5 Ideation Techniques To Use To Deepen Your Ideas
Today, I want to share five powerful techniques that will help you uncover new dimensions in any idea you're exploring.
We've all been at the point of staring at an idea and wondering how to take it from good to amazing. Whether you're planning a home renovation, writing a novel, designing a garden, or launching a passion project, the ability to dig deeper into your ideas can transform them from ordinary to life-changing impact.
Today, I want to share five powerful techniques that will help you uncover new dimensions in any idea you're exploring:
The Connection Web: Start with your core idea, then draw connections to seemingly unrelated concepts. If you're designing a reading nook inside your house, don't just think about books and chairs – consider how beehives create cozy spaces, or how forest canopies filter light. These unexpected connections often lead to innovative solutions, like a hexagonal shelving system or dappled lighting effects.
The Time Machine Method: View your idea inside different time periods. How would your concept work in the past, present, and future? For example, if you're developing a community gathering concept, consider how ancient forums, modern coffee shops, and future virtual spaces bring people together. Each perspective adds new layers to your thinking.
The Scale Shift: Zoom in and out on your idea dramatically. If you're planning a garden, think about it at the microscopic level (soil biology), human scale (walking paths), and aerial view (seasonal color patterns). Each perspective reveals new considerations and opportunities for innovation.
The Role Reversal: Step into different roles related to your idea. If you're creating a new recipe, think like a food critic, a busy parent, a professional chef, and someone with dietary restrictions. Each perspective highlights different aspects of what makes an idea truly work.
The "What If" Cascade: Start with your basic idea, then ask a series of increasingly challenging "what if" questions. For example, if you're designing a workout routine: What if you had only 5 minutes? What if you couldn't use any equipment? What if it had to be fun for a group of friends? Each question pushes your idea in new directions.
Quick Action Item: Try this today: Take any idea you're working on and apply the Connection Web technique.
Write down your core idea, then list five completely unrelated things (could be nature, art, technology, food – anything!). Force yourself to find meaningful connections between each one and your original idea. You'll be amazed at how this opens up new possibilities.
For example, if you're redesigning your home office, you might connect it to:
A beehive (efficient use of space)
A forest (natural materials and calming elements)
A restaurant kitchen (workflow and organization)
An art gallery (displaying inspirational pieces)
A playground (elements of fun and movement)
Want to explore more? Reply with an idea you're working on, and I'll help you apply these techniques to unlock its full potential.
Your Idea Partner,
DeAnna McIntosh
P.S. Remember: The best ideas often come from unexpected places. Don't dismiss connections that seem strange at first – they might lead to your most creative thoughts!
If you're in a space where you want to refresh your vision for your life or work, brainstorm ideas on how to actualize that vision, and then have support to execute your vision for this much-needed change in your life (and our world) - you absolutely can, and here's how.