This Ideation module walks you step-by-step through the process of running an ideation workshop. A workshop is just one of many approaches you can take toward ideation.

This process produces a large number of ideas from many perspectives, and offers suggested processes for narrowing down potential solutions (i.e. prioritization).

We’ve simplified the workshop template into 3 key steps:

• Preparing for Ideation Activities

• Prioritizing Ideas

• Reflecting on the Process

The instructions below also provide information on the materials you might need to run an ideation session with clients and community members.

Preparing for Ideation Activities

• Send out invites to children, family and caregivers who may be interested in co-designing ideas. Ensure clarity of session purpose

• Send out appropriate session materials in advance. For example, you can share a link to Insights Report or a link to this learning module.

• Choose a session leader and ensure that they feel confident to facilitate the session.

• Bring a few pads of sticky notes so everyone has a stack to write on.

If you’re running a workshop…Materials

• 3x3 sticky notes

• Sharpies

• Printed copies of Personas & HMW questions for each group

• Participant sign-in list (if they wish to receive follow-up communication)

• Flip chart paper 

• Dot stickers for voting (can also use Sharpies)

• Computer or notebook to take notes during the reflection

During your Ideation Activities

Get to know the personas

• Distribute printed copies of the Personas and sticky notes.

• Ask participants to discuss in groups of 3 - 4: Do these Personas remind you of anyone you know? What resonates? What is missing?

Use the HMW question to define the problem

• Write out your prompt question on flipchart paper using “How Might We…?":

  • Example: HMW improve services for children, families, and caregivers which address toxic stress, trauma, and well-being?

  • Other examples of HMW questions are also available in the insights report.

  • Over 80 HMW questions from CCWB are shared below.

• If you’d like to modify/adapt/develop your own HMW questions, here are some additional tools and techniques that might be helpful.

  • Use this worksheet from the Tamarack Institute to think through your HMW question.

  • Keep in mind that a great HMW question:

    ➔ Has a real client at the center of the question

    ➔ Feels like an invitation to explore new possibilities

    ➔ Can be answered in many unique ways

  • A not-so-great HMW question (avoid these):

    ➔ Has a solution already baked into the question

    ➔ Focuses on creating value for the organization, not the client

    ➔ Seeks to influence or convince people rather than discovering benefits for them

  • If you want to improve your HMW question, reflect on these:

    ➔ Is it focused on a human being (your client)?

    ➔ Is it specific enough to yield tangible ideas?

    ➔ Is it broad enough to allow for a wide variety of solutions?

• Review the HMW question that your group has chosen to focus on.

  • Start solo. Ask each person to take 3 - 5 minutes to individually write down their ideas in response to the prompt question (one idea per sticky note!)

  • In groups of 3 - 4 people, share your ideas. Combine ideas and build off of each other’s perspectives.

  • Write down new ideas on new sticky notes as they come up.

How do you prioritize all the new ideas?

Clustering

• Take all the ideas and being sorting them into similar groups. Try to put “like with like” into columns (of sticky notes). **Note, do not ‘name’ your clusters until all ideas have been sorted into groups. You can use a ‘placeholder name’ during the sorting process - shapes are usually helpful at this point (circle group, square group, star group, triangle group, etc.)

• After the ideas have been sorted, name the clusters: Try giving the cluster a meaningful 2-5 word name and draw a box around the border of the sticky note to signify that it is a title.

Dot Voting

• Participants Dot vote for their favorite ideas. Distribute 3-5 dots to each participant to vote for their favorite cluster(s).

• Participants can “power vote” if they feel that an idea is really important or spread out the dots across multiple groups.

• After everyone has added their dots, count the dots and rank the clusters to set up the top priorities.

Prioritization Framework

• If you need to add more nuance to the top 1-3 ideas, use the prioritization worksheet developed by Overlap Associates.

• Complete the worksheet for each of your top ideas, expanding on the potential impact, organizational fit, and potential ‘momentum’ that can build behind a particular idea.

• After completing the worksheet for each idea, you should have 1 (or 2) ideas that your team is comfortable with and ready to prototype.

An Example of Clustering and Dot Voting

Still not sure which idea(s) to choose for Prototyping?

Have you gone through clustering, dot voting, and the prioritization framework? Still not sure which idea to move forward with? Try using the impact-effort matrix.

The impact-effort matrix will help your team assess each idea based on 1) the level of effort required to put the idea into action and 2) the potential impact and benefits the idea will have.

The matrix is set up as a square with four quadrants. Sort your ideas by expected effort and impact to identify which ones are “Quick Wins,” “Transformational Projects,” “Momentum Builders,” and “Thankless Tasks.”

End with a group reflection

• End with a group reflection and take notes:

  • What did we do today?

  • What was a high point/low point?

  • Did you have any learnings or “aha” moments?

  • What is a takeaway from today that you want to carry forward?

• The ORID Framework is a useful approach to facilitating a group reflection:

  • Objective - What did we do today?

  • Reflective - What is your gut reaction to the events? High points or low points?

  • Interpretive - So What? Why is this important for what we do?

  • Decisions - Now what happens? What specific steps will we take after this session?

After the Ideation Activities

• Take a photo of sticky note clusters/columns with dotted votes

• Send a follow-up email to participants with photo, notes from the reflection, and clearly-defined next steps (from the Decisions portion of the reflection)

Looking for more inspiration on Ideation?

Feel free to start with the example structure suggested by Co-Creating Well-Being. Other methods and examples of ideation activities are available from Design Kit, Essential Ideation Skills, and Aging By Design.