What is Ideation?
How do you solve a problem once you identify it? In the field of user experience, there are a few different problem-solving methods, but the process is referred to as ideation. Author, Aurora Harley defines ideation as, “…the process of generating a broad set of ideas on a given topic, with no attempt to judge or evaluate them.” The process of ideation consists of a multitude of different methods. There are different methods to fit the specific needs of your product, and your problem.
Benefits of Ideation
Ideation enables you to come up with multiple potential solutions to your problem. However, you have to be sure that you have identified the correct problem that you are looking to solve. If you have not correctly identified your problem in the first place, you will not find any solutions to the existing issue. Though the internet will provide you with a bottomless source of different ideation methods, I’ll talk about three in specific: Braindumping, SCAMPER, and Concept Metaphors and Analogies
Brain Dumping
Brain dumping works exactly the way it sounds. The main idea of this method is to dump out all of the ideas that you have roaming around your mind. Aim for quantity, you can sort out the quality later. Get out all of your ideas and put them on paper, whether it be sticky notes, index cards, a whiteboard, notebook, etc. Simply take all of your ideas, and get them out into the open. Author, Rene de Ruijter states, “Never start a thinking session without a Braindump. While the activity doesn’t seem spectacular, spending some minutes emptying participants’ brains will invariably save your thinking session.” Without getting these ideas out, it could cloud a participant’s thinking for the remainder of the ideation session.
SCAMPER
SCAMPER, may not be as easy of a method to understand, reasonably so. However, it stands for: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Rearrange. Authors Rikke Friis Dam and Teo Yu Siang, describe it as, “… a series of thought sparkers or provocations which help you to innovate on an existing product, service or situation by looking through different lenses.” The different steps of this process allow you to look at the problem from a variety of different angles to identify solutions. It also requires to you look at your product from different perspectives and identify whether it could work better if it was utilized differently.
Concept Metaphors & Analogies
Concept Metaphors and Analogies is a similar approach to SCAMPER, however, they do have their differences. This method is another form of looking at your product from a number of different perspectives and pushing your thinking outside of the ordinary. The book 101 Design Methods explains, “In this method, a metaphor is used to generate a concept by means of a vivid comparison but is not meant literally. For example, a mobile phone is a wallet… Analogies are more direct when making comparisons; concepts are thought of as something similar in some ways to something else. For example, considering personal budgeting to be like managing weight loss.” By developing metaphors and analogies for your product, it requires you to consider its functions from different perspectives. When you understand how and why it is similar to another product, you may be able to develop better solutions for your identified problem.
Lighting Your Own Lightbulb
Although the explanation of these methods only merely scrapes the tip of the iceberg, it provides you with a basic understanding of how and why ideation is used. By using these methods, you are able to develop different ideas that you may not have come up with with a simple conversation or one idea that came to your mind. Looking at the problem from a different perspective opens up a whole new world of opportunity for you to solve your problem. Let your own lightbulb go off, and try out the ideation method that works best for you!
Sources:
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ux-ideation/
101 Design Methods
CRyder Design 
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