brainstorm

Brainstorming is a collaborative creative technique used to generate a large number of ideas for solving a problem or exploring a topic. It emphasizes spontaneous, free-flowing input and typically aims to produce many ideas before any evaluation or criticism. While commonly conducted by groups, it can also be adapted for individual use, sometimes under the label of solo brainstorming or brainwriting.

The practice was popularized in the mid-20th century by Alex Faickney Osborn, who outlined rules intended to foster creativity: prioritize quantity over quality, welcome unusual ideas, defer judgment, and build on others’ contributions. The underlying principle is that a broad idea pool yields more later opportunities for refinement and combination.

Typical sessions proceed with a clear problem statement, defined time limits, and a facilitator to encourage participation and record ideas. Participants generate ideas without immediate critique, which are later evaluated and refined in subsequent steps. Recordings are often made on a whiteboard, flip chart, or digital tool so ideas can be revisited.

Variants and related methods include electronic brainstorming, brainwriting (ideas written and passed along), and structured approaches such as the nominal group technique, which balance creativity with individual idea generation and ranking.

Critiques of brainstorming note potential drawbacks, such as production blocking, social loafing, and the possibility that group dynamics suppress high-quality ideas. Effectiveness often depends on skilled facilitation, diverse participation, and an environment that supports psychological safety. Despite mixed evidence, brainstorming remains a widely used technique in product development, problem solving, education, and design thinking as a first step to ideation.