribble phase, and look at teh second page, then the third for spots that blend to make shapes that will inspire.

This method can work for environments, illustration ideas...etc.

[fredflickstone]

Found objects. Look at objects in your house, office, etc. Look at them upside down, rightside up. etc...try and see if these objects will spark interest into something visual.

These exercises help enhance the way the brain sees. It first starts with blobs, until the blobs stack up accordingly, and create meaningful things. If you see something at night, you may see a silhouette that resembles a person, but as you step closer, it appears to be a trashcan with interersting garbage, forming the shape of a person sitting, etc.

Shape recognition. If you are creative, you can make much more, or see much more from abstract points of seeing....


I hope these are proper for this catagory...

Ron

[redships]

those are excellent methods ron. i've used them myself. thanks for the tips!

[RETEP]

i often find myself struggling to come up with new concepts and ideas, these will hopefully help. some of these methods sound like alot of fun to do, i have to try the spinning wheel, lol,it looks great.
thanks for posting