Creative thinking is part of the process of design. Some people have the gift to think of great ideas easily, but truth be told we all get creative blocks. In order to over come these blocks here are some techniques to help out with this issue. Brainstorming is one used often. Like the name, brainstorming is not limited to any particular area of creativity; it can be applied in any situation.

Brainstorming is a creative process in which people try to come up with solution for a problem by accumulating ideas, suggested by different people in a team or a single person. Some of the techniques include making a list, drawing diagrams, or simply talking about them.

Recently there has been doubt that group brainstorming is effective. Some researchers suggest that individuals can be more successful brainstorming alone, because of social and communication barriers. However, a significant of creative groups and web design agencies report that brainstorming is a successful method.

Essential Principles

For this process to be effective, it should be established on several principles.

1. Quantity

Focus on generating as many ideas as you can. Begin with obvious one and stretch your imagination in order to come up with interesting and unexpected ideas. One simple exercise Make yourself think of 77 solutions to solve your problem, without letting yourself stop until you reach the number. You will be impressed with your results.

2. Separate idea evaluation from idea formation

Forget about the concern of quality or viability while brainstorming. This step should happen on another day. No criticism allowed. People need to be comfortable talking to one another as a group, avoid statements such as “no, but…” and “are you sure?”

3. Embrace unusual ideas

Usual ideas may lead to amazing solutions, whatever tricks you have up your sleeve now use them. A common procedure is to put yourself in someone elses point of view; pretend you are from a different country, time period, or have different interest. Unusual ideas come alive from unexpected points of view.

4. Merge ideas, or build them onto one another

The benefit of group brainstorming is the ability to use an array of ideas presented by diverse participants in team work. Be encouraging and if you are working alone, you can easily achieve the same effect by grouping ideas in different ways to see different associations among them.

Stay on topic

Brainstorming is a free process, but it should be constraint. Chose a topic beforehand and during the process everyone should be focused to that particular topic. Sessions without structure are hardly fruitful. Establish limits more often than not to increase productivity . Creative ideas come when our minds are forced to think within the limits.