Ideation Session Checklist

Preparation

I have clearly defined the problem or opportunity

I have gathered relevant background information

I have selected appropriate ideation techniques for this challenge

I have created a supportive environment for creative thinking

I have assembled diverse participants (if collaborative)

I have scheduled uninterrupted time for the session

Structured Brainstorming

I have prepared a specific, well-defined challenge statement

I have allowed for individual ideation before group sharing

I have used round-robin sharing to ensure all voices are heard

I have recorded all ideas without judgment

I have encouraged building on others’ ideas

I have clustered similar ideas to identify patterns

SCAMPER Application

I have identified what I want to improve or change

I have applied each SCAMPER operation systematically:

Substitute: What could I replace or change?

Combine: What could I merge or integrate?

Adapt: How could I adjust for another purpose?

Modify/Magnify/Minimize: What could I alter, enlarge, or reduce?

Put to other uses: How else might this be applied?

Eliminate: What could I remove or simplify?

Reverse/Rearrange: What if I flipped it or changed the order?

I have recorded all ideas generated from each operation

Mind Mapping

I have placed the central problem/theme in the middle

I have drawn main branches for major related concepts

I have added sub-branches for associated ideas

I have used colors, symbols, or images to strengthen connections

I have looked for connections between different branches

I have reviewed the map to identify patterns and insights

Analogical Thinking

I have identified the essential function or challenge in my problem

I have found analogous situations in other domains

I have studied how these analogous situations work

I have transferred principles back to my original problem

I have considered biological analogies (biomimicry)

I have adapted insights to fit my specific context

Forced Connections

I have selected random objects, images, or words

I have listed attributes and associations of these random elements

I have forced connections between these attributes and my problem

I have developed promising connections into practical ideas

I have repeated with different random stimuli if needed

Reverse Assumptions

I have listed all assumptions about my problem or industry

I have systematically reversed each assumption

I have explored the implications if assumptions were false

I have developed ideas based on reversed assumptions

I have identified which reversed assumptions yield the most insight

Six Thinking Hats

I have examined the problem wearing each “hat”:

White Hat: Facts and information

Red Hat: Emotions and intuitions

Black Hat: Risks and potential problems

Yellow Hat: Benefits and opportunities

Green Hat: Creative ideas and alternatives

Blue Hat: Process management and conclusions

I have recorded insights from each thinking mode

I have allowed sufficient time for each perspective

Worst Possible Idea

I have deliberately generated terrible, impractical solutions

I have encouraged increasingly ridiculous ideas

I have analyzed why each idea is terrible

I have identified elements that, if reversed, might actually work

I have transformed the worst ideas into practical solutions

Idea Selection and Development

I have generated a sufficient quantity of ideas before evaluating

I have clustered and combined related ideas

I have established clear criteria for idea evaluation

I have selected the most promising ideas for further development

I have refined selected ideas into more complete concepts

Overcoming Blocks

I have pushed past initial obvious solutions

I have used techniques to overcome creative blocks when stuck

I have taken breaks to allow for incubation when needed

I have shifted techniques if one approach isn’t productive

I have maintained a playful, experimental mindset

Documentation

I have captured all ideas generated during the session

I have organized ideas into a usable format

I have noted which techniques were most productive

I have identified next steps for developing promising ideas

I have reflected on how to improve future ideation sessions

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