Workshop Exercises: Ideate

Reverse Brainstorming

Prompt your group to think of problems rather than solutions

Alternative plays: Bad Idea Brainstorming, The Anti-Problem

Follow-up plays: Figure Storming, Value Proposition Mapping

Timing: Discovery

Run time
30-45 minutes

Group size
2-10

Why: Flip creativity on its head and unlock new pathways to solutions by questioning the problem definition

When: Ideal to get unstuck and refresh the thinking process

Instructions for running this play

Frame the problem. Agree on the challenge or question you want to explore as a group. How Might We…* is a great way to frame the question.
Reverse the problem. Instead of thinking of solutions, think of causes or things that could happen to make the idea worse.
Problem: How might we lower spam mail?
Anti-problem: How might we increase the amount of spam?
Collect ideas. Generate ideas around how the problem could get worse. Accept every possible scenario without criticism – there are no bad ideas. Consider running a Crazy Eights or Round Robin to generate ideas.
Reverse ideas again. Discuss the top ideas and reverse them back into solutions to those problems.
Anti-solution: Display employee emails directly on company websites.
Real solution: Remove employee emails from company websites.
Evaluate ideas. Which are feasible and which will have the most impact?

Run better workshops with Learning Loop card decks.

Every card deck includes workshop patterns, so your team can put the methods to work in your next session.

Running behavioral design workshops? The Persuasive Patterns Workshop Playbook (PDF) shows you how to design and run them.

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