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Brainstorming: Imagining Many Possible Solutions · After defining a problem, engineers generate many different possible solutions before choosing one, because more ideas lead to better options.

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Brainstorming: Imagining Many Possible Solutions

with Atlas

Atlas the friendly inventor stands at a big whiteboard covered in colorful sticky-note sketches of wild gadgets, marker squeaking as he writes a new idea and turns to look at you with an open hand, inviting you to call out the next one

Explain that engineers create many possible solutions before picking one
Identify brainstorming as the step that comes after defining the problem
Generate at least three different ideas for a single given problem
Describe why more ideas lead to better final options

Key terms

brainstorm: to make up many ideas quickly
quantity: how many ideas you have
judging: deciding if an idea is good yet
option: one idea you could choose

Go for Lots of Ideas

Brainstorming means thinking up many ideas, not just one. If books slide off your desk, you could think of a basket, a shelf, a clip, a box, or a stretchy band. That is five ideas instead of one. The more ideas you make, the better your chances of finding a great one. Right now the goal is quantity, which means how many. You pick the winner later, not now.

Rules That Keep Ideas Flowing

Good brainstormers follow a few rules. First, write down every idea, even the silly ones. Second, do not judge yet, which means do not say that is bad. Save judging for later. Third, build on each other's ideas to make new ones. If you feel stuck, just ask yourself one more way to solve this. There is always one more idea waiting for you to find it.

Worked examples

Your books slide off your desk. Brainstorm some ideas.

Think of a basket to hold them.
Keep going: a shelf, a clip, a box, a band.
Write every idea down without judging it.

Answer: You now have five ideas instead of one.

A teammate says an idea is weird. What do you do?

Do not throw the idea out yet.
Write it down and keep brainstorming.

Answer: Keep the weird idea, because judging comes later.

Hi, I'm Atlas! When engineers want to fix a problem, they do NOT grab the very first idea that pops into their head. Instead, they brainstorm — thinking up LOTS of different possible solutions before choosing one. Here's why that matters. Imagine your problem is: "My books keep sliding off my messy desk." Your first idea might be a basket. But if you keep going, you might also think of a shelf, a clip, a box, or a stretchy band. Now you have five ideas instead of one! When you have many ideas, you get to compare them and pick the best one. Some ideas will be wobbly. Some will be amazing. You can't find the amazing idea if you stop after just one. More ideas means more good options to choose from. A few brainstorming rules that keep ideas flowing: write down every idea, even silly ones. Don't say "that's bad" yet — save judgment for later. Build on each other's ideas. The goal right now is QUANTITY, not picking a winner. We choose later! If you ever feel stuck, just ask: "What is one more way I could solve this?" There is always one more idea waiting.

Activity

Sort each card into the bin that shows where the team is in the design process

Practice

Think of four ways to carry many small toys.

Ask yourself one more way to solve a problem.

Common mistakes to avoid

Stop after one ideaStopping at one idea hides better options from you.
Judge ideas right awayJudging too early stops good ideas from coming out.

Check your understanding

During brainstorming, a teammate says 'That idea is too weird — let's skip it.' What should the team do instead?

Why do engineers come up with lots of ideas instead of just one?

Your team's problem is: 'Our plant-watering robot gets stuck on the rug.' You already thought of making the wheels bigger. What should you do next to be a good brainstormer?

Recap

Brainstorming means making lots of ideas before you choose. The goal is quantity, not a quick winner. Write every idea down and do not judge yet. More ideas give you more good options to compare later.

Reflect

What is one more idea you could add right now?