ideator

An ideator is a person who generates ideas, concepts, and potential solutions during a creative or problem-solving process. In business, design, and research contexts, ideators contribute raw ideas early in product development, marketing, or strategy cycles, often before feasibility or implementation is addressed. The term emphasizes the ideation phase rather than evaluation or execution.

Etymology: The word ideator derives from idea and the agentive suffix -ator, indicating a person who performs an action. In practice, ideator describes a role within a team rather than a separate discipline.

In practice, ideators employ techniques such as brainstorming, mind mapping, brainwriting, and rapid sketching to produce a wide range of concepts. The emphasis is typically on quantity and diversity of ideas, with judgment deferred to later stages. Collaboration with evaluators or synthesizers helps refine and select promising directions.

Relation to other roles: An ideator differs from an inventor, who creates tangible devices or processes, or a designer, who translates ideas into usable forms. In many teams, ideators focus on concept generation, while others handle evaluation, design, or implementation. The value of ideation lies in expanding possibilities and challenging assumptions.

Critiques and considerations: Without structure, ideation sessions can yield low-quality or repetitive ideas. Effective ideation is usually guided by clear objectives, constraints, and a follow-through plan that connects ideas to next steps.