Ideas come from ideas come from idea meetings of course, and often from casual conversations. Ideas come anytime, anywhere, so be ready, be open, and be looking for them. Try to record in some way what occurs to you; thoughts, questions observations, as well as fully formed product concepts. We are always looking for inspirations, intuitions, directions and observations, or questions that might frame or inspire a new product direction. 

 

 

 

Many great discoveries and solutions in history have arrived as a person was dozing off at home, or stepping onto the bus. They can and do come at any time and from anywhere. Like a writer who pays close attention to the people and places he encounters, gathering source material for his next novel, we make it a habit to be constantly scanning our everyday world for objects, observations, trends, and devices that we can share with the team as a possible beginning of a new idea. 

 

In any idea session, it is essential that you get your ideas into the mix, even if you feel you have to raise your hand to be acknowleged and heard. This was a problem to me as a young designer.

    

 

 

When describing your idea, be brief, be crystal clear, and be to the point. If there is little positive response, it is not likely that you were misunderstood, but rather that there is a lack of interest or excitement in your peers for your idea. Let it go. You will find that little comes from trying to sell your concept or attempt to solicit greater interest through more explanation. If people want more explanation, they will ask.  

 

Selling, or offering further explanation out of the assumption that people don’t understand your idea will frustrate the other participants (who are not dummies by the way, or they wouldn’t be there). It halts the flow of the meeting and kills the creative energy.  

 

 

         

Further thoughts on the topic of idea generation:

          

Get in the zone. I have found that the best creative output comes from a state of intense concentration - of carefully following the thread of the conversation, of making sure that your applicable ideas are inserted into the mix, and of being attuned to the ideas and imagery that come up as the conversation flows. The zone is a high state of awareness of all that is being said and happening around you as well as of your own spontaneously generating ideas. 

 

In the flow of a meeting, we are looking for a flow of ideas, images, and thoughts. No one need be profound, but each idea offered can trigger ideas and thoughts in others. Don’t censor your ideas, but get them into the meeting as soon as possible and where they are appropriate. Don’t hold back. Actively listen and actively participate 

 

Each thought you voice will create more, like a stone thrown into a pool of water. 

 

 

Posted March 8, 2010           

The second critical component of creative listening is to be tuned into the ideas that spring to mind from what you are hearing. We can’t help this, and want to use it. Like a room full of mousetraps, tossing out an idea conjures up other ideas, related and not in each and every person, and we want to make sure we capture and share these random thoughts. You must write them down, so that you don’t lose them and so that you can temporarily forget them and return to what the other group members may be saying. Jot down ideas as they occur so you can continue to be an attendant and active listener.

 

 

Then you need to interject these thoughts, incomplete as they may be, while this topic is under discussion - if the idea is in the same vein. Get them out and on the table at the time because they will be fodder for others' ideas in turn. Like the accretion of layers of ice on a ball of hail, bit by bit, more and more thoughts can be added to an idea until a real actionable concept is formed.

            

If your thought is on another tangent and would distract the conversation rather than serve to elaborate or support the it, then hold onto it and get it in as soon as the topic changes. 

            

In my experience, these are simple, not easy, but entirely necessary processes for a successful idea meeting.