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50 Easy Brainstorming Activities, Games, and Exercises

A brainstorming exercise can be a great way to encourage team members to share their best ideas to create new and innovative solutions to a given problem. The key to effective brainstorming is to use a warm-up exercise to get creative juices flowing and encourage different perspectives. And remember, don’t judge anyone. During the brainstorming process, there is no such thing as a bad idea.

Here are 50 creative brainstorming activities for your next brainstorming session to break out of routine thinking and generate fresh ideas.

Brainstorming Warm-ups

#1. Draw Something
It is a good idea to start an idea generation process in a fun way to encourage creative thinking. Drawing is a great starting point, and the idea of the game is simply to be creative.

How to Do It:

  • Set a timer for one minute.
  • Ask everyone in the ideation session to draw something simple and abstract (toast is a common example).

OR

  • To make the most of your time, make the drawing task related to the main problem to get everyone’s mind focused on the topic.

#2. Multi-Purpose Items
This is a fun activity to encourage everyone to have an open mind and come up with creative ideas.

How to Do It:

  • Break into small groups.
  • Provide groups an item like a clothes peg or paperclip.
  • Set a time limit of 1-3 minutes.
  • Come up with as many different uses for the item as possible.

Common Ideas

#3. Popcorn
This brainstorming technique is a free flow method for coming up with lots of ideas very quickly. This is a good game to create initial ideas for later activities.

How to Do It:

  • Propose a specific problem or topic.
  • Provide thinking time (usually one minute).
  • Designate a note-taker to write down ideas.
  • Have people call out their ideas and encourage others to respond and add to these ideas.
  • Once you’ve run out of ideas, go back through the list and choose the best ones to explore.

#4. Brain Writing
This is one of the most effective brainstorming techniques for generating many possible solutions and ensures that everyone has a say. Usually, due to time constraints, it will be less than ideal if you have a room full of people. Keep the group small so that everyone can participate.

How to Do It:

  • Define a problem or topic.
  • Take a sheet of paper and have one person write down their idea.
  • Pass the piece of paper to the next person, and they add their idea or modify the original.
  • Repeat this until all group members have contributed.
  • For more ideas, have multiple people write the problem in their own words so that several unique lists are created.

#5. Rapid Ideation
Sometimes called “rapid writing,” “rapid ideation” is a structured version of the popcorn method.

How to Do It:

  • Set out a central problem.
  • Set a time limit of 3-5 minutes.
  • Have each person/team write down as many ideas as they can think of in that time.
  • Once time has passed, compare notes and look for similar ideas or common themes.

#6. Mind Mapping
A “mind map” is a visually connected form of free association. When mind mapping, ideas are free to grow, and the connections between ideas are visually traced.

How to Do It:

  • You will need a whiteboard and markers (or an online whiteboard).
  • Start by writing down the core question.
  • Set a timer (optional).
  • Take turns calling out ideas/questions that are associated with the core issue.
  • Draw a line between the core idea and each related point.
  • Continue calling out associated ideas or questions for the core or sub-ideas.
  • Continue until time runs out or enough ideas are generated.

#7. The 5 Whys
The “five whys” is one of the most powerful brainstorming techniques for getting to the heart of a problem.

How to Do It:

  • Best applied in small groups.
  • Take a piece of paper or whiteboard and write down your problem in the top corner.
  • Regarding the problem, ask “Why?” and write down the answer.
  • Then regarding the answer, ask “Why?” again.
  • Repeat for five “whys.”
  • Then discuss what you have learned about the cause of the issue.

Ideas to Include Quiet People

#8. Walking Brainstorm
A “walking brainstorm” is a useful tool if you have enough space, such as a conference room. It is also good for addressing complex problems and ensures that everyone has an opportunity to share.

How to Do It:

  • Set up stations around a room.
  • At each station, have a separate aspect of a larger problem.
  • Have sticky notes available at each station.
  • Individuals then quietly walk between stations, write their idea(s) on sticky notes and add them to that station.
  • Allow adequate time for everyone to attend each station.

#9. Idea Napkin
An “idea napkin” is a balance between producing a lot of ideas quickly and getting some depth on the ideas.

How to Do It:

  • Provide everyone with an index card.
  • Set a time limit of 5 minutes.
  • During this time, everyone writes down their idea and an elevator pitch.
  • Have each person pitch their idea to the group.
  • For large groups, break out into smaller groups to complete the task.

#10. Brainstorming with a Partner
Breaking into pairs is a great approach when working with a larger group. Each pair can be assigned different aspects of the problem to solve or all work on the same problem.

How to Do It:

  • Have the group separate into pairs.
  • Provide the problem to be addressed.
  • Set a timer for five minutes.
  • Ensure each group records all ideas, no matter how crazy they may seem.
  • Compare ideas as a large group and look for common themes.

#11. Collaborative Brainwriting
This is a great way to involve everyone in the ideation process while providing time for natural creativity to flow.

How to Do It:

  • In a communal area, set up a whiteboard or large flipchart and markers.
  • At the top of the writing medium, write a clear problem statement.
  • Members of the team/organization can freely approach the board throughout the week and add ideas or comment on others’ ideas.
  • At the next meeting, discuss the ideas proposed.

Ideas for Online Groups

#12. Chat Waterfall
When working with remote groups, ideas can be lost quickly in the flow of a written chat conversation, and the “chat waterfall” solves this.

How to Do It:

  • Ideal for groups of 5-15 people.
  • Set up a group video chat.
  • Set the theme of the brainstorming session.
  • Give everyone two minutes to think quietly.
  • Have everyone type their best idea(s) into the written chat, but do not send the ideas to each other just yet.
  • Once everyone has written their ideas, have everyone press Send at the same time.
  • Discuss the ideas.

#13. Brain Netting
“Brain netting” is a great way for remote groups to brainstorm together without having to meet in real-time.

How to Do It:

  • Set up a shared online document such as a Google doc.
  • Set the theme of the brainstorming session at the top.
  • Allow everyone to access the file for one week and add their ideas or comments on other people’s ideas.
  • At the end date, review the document for ideas.

#14. Virtual Change of Scene
The “virtual change of scene” uses novelty to encourage originality in thoughts and ideas.

How to Do It:

  • The presenter should choose a background that creatively relates to the theme of the brainstorming session.
  • Ideally, set a theme and have everyone set custom backgrounds to match (e.g., innovation).
  • Commence your brainstorming exercise in this novel setting.
  • Experiment with using a change of scene with a chat waterfall.

#15. Lightning Decision Jam
This is one of the most powerful techniques for remote workgroups and can come up with some great ideas.

How to Do It:

  • In a small group, begin with the main discussion point.
  • First three-minute round: Throw out as many positive points about the main issue as possible.
  • Second three-minute round: Repeat the above for negative points.
  • Reframe each point as questions.
  • Prioritize the most urgent concerns.
  • In a five-minute round, develop solutions using another brainstorming method.
  • Create a matrix of solutions and weigh solutions by the ease of implementation and highest impact.

#16. Imagination Storming
This method is great because it can even be done via a phone call instead of video chat. It appeals to visual thinkers and is great for product development.

How to Do It:

  • Have participants close their eyes for one minute and imagine the core topic (e.g., smartphones). They should visualize what it looks like, what it does, and how it’s used.
  • Then, discuss common trends and themes of what was imagined.
  • Everyone closes their eyes again for one minute. This time imagine new uses for the same thing or new features/accessories that would make it better.

#17. Random Stimulus – Version 1
“Random stimulus” is a great activity for spontaneous idea generation with online groups.

How to Do It:

  • Give each participant one minute to get an item from around their house.
  • Give everyone two minutes to write down ideas related to their item.
  • Now, introduce the main brainstorming topic.
  • Each person has one minute to force-fit what they have written to relate to a core idea.

#18. Eight in Eight
This is a version of the “crazy eights” method that can be applied online or in small groups.

How to Do It:

  • Recommend a group of eight.
  • Make sure each participant has a drawing application or paper and pen/marker ready.
  • Provide an issue or idea at the center of a 3 x 3 grid.
  • Start a one-minute timer, and everyone must produce a drawing of the problem.
  • Arrange the drawings around the central issue.
  • Put one of the problem representations at the center of another 3 x 3 grid.
  • Start another one-minute timer, and everyone must draw a solution to the problem.
  • Complete the second exercise for all eight problems.

Visual Ideas

#19. Drawing the Problem
This is a type of reverse brainstorming where participants draw pictures to represent the problem as they see it.

How to Do It:

  • Provide all participants with a sheet of paper and a marker.
  • Begin by stating a general issue, e.g., “We have bad customer reviews.”
  • Allow all participants five minutes to draw their representation of the problem.
  • Discuss solutions openly.

#20. Draw It Out
This is similar to #19, but is solution-focused. Drawing solutions can require more time than drawing the problem.

How to Do It:

  • Provide all participants with a large sheet of paper and a pen/marker.
  • Begin by clearly providing a problem statement.
  • Allow all participants five minutes to draw their solutions. Common approaches are:
  • Draw the envisioned solution (or more than one if time permits).Draw a flowchart illustrating the steps of the problem-solving process.

#21. Drawing Off-Hand
This idea is a fun and somewhat silly drawing exercise that can produce some very creative ideas.

How to Do It:

  • Set out the core issue to be addressed.
  • Provide everyone with a piece of paper and pen/marker.
  • Set a timer for five minutes.
  • Using their non-dominant hand to draw, each person draws a solution to the issue.

#22. Sticky Note Map
This is a version of free-form mind mapping and is great for including quiet members of a group.

How to Do It:

  • Write the core issue/idea in the center of a whiteboard.
  • Provide sticky notes to everyone in the group.
  • Group members can write their idea on a sticky note and then add it to the board.
  • Members should draw a line between their idea and the idea it relates to.

#23. Crazy Eights
The fast pace helps to remove self-imposed limitations on creativity and discourages overthinking.

How to Do It:

  • Draw a grid of nine squares on a whiteboard.
  • In the center square, write the problem statement.
  • Set a timer for eight minutes.
  • Take turns drawing a solution in each box around the central problem.

Creative Ideas

#24. Role-Playing
Role-playing can be used to better understand a customer or user’s experience.

How to Do It:

  • You need enough participants for each role represented.
  • Act out a scenario, such as a product use case.
  • Treat the problem realistically, but be as creative or ridiculous as you want in other ways.
  • Anyone not roleplaying can interject with ideas and comments.
  • Discuss what everyone has learned about the issue.

#25. Free Association
“Free association” is a simple “what comes to mind” association exercise. For this activity, participants write down everything, no matter how unrelated it may seem.

How to Do It:

  • You will need a whiteboard and pen/markers (or online whiteboard).
  • Designate a writer.
  • Start by writing down the core idea.
  • Set a timer (optional).
  • Take turns calling out ideas/thoughts/words that come to anyone’s mind.
  • Look for common themes.

#26. The 5 Senses
The “five senses” technique is an effective way to brainstorm for original ideas as it involves using all of your senses.

How to Do It:

  • Close your eyes and imagine the problem you are facing (or a problem using a product, etc.) and try to experience it with your five senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, touch.
  • For each sense, imagine possible solutions or ideas related to the problem at hand.
  • Write down any ideas that come to you during this process.

#27. Storytelling
This is good for product development or marketing teams. It involves telling a narrative about your problem and working through the scenario.

How to Do It:

  • Outline the problem to be solved.
  • Best for groups of 7-15.
  • Designate a storyteller in each group.
  • The storyteller begins by describing a fictional narrative (e.g., about using a product that receives a lot of bad feedback).
  • Other group members may ask questions, point out objections or suggest additional ideas.
  • Write down a summary of your story and your group progress on the problem.
  • Discuss what you have learned.

#28. Reverse Assumptions
This method challenges what you think you know about an idea. It can be applied online, in groups, or alone.

How to Do It:

  • Write down the problem on a piece of paper or a whiteboard/online whiteboard (e.g., “Not enough sales.”).
  • Write down what you think the problem is (e.g., “Our products are too expensive.”).
  • Challenge the idea with different assumptions (e.g., “Competitors’ products are better.”).
  • Continue until no new assumptions come to mind.

#29. Metaphoric Association
This can be more challenging to learn than other ideas but helps generate lots of creativity.

How to Do It:

  • Think of a location, place, or object (e.g., police station).
  • Try to think of what it can be a metaphor for (e.g., challenging risks/confrontation).
  • Now, force this metaphor to relate to your core problem.

#30. Random Stimulus – Version 2
“Random stimulus” is a method that is designed to generate abstract creativity. Version 1 of the random stimulus exercise is included above in the Ideas for Online Groups section and is meant to be done from home.

How to Do It:

  • Before your brainstorming session, select random items equal to the number of participants.
  • Pass each person an item and give everyone two minutes to write down ideas related to their item.
  • Now, introduce the main brainstorming topic to the group.
  • Each person has one minute to force what they have written to relate to the core idea.

#31. Writing Off-Hand
This method helps with thinking with the non-dominant half of your brain and is a fun way to generate new ideas.

How to Do It:

  • Identify the core issue to address.
  • Provide everyone with a piece of paper and pen.
  • Set a timer of 3-5 minutes.
  • Everyone writes as many ideas as they can think of with their non-dominant hand.

#32. Exaggeration
This is a method designed to use absurdity to encourage creativity. By making things absurd, it’s easier to be creative.

How to Do It:

  • This works best with multiple small groups.
  • Give each group an exaggeration (e.g., make it 10x as big, solve this with a zero $ budget, etc.).
  • Give the groups a problem statement.
  • Provide 5-10 minutes for each group to discuss the problem under their exaggerated conditions.
  • Discuss the ideas generated and how they could apply in reality.

Ideas for Deep Thinking

#33. Lotus Bloom
This is a technique that goes deep in search of innovative ideas, building on each suggestion to find a better idea.

How to Do It:

  • Break into groups of 3-10.
  • Draw a grid of nine squares in the center of a large piece of paper or whiteboard.
  • Write the central issue in the middle square.
  • Try to fill out the other eight squares with related ideas.
  • Repeat 2-5 times for the most promising ideas from each attempt.

#34. Six Questions
This method looks at a problem from several different angles and is a popular approach to address big problems.

How to Do It:

  • Draw a 6-point star in the center of a whiteboard.
  • In the center of the star, write the core topic.
  • Around the points, write Who, What, Why, When, Where and How.
  • Begin answering each of the questions
  • If you have enough participants, small groups can be assigned to work on each question.

#35. Five Times
For this method, try to rephrase your answer to the main idea/problem five times in new ways.

How to Do It:

  • This can be done as a group or individually.
  • This can be used to analyze ideas generated from another brainstorming game.
  • Take the central idea and write down the best solution you can think of.
  • Rewrite the same solution another four times, as uniquely as possible.
  • Look for how each solution might be implemented differently, even though each is based on the same statement.

#36. Stakeholder Round Robin
This is a good way to come up with a large number of ideas that each fit different categories or approaches.

How to Do It:

  • Think of the stakeholders who matter to your core issue (2 is minimum, but ideally 3+).
  • Before the brainstorming session, prepare a flip chart with one stakeholder listed at the top of each page.
  • Set a five-minute timer to discuss the brainstorming topic from the perspective of the first stakeholder.
  • Flip the chart and repeat for the next stakeholder.
  • Continue until all stakeholders are discussed.
  • Compare common themes between stakeholders.

Uncommon Ideas

#37. Outrageous Ideas
This is one of the most creative exercises for brainstorming and is particularly good when you become stuck with other methods.

How to Do It:

  • In a group, or on your own, take a piece of paper or a whiteboard.
  • Write down every idea, no matter how outrageous.
  • Look at the ideas to see if any can become reality.

#38. Talking Timebomb
This is a great brainstorming game and is particularly good for use with students or when you want to make a fun activity for a group.

How to Do It:

  • You will need a tool such as an online random timer (like here: https://creativetechguy.com/utilities/randomtimer) and a physical object to pass, such as a small ball or use a physical random timer (like in the Gibson Easiplay Pass The Bomb Game).
  • Give the central topic or idea to be addressed.
  • Set the timer to between 15-60 seconds.
  • The first student starts with the timer or object.
  • When the time starts, they must call out an idea or solution related to the central topic. They then pass the ball to the second student.
  • The second student then also adds an idea or solution that hasn’t already been said. They then pass the ball to the next student.
  • Repeat until the timer expires. The goal is not to be the person it ends on.
  • For extra fun, have a low-stakes reward such as leaving 15 minutes early or a free coffee.

#39. Shiritori
This is a chained word association game for groups of three or more. It is a fun way to generate a lot of ideas.

How to Do It:

  • Set a timer.
  • One person starts by saying a word related to the main topic.
  • The next person must say a word that is related to the main topic and starts with the last letter of the first word.
  • Continue in this manner.

#40. Pushy Salesperson
This game is intended to be fun while often providing surprising insights about existing products or services or when analyzing ideas from another brainstorming game.

How to Do It:

  • You need at least two people.
  • Pick the product/service/solution to be discussed.
  • One person has two minutes to sell the solution to the rest of the group. Like a pushy salesperson, they must continuously talk, not stopping.
  • Repeat as few or as many times as you like.

#41. Like/Dislike
This can be used to compare ideas generated in a previous activity or to create and compare new ideas.

How to Do It:

  • Have a group of three or more people.
  • On a whiteboard, draw five columns. From left to right, label them -2, -1, neutral, +1, +2.
  • Each person writes one idea/solution to the central topic on a sticky note and puts it in the neutral column.

OR

  • Have a list of 4-10 great ideas from another activity and arrange these in the neutral column.
  • Each person can move up to three notes, but they can only move each note one space left or right.
  • Once everyone has had a turn moving notes (voting), discuss which ideas have the greatest preference and why.

#42. The Next Big Thing
This is a fun game. It is intended to be light-hearted and start conversations, but it can also be used for product idea generation.

How to Do It:

  • Provide the main issue/market to be addressed.
  • Allow a certain amount of time, such as 20 minutes, for the group to quietly think of the most ambitious ideas they can. The goal is to be the next Apple or Coca Cola.
  • After time is up, each person pitches their idea.

#43. Bad Ideas
The “bad ideas” game is a great approach when it seems all other attempts have stalled.

How to Do It:

  • Set the core topic.
  • Come up with the worst ideas possible to solve it.
  • Some ideas may spur thoughts that lead to good ideas.
  • If not, start working through each idea and discussing what the opposite of it looks like.

#44. 30 Circles
This is designed to force participants to think outside the box by requiring a set number of solutions.

How to Do It:

  • Take a large sheet of paper or a whiteboard and draw 30 circles in a square.
  • Write the problem to be addressed across the top of the square.
  • In each circle, write one idea/solution to address the problem.
  • Continue until all 30 are filled.
  • Look for common ideas.

#45. Radaptation
“Radaptation,” or “reverse adaptation” is a method that requires a lot of abstract thought. Adaptation is changing a function/feature to perform a new role. In radaptation, you take a function unchanged and apply it to an existing issue/problem.

How to Do It:

  • Think of a product or feature that is currently popular (e.g., Nike shoes).
  • Now, consider what this product does in its current form, other than its core function (e.g., they look very nice).
  • How can this product be used/sold for other issues (e.g., now sold as a status symbol, instead of just jogging shoes).

#46. In the Footsteps of Greatness
This is a brainstorming technique intended to put participants into someone else’s shoes, usually a celebrity or someone notable.

How to Do It:

  • Before the brainstorming session, decide what the brainstorming topic will be.
  • Decide what notable historical or celebrity figure’s perspective would be interesting to discuss your topic from.
  • Provide both the topic and the name of a famous person to your group.
  • Discuss how that person would approach your problem.

#47. What-if
This approach is great for having a lot of fun while getting different perspectives on an issue, particularly if you have become stuck.

How to Do It:

  • Set a problem statement.
  • Ask “What if?” and then make up your own scenario (e.g., what if this happened when we didn’t have computers?).
  • Explore how different questions would be answered.
  • Continue until you have enough ideas.

#48. Random Words
This is a forced correlation and association game.

How to Do It:

  • Prepare a list of common words.
  • Provide each participant with one word at random.
  • Each person has one minute to discuss how their word relates to the main brainstorming topic.

#49. I Wish
“I wish” is a similar concept to exaggeration. It removes real-world limitations from the problem-solving exercise.

How to Do It:

  • Discuss a problem statement as a group, such as “make the world’s oceans better.”
  • In small groups, discuss “I wish” solutions such as “I wish there were robotic ships that picked up ocean litter.”
  • Discuss the solutions.
  • Are any of the solutions more achievable than they initially sounded?

#50. Yes, And
“Yes, and” is a technique that is about building on what another person shares, rather than objecting to or tearing ideas down.

How to Do It:

  • Best applied after another technique has produced some good ideas.
  • If no idea already exists, someone starts and suggests their best idea to address a chosen problem.
  • The next person must say “yes, and” and add to the conversation without detracting from the previous statement.
  • Continue until no one has anything more to add (or enough ideas are provided).

Conclusion

There are a lot of different ways to run a brainstorming activity. To get lots of new ideas, start with a brainstorming method that is fun and build on this with a more in-depth method. Remember, it is a creative exercise about finding original ideas. To maximize your chance of doing this, be sure to include each member of your team and try to leave choosing your favorite ideas until the end of the game or activity.

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