Digital Ideation Methods

As CIO I’ve seen months building time and millions in budget wasted on ideas never reaching prod. There were many things not working as they could, but if I had to change ONE thing, it would be this one: When evaluating use cases the process was something like 1 - brainstorm use cases 2 - put them into Excel 3 - Discuss “potential value” 4 - Pick on value + gut feel 5 - Measure delivery, not impact Leading to many dead ideas and wasted budget, because the use case was too complex, too big, it took too long to develop…. There are MANY things worth improving in the way enterprises realize use cases. But if I could go back in time and only change ONE thing, it would be the core methodology. Here's the framework we use at Calibo today, to evaluate opportunities: Phase 1: Use Case Discovery  → Start with business problems, not AI capabilities → Define measurable KPIs upfront (revenue impact, cost reduction, time saved) → Check if someone already solved this (avoid reinventing the wheel) Phase 2: Strategic Scoring  → Rate each use case on Impact, Feasibility, and Strategic Fit → Size the effort (Small = 4 weeks, Medium = 8 weeks, Large = 12+ weeks) → Kill bad ideas early, double down on winners Phase 3: Rapid Prototyping  → Build in 8-10 week sprints maximum → Test with real users and real data → Measure actual performance vs. projected KPIs Phase 4: Business Validation  → Track results for 90 days post-deployment → Document what worked, what didn't, and why → Scale winners, sunset failures This methodology helps enterprises avoid the POC graveyard that I saw fill up as CIO. We've documented this in our full Digital Business Innovation methodology. But even these four phases would transform how most organizations approach AI. Repost this to your network if this was helpful! P.S. If you want our full 66 page innovation methodology document, there is a link in the comments.

Recent academic research demonstrates that Large Language Models (LLMs) like #GPT-4 and #Claude are shaking up the #ideation phase of the #innovation process. Multiple studies comparing LLM-generated ideas with those from humans — ranging from students to professional designers and even #crowdsourcing — reveal three game-changing advantages: 1️⃣ Speed and Cost: #LLMs generate ideas approximately 40 times more efficiently than humans working alone. In one study, generating an idea with #ChatGPT cost $0.65 compared to $25 for human-generated ideas. Another study showed that while humans needed 2,520 hours and $2,555 to generate 54 solutions, GPT-4 produced 180 solutions in just 5.5 hours for $27. 2️⃣ Quality: Contrary to early assumptions about #AI's creative abilities, LLM-generated ideas consistently match or exceed human ideas in quality metrics. When evaluated by industry experts and consumers, AI-generated ideas scored higher in customer benefit, strategic viability, and overall quality. In one study, 35 out of the top 40 ideas came from ChatGPT. 3️⃣ Diversity: While early results showed some limitations in idea diversity, researchers have found that using specific #prompting techniques —particularly Chain of Thought (CoT) prompting — can generate highly diverse and novel ideas. A hybrid approach combining different prompting methods shows promise for producing large sets of high-quality, diverse ideas. ❗ These findings suggest that in silico ideation is becoming an essential innovation tool. It allows organizations to redirect human resources toward the later stages of the innovation process, such as idea incubation and prototyping.

💎 60 UX Strategy Methods And Activities (Figma) (https://lnkd.in/eCDU-vhR), a large repository of UX methods, templates and activities for ideation sessions and product sprints, from storyboards and brainwriting to 6 thinking hats, journey mapping and concept testing. Neatly put together in one single place by fine folks at Merck. The team has also put together a very thorough overview of their UX Strategy Kit (https://lnkd.in/ek5dEYn4), broken down by categories for strategy, observation, ideation and warm-up, along with detailed video walkthroughs, examples and step-by-step guides. Frankly, most of these methods are unfamiliar to me. And by no means is the point to actually study and apply all of them. What works for you works for you. To strategize, I rely on How Might We but also think about metrics that should be moved once we implement some features or refine some user flows. For event storming and brainstorming, I tend to rely on Bono’s 6 thinking hats to align brainstorming, and (of course) journey mapping. For ideation, I love using storyboards to jump right into the user’s success story, but would also use card sorting with cut-out paper cards to understand user’s mental model. And for almost every project, I’d run concept testing with tree testing or Kano model, or low-fidelity/paper prototyping to understand if we are on the right track. Once you sprinkle a bit of critical thinking, early user testing and strategic planning across the design work, you gain confidence that you are moving in the right direction. And really that’s all you need. A few of my personal bookmarks with UX methods and activities: UX Tools For Better Thinking, by Adam Amran 👏🏽 https://untools.co/ Playbook For Universal Design (+ PDF/Powerpoint templates) https://lnkd.in/ernris4g UX Methods & Projects, by Vernon Fowler https://lnkd.in/eAHaiaSm 18F Method Cards https://methods.18f.gov/ Hyperisland UX Methods Resource Kit 👍 https://lnkd.in/eDTaci7T How To Design Better UX Workshops, by Slava Shestopalov https://lnkd.in/edxqCC-n How To Run UX Workshops With Users, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/ejm7_TsS Happy designing, everyone — I hope you’ll find these guides and resources helpful to get started. Just don’t feel like you have to try out all of them. It might be much more worthwhile to get early feedback from stakeholders and end users, even if your work isn’t really “good” enough. Good luck! #ux #design

Stuck in a rut? Does coming up with a good idea feel like picking something to watch on Netflix? (every choice is mediocre, you end up arguing/scrolling for 2 hours) I have a few ‘good ideas’ to help. Here are 4 brainstorming techniques for UX problems. 💡 🧠 The HMW Reframing Method Start with a challenge—users aren't completing sign-up. Now, reframe it as a How Might We question—how might we make sign-up irresistibly easy? This simple switch kickstarts solution-oriented thinking.  Pro tip: Generate multiple HMWs for each problem to explore different angles. 🧠 The Intersection matrix Create a grid with user needs on one axis and random objects or concepts on the other. For example, "Quick checkout" meets "Rollercoaster." How could the thrill and speed of a rollercoaster inform your checkout process? It's weird, agreed. But you never know, you might end up with unexpected brilliance. 🧠 Reverse brainstorming Flip the script. Instead of asking "How do we improve user engagement?", ask "How could we completely destroy and annihilate user engagement?" List all the terrible ideas, then reverse them. It's a fun way to identify pain points and generate solutions you might have overlooked. 🧠 The 5 Whys You know this classic. Basically, become a toddler. Start with a problem statement and ask "Why?" five times. Each answer becomes the basis for the next "Why?" This helps you dig deeper and uncover root causes. For example: - Users aren't using the new feature. Why? - They don't know it exists. Why? - We haven't promoted it effectively. Why? - Our notification system is broken. Why? - It wasn't properly tested before launch. Why? - We rushed the development process. Boom. Now you know where to focus your problem-solving efforts. It also helps to begin ideation with the ‘hair on fire’ problem. Here’s how. https://bit.ly/4dHyjWl Let’s do opposites. What’s a brainstorming exercise you hate, and why do you think it doesn’t work? Looking to find some interesting answers in the comments! 🥸

Workshops are a game-changer in UX. They make insights actionable, drive alignment, and help teams collaborate in real time. Instead of a 50-page report that no one reads, workshops get buy-in, problem-solving, and decision-making done faster. Here are five UX workshop methods, plus when (and when NOT) to use them: 1. Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ) A structured, time-boxed way to identify problems, prioritize solutions, and align on next steps—fast. Use it when: • You need to move from problems to decisions quickly. • Stakeholders struggle with alignment or prioritization. • There’s no time for lengthy discussions, but a decision is needed. Avoid it when: • You need deep exploration of a problem (LDJ is fast, not in-depth). • The team isn’t aligned on the actual problem yet—discovery first! 2. Crazy 8s A sketching exercise where participants generate 8 ideas in 8 minutes—great for breaking creative blocks. Use it when: • You want to push past the obvious solutions. • The team needs quick, diverse ideas before refining further. • A fresh perspective is needed for an existing problem. Avoid it when: • You need structured, research-backed solutions (this is purely idea generation). • The team isn’t comfortable sketching—consider an alternative ideation exercise. 3. Affinity mapping Group and categorize ideas or research findings to spot patterns and key themes. Use it when: • You have a large set of qualitative data that needs to be structured. • You need the team to align on key insights from research. • You want to synthesize user feedback collaboratively. Avoid it when: • The data set is too small—no need to map what’s already clear. • The group prefers data-driven prioritization over qualitative grouping. 4. Impact-Effort Matrix Prioritize initiatives by mapping them based on impact vs. effort. Use it when: • The team has too many ideas and needs a clear priority order. • You need to balance quick wins vs. long-term investments. • There’s limited capacity and you need to focus on high-impact work. Avoid it when: • The problem is still undefined—define before prioritizing. • There’s no clarity on effort estimates, making placement inaccurate. 5. Diverge & Converge Alternating between individual brainstorming and group refinement to prevent groupthink while encouraging collaboration. Use it when: • You need both deep thinking and team alignment. • Some people need quiet time to process before sharing (neurodivergent-friendly!). • The team struggles with groupthink or dominant voices in discussions. Avoid it when: • The workshop is already time-constrained—this method needs breathing room. • The problem is highly technical, requiring expertise over broad ideation. So, whats your favorite? UXR Study

Creativity and innovation are the driving forces behind successful marketing campaigns. Over the years, I’ve experimented with various tools and techniques to spark creativity in our marketing team, and it’s made a tremendous difference in how we approach projects and solve problems. Traditional brainstorming can be effective, but adding structure often yields better results. We use techniques like mind mapping (with tools like Miro or XMind) to visually organize ideas and find connections between concepts.  This helps break free from linear thinking and encourages team members to explore new avenues. During sessions, we also use SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate, Reverse), a technique that prompts the team to think about problems or projects from multiple perspectives. Creativity often thrives through collaboration, and having the right tools to facilitate idea sharing is key. We use platforms like Trello and Slack to create dedicated channels or boards where team members can drop ideas as they come. indfulness exercises that help the team reset their minds. Studies show that taking mental breaks or engaging in mindfulness can significantly boost creativity. Even taking time for a quick walk or a stretch can lead to fresh insights when returning to the task at hand. AI-powered tools can be a great asset for sparking creativity. Platforms like ChatGPT (yes, even this one) or Copy.ai can provide prompts or creative suggestions to kickstart ideas when the team hits a creative block. These tools offer outside-the-box thinking that can lead to further ideation and innovation.

Using generative AI for brainstorming has been a hot topic recently, and a new Journal of Consumer Research article -- “Ideation with Generative AI” by De Freitas, Nave & Puntoni -- explains why. The authors show that large-language models supercharge ideation via sheer productivity (persistence) and wide semantic breadth (flexibility), yet they also reveal where returns flatten and sameness creeps in. Here are some takeaways: 1. Let the model dump ideas until you see originality plateau (around the 500-idea mark in their tests) and only then switch to evaluation. 2. Deliberately toggle depth vs. breadth. Feed the model with certain data (or have it fetch specific information) to stay focused on facts, then shift to persona prompts (thinking like certain people), or ask models chain-of-thought instructions to ideate more broadly. 3. Run parallel prompt variations before you merge ideas; otherwise groups trend toward the same “safe” concepts. I find that using words like unexpected or unique when prompting helps as well. 4. However, filter ruthlessly -- higher-temperature boosts novelty but also hallucinations. Bottom line: use the machine to widen the search space, then bring human judgment back to choose, refine, and elevate the best ideas. Check it out! https://lnkd.in/e7AJTrX4