• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Vogl & Blake Research Consultants

Research Consultants

  • Home
  • Services
  • Past Projects
    • Mixed methods research
    • User research case study
    • User research (iterative) case study
    • Qualitative Workplace Case Study
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team and Collaborators
    • Our Mission and Values
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us

Ideation Can Be Painful

October 21, 2021

By Dylan Hensby
UX Designer at Vogl and Blake Research Consultants


Ideation can be a painful process sometimes. Usually the problem being designed for is complex with multiple parts (also known as a wicked problem), and has no clear solution. So when it comes to creating ideas for these problems it’s normal to run into some difficulty. In this blog post, I look at three areas to consider if you or your team is struggling to generate ideas for both simple and complex problems.

Preparation is Important

The first thing to consider is whether your team is up to the ideation stage. Ideas that are successful are ideas that hit the target, and your research is that target. If you’re running into trouble it might be worth checking whether your team has done enough research. The more research you do, the clearer that target becomes. It also provides a psychological level of security for the team so they know that what is being worked on is worthwhile and isn’t going to be abandoned later on if an adjustment in aim is needed. At Vogl & Blake we can provide research for teams who need an outside perspective so consider outsourcing additional research if you need it.

Another important thing to consider is the preparation of the ideation session. Make sure the room is set up properly. And what I mean by that is to be conscious of it’s layout and contents. You want the space to be open, welcoming, and most importantly comfortable. If management has put your team in the company broom closet, consider perhaps having the session outside in a local park, or hiring a different space altogether.

Equipment is important too. Make sure to stock up on sticky notes, sharpies, butchers paper, etc. Snacks and tea/coffee are also essential. Some companies even include toys and other interactable objects to help stimulate creativity. If the inner environment of your ideation sessions has been overlooked, consider making some changes here as well.

​​Frameworks Are Your Friend

Ideation frameworks can be a reliable way to produce ideas. If your team is having a difficult time generating ideas then this is the second area to consider. Take a critical look at the methods that you are using. If your team is just ‘brainstorming’ then like a ship without sails, it’s very easy to drift off course. I would encourage you to seek out specific frameworks designed to generate ideas. Crazy 8’s, Worst Idea Ever, and Persona-based Walkthroughs are a couple just to name a few.

If your team already has specific frameworks in place then consider trying new ones. There are countless resources online. Looking at the problem from additional angles can only help at this stage and it might just be the shake up that your team needs.

Use Time to Your Advantage

Time can also be responsible for ideation problems. It’s very easy to have one eye on the blank page in front of you, and one eye on the calendar as the deadline draws closer. The opposite is also true. With no deadline whatsoever it can be difficult to stay focused and make meaningful progress towards a solution.

Try setting time limits, or use the timebox format. Set both time limits for exercises as well as ideation sessions in general. For example, today we are going to do 2 hours of ideation, using bodystorming for the first hour, and then persona-based walkthroughs for the second. Time based ideation frameworks can also be helpful here, such as crazy 8’s, where you have 8 minutes to come up with 8 ideas. Structuring your ideation time can help keep your team focused and give creativity that little kick it sometimes needs.

Also don’t forget to take breaks. Often the best ideas can come through when the mind is rested or thinking about something else. Just like a little computer, the mind can often be working away on the problem in your subconscious. Once the mind is unoccupied by focused thought the solution has room to bubble up to the surface.

Ideation isn’t easy. When you see other teams or people come up with great ideas on the fly, what you don’t see is the conscious design of the space that these ideas grow in. While we can’t control creativity itself, we can control our preparation, the methods we use, and how we use our time. Try adjusting these three areas to create space for your team’s next great idea.


Sources

Gouw, T. “Assorted Pens and Colored Papers” 29 Feb 2016. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/KigTvXqetXA

Sherwin, D. “How to Do Timeboxing Right” 18 Feb 2019. Retrieved from https://www.davidsherwin.com/blog/timeboxing

Primary Sidebar

From the Blog

Practising Inclusive Design: Three Guiding Principles

By Dylan Hensby (UX Research and Design) The relationship that humankind has with technology is constantly evolving. One area in particular is how we interact and use technology. There is a growing focus on using design to improve these interactions (and the experiences that surround them) to make them as seamless as possible. However as… [Read More]

Are you solving the real problem? Why empathy matters.

By Dylan Hensby. UX Research & Design at Vogl and Blake Research Consultants. Empathy is an important part of life. It’s how we understand and relate to one another. However, when it comes to businesses or large organisations, there is a risk that empathy can get left behind. It’s very common to assume that the… [Read More]

Understanding Neurodiversity: The Strengths, Challenges, and Support Needs of Neurodivergent Individuals

By Hannah WiseResearch Assistant at Vogl & Blake Research Consultants The things we need in order for our daily lives to run smoothly is something that varies from person to person. Some of us share similar needs, whilst others will need different kinds of support to access and succeed in the same environment.  Whether a… [Read More]

Bad Ideas as a Design Methodology

By Dylan HensbyUX Designer at Vogl and Blake Research Consultants Ideation can be a scary process. The unpredictable nature of creativity combined with different personality types in the room, and the pressure of coming up with a good idea, can be overwhelming. This is where incorporating bad ideas into your ideation process can help keep… [Read More]

How to facilitate research with diverse and vulnerable groups

Inclusion plays a vital role in the delivery of accurate and credible research. When facilitating research with diverse and vulnerable groups, there are important things you will need to keep in mind. Adhering to cultural protocols and using the correct language are just some of the things that can help with building an inclusive research… [Read More]

Vogl & Blake Research Consultants

Site by Handstand Graphics

Photography by Local Images

Thank you to Our Father Café for allowing Vogl & Blake to have our photo shoot in their lovely venue


Vogl & Blake acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia's First People and Traditional Custodians and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also recognise their continuing culture with all its resilience, strength and pride.