An icon representing Rapid ideation

Rapid Ideation

Project Stage:
Develop

Who:
Customer
Experts
Decision makers
Service Providers

Design Principles:
03. We will design services together  08. We will design to deliver value in all its forms  09. We will build, test, learn & iterate 



Rapid Ideation is a brainstorming technique where participants generate as many ideas as possible within a short, set time frame. It encourages quick, unfiltered thinking, often leading to more creative and diverse solutions. This method is especially useful in the early stages of a design process, helping teams break through mental barriers and explore a wide range of possibilities.

Use it to

  • Quickly generate a large volume of ideas in a short period.
  • Encourage creativity by removing constraints and time pressures.
  • Overcome blocks in the ideation process and break through to more innovative solutions.

Top Tips

  • Set a strict time limit to encourage fast thinking (e.g., 5–10 minutes per session).
  • Encourage participants to write down ideas without self-editing or judgement.
  • Follow up with a prioritisation or evaluation session to sift through ideas.
  • Use prompts or questions to kickstart ideation if the group gets stuck.
  • Ensure all ideas, no matter how wild or impractical, are recorded.

How – to

  • Set a timer for a short period (e.g., 5–15 minutes).
  • Present the problem or challenge that needs solving.
  • Instruct participants to write down as many ideas as they can during the time limit.
  • Once time is up, review and group the ideas for further analysis or discussion.
  • Refine and prioritise ideas in follow-up sessions.

Related Methods

An icon representing co-creation workshops

Co-Creation Workshops

An icon representing Brainstorming

Brainstorming

An icon representing affinity diagrams

Affinity Diagrams

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