I got the motts! You are here! You are here!

Great Book by IDEO
Brainstorming at ski lodges and beach resorts can be counterproductive. Do you want your team members to think that creativity and inspiration only happen at high altitude or within walking distance of an ocean? Don’t get me wrong: Off-sites are fine. But remember, you want the buzz of creativity to blow through your offices as regularly as a breeze at the beach.


Sports utility shopping carts? Velcro diapers. A privacy curtain to hide those embarrassing purchases. These are just a few of the wacky ideas that can come out during a brainstorming session. I can’t emphasize enough what these flights of fancy do for the team. They remind everybody that his isn’t like work, that anything goes, and that we’re going to have a lot of fun while we solve our problems.


I recently encountered a senior manager who’s very good at a lot of things, but very bad a brainstorming. What’s his main fault? He writes everything down, and I mean everything. He seldom contributes anything useful. We’ve seen this scenario before, especially among those who are new to brainstomers. Taking notes shifts your focus to the wrong side of your brain. It’s like trying to dance and type on your laptop at the same time. Sketch all you want, doodle to your hearts’ delight. But don’t act as if you’re in History 101.

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Bob Rios Visual Design Strategies
an idea starts with a pen
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