How to organize an effective creative session

23 Oct 2024

A well-organized creative session is essential to getting the most out of your team. While a traditional brainstorm can sometimes be useful, it often doesn't lead to the innovative ideas you're looking for. A structured creative session, on the other hand, offers a wider range of methods, such as various creative techniques and brainstorming exercises, to help participants look at problems and solutions from a different perspective. In this blog, we’ll discuss what a creative session entails, the different techniques you can use, and practical tips for organizing a successful creative session yourself.

What is a creative session and why is it effective?

A creative session is a structured meeting where you, using various creative techniques, come together to explore new ideas and solutions. Unlike a standard brainstorm, where ideas are often thrown out randomly, a creative session provides more structure and focus. The goal? Not just to gather a list of ideas, but to come up with feasible solutions.

These sessions typically consist of two phases: diverging and converging. In the diverging phase, it's all about generating as many ideas as possible—no limits. Everything is on the table, no matter how crazy it sounds. The converging phase follows, where the best and most workable ideas are selected for further development.

This blend of free creativity and focused refinement often leads to surprising and innovative solutions. It helps participants think outside the box, leading to ideas that might not have surfaced otherwise.

Creative techniques to use

The success of a creative session depends on choosing the right creative techniques. Below are some effective methods that can elevate your session.

SCAMPER

SCAMPER is een acroniem voor Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse. Deze techniek helpt je om bestaande ideeën te verbeteren of nieuwe oplossingen te bedenken door vragen te stellen op basis van deze categorieën. Stel bijvoorbeeld de vraag: “Wat kun je in dit idee vervangen?” (Substitute) of “Hoe zou het zijn als we het idee combineren met iets anders?” (Combine). SCAMPER stimuleert deelnemers om een idee vanuit verschillende hoeken te bekijken en helpt bij het verfijnen en ontwikkelen van nieuwe concepten. Het is een handige techniek voor teams die al een basisidee hebben en dit verder willen uitwerken.

Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is een visuele techniek waarbij je ideeën rondom een centraal thema in kaart brengt. Je begint met een hoofdonderwerp in het midden van een vel papier (of digitaal whiteboard) en trekt daaruit vertakkingen naar gerelateerde onderwerpen en ideeën. Deze techniek is ideaal om snel een overzicht te krijgen van alle gedachten en concepten die bij een team leven. Het stimuleert associatief denken en maakt het makkelijker om verbanden tussen verschillende ideeën te zien. Mind mapping is vooral nuttig wanneer je aan het begin van een project staat en zo veel mogelijk ideeën wilt genereren.

6 Thinking Hats

The 6 Thinking Hats technique asks participants to take on different roles, each representing a particular way of thinking. The hats are:

White Hat: Facts and data, objective thinking.

Red Hat: Feelings and intuition, emotional thinking.

Black Hat: Critical thinking, identifying risks and pitfalls.

Yellow Hat: Positive thinking, focusing on benefits and opportunities.

Green Hat: Creative thinking, generating out-of-the-box solutions.

Blue Hat: Overview and control, process-oriented thinking.

This method is effective because it encourages teams to look at a problem from multiple perspectives. It ensures that you not only focus on the positive aspects of an idea but also consider the drawbacks and practicalities. This technique is ideal for adding depth to your brainstorm or when you already have several options that need further exploration.

Rolstorm

Role storming is similar to a regular brainstorm but with a twist. Instead of sharing ideas from your own perspective, participants take on the role of someone else—such as a customer, supplier, or competitor. This approach forces you to step outside your usual mindset and view the problem from a different angle. Role storming is great when you’re stuck in a particular way of thinking and need fresh insights from other perspectives.

Crazy 8’s

Crazy 8’s is a fast-paced, creative exercise where participants sketch eight different ideas in eight minutes. The goal is to force participants to think quickly and visualize their initial ideas without overthinking details. This helps spark creative energy and prevents people from getting stuck in overanalyzing. Crazy 8’s is ideal for the early stages of a creative session when you want to put as many ideas on the table as possible.