This week we had a look at ideation and what are the most effective ways to generate ideas for projects. We had a look at the likes of: moodboards, sketching, mind maps and brainstorming. This lecture was helpful as it outlined the best ways to create ideas that I can use for future projects.
In class we briefly looked at the KJ method, but I wanted to have a deeper look into the method and how it can be used to create ideas. The KJ method is a ideation and prioritizing technique named after Jiro Kawakita who created it. the steps to the KJ method are:
1: Individual brainstorming: Everyone writes down an idea. Each idea goes on a separate note.
2: Sharing ideas: People take turns sharing the ideas they have wrote down and put them in the group space
3: Grouping or clustering: Working together, the team makes groups of similar ideas or concepts. Every group gets named with one word that best represents the concept of the ideas in the group.
4: Voting: The team then votes on which concepts matter the most. Each person gets a number of votes for their idea that they can put on the concepts they think are the best. The concept that gets the most votes wins.
The KJ method is very effective in getting the group’s priorities in order. Different groups can analyze the same data and will usually come to the same results. The method is a mix of independent brainstorming, group dynamics and democracy. It allows the team to be creative and critical in a productive way, where everyone is on a even playing field.
In our lecture this week Erika Hall was mentioned so I had a look at an article that she wrote called: “The 9 rules of design research”. These are the nine rules:
1: Get comfortable being uncomfortable
2: Ask first, prototype later
3: Know your goal
4: Agree on the big questions
5: There is always enough time and money
6: Don’t expect data to change minds
7: Embrace messy imperfection
8: Commit to collaboration
9: Find your bias buddies, work with others to get the best feedback on the results of your research.