top of page

Problem Solving and Innovation

'Worst Idea' Brainstorming

Worst Idea Brainstorming is a reverse psychology exercise where team members deliberately think of the least practical, most absurd ideas for a product or feature. This method is used to break creative blocks, lighten the atmosphere, and sometimes, paradoxically, lead to viable solutions through the inversion of bad ideas.

EFFORT

Low

This technique requires minimal preparation and can be executed quickly, making it an easy addition to any brainstorming session.

DIFFICULTY

Easy

The process is simple and straightforward, though the challenge lies in creatively transforming bad ideas into good ones.

IMPLEMENTATION

  1. Set the Stage: Clearly communicate the purpose of the session – to generate the worst possible ideas. This sets a playful tone and encourages out-of-the-box thinking.

  2. Brainstorming Session: Allow team members to freely suggest as many impractical and outrageous ideas as they can.

  3. Capture All Ideas: Document every idea, no matter how absurd it seems.

  4. Review and Flip: Once ideas are collected, review them and discuss how these "worst" ideas might be flipped or tweaked to become useful.

  5. Identify Gems: Often, among the worst ideas are seeds of innovation that, with refinement, could be turned into something extraordinary.

  6. Develop Actionable Ideas: Choose ideas that have potential once inverted, and develop them into more practical solutions.

BENEFITS

  • Encourages creativity by removing the fear of judgment associated with proposing unconventional ideas.

  • Can lead to innovative solutions by flipping bad ideas into good ones.

  • Lightens the mood and can improve team bonding and collaboration.

CHALLENGES

  • May require guidance to ensure the session remains productive and doesn't devolve into pure silliness.

  • Finding the valuable insights in seemingly bad ideas requires a discerning and creative mindset.

  • Keeping the team focused on the goal of ultimately finding usable ideas can be challenging.

RECOMMENDED TEAM MEMBERS

Product Manager, UI/UX Designer, Engineering, Marketing

DELIVERABLES

  • A list of the worst ideas generated during the session.

  • A refined list of viable concepts derived from flipping the worst ideas.

  • An action plan for exploring the most promising flipped ideas further.

Worst Idea Brainstorming is a fun and effective way to foster a creative, judgment-free environment that can lead to unexpected and innovative solutions.

Check out our collection of Brainstorming Workshops. More coming soon.

bottom of page