Brain Storm

🧠 What is Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a classic team creativity method introduced by Alex Osborn, the founder of an advertising agency, in the 1940s.

Its goal is to inspire creativity in an open and free atmosphere, quickly generate a large number of ideas, and then select feasible solutions.

The core idea is:

“First diverge, then converge” — generate as many ideas as possible without judgment, then filter and refine them to find the most valuable direction.

🧪 Origin & Key Figures

• Proposer: Alex Osborn (American advertiser, co-founder of BBDO)
• Time: Around 1942
• Background: Developed during advertising creative meetings to break mental rigidity and promote idea collisions.
• Representative Users: BBDO advertising agency, IDEO design firm.
• Typical Case: IDEO uses brainstorming extensively in its design thinking process, enabling multidisciplinary teams to quickly generate ideas that lead to innovative products.

🛠 How to Use Brainstorming

The brainstorming process can be divided into the following steps:

1. Define the Goal
   • Clearly state the problem or objective to solve.
   • Example: Come up with a creative name for a new product.
2. Prepare the Environment
   • Create a relaxed, pressure-free atmosphere.
   • Use tools like whiteboards, sticky notes, or online platforms such as Miro and Notion.
3. Free Idea Generation
   • Everyone contributes ideas freely, with no restrictions or criticism.
   • Follow Osborn’s four principles: defer judgment, seek quantity, welcome the unusual, build on others’ ideas.
4. Record All Ideas
   • Capture every idea visually to avoid omissions.
5. Organize and Filter
   • Evaluate ideas based on feasibility, impact, and cost.
6. Implement and Test
   • Transform the best ideas into an action plan and test them in practice.

📚 Case Studies

• Case 1 (Business Scenario)

  A tech company needed a name for its new app. Through brainstorming, the team generated 100+ names ranging from humorous to serious. Market testing identified the most viral option.

  Insight: Quantity leads to quality — great ideas emerge from a large pool.

• Case 2 (Education Scenario)

  A teacher asked students to brainstorm “How to reduce campus waste.” Ideas included “trash-for-points” and “eco-friendly competitions.” The class implemented a reward system.

  Insight: Brainstorming not only sparks ideas but also strengthens teamwork.

• Case 3 (Historical Scenario)

  During WWII, the U.S. military used brainstorming-like sessions to improve weapon design, significantly shortening development cycles.

  Insight: In high-pressure environments, open creative discussions accelerate innovation.

⚖️ Advantages & Limitations (Optional)

Advantages

• Quickly generates a large number of ideas
• Boosts teamwork and participation
• Breaks fixed thinking patterns

Limitations

• May lack depth if ideas remain superficial
• Risks being dominated by a few voices
• Without filtering, outcomes may be hard to implement

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Optional)

1. Is more always better in brainstorming?
   • In the early stage, yes. But ideas must later be filtered and evaluated.
2. Can remote teams brainstorm effectively?
   • Absolutely. Tools like Miro, Notion, and Jamboard make online brainstorming possible.

🎯 Application Scenarios (Optional)

• Work: product ideation, strategic planning, advertising campaigns
• Learning: class discussions, research topics
• Life: family decisions, event planning

📖 Recommended Resources

Books

• Osborn, A. F. (1953). Applied Imagination — the classic work on brainstorming
• IDEO. Design Thinking Process — integrates brainstorming into innovation frameworks

Other Resources

• IDEO case studies and design thinking courses
• TED Talks on creativity and teamwork

🔗 Related Methods (Optional)

• Design Thinking
• Six Thinking Hats
• SCAMPER Method

💡 Key Takeaway

“Brainstorming: Let ideas fly, then refine.”