Welcome to Mind Forge Ultra!
Select an ideation method from the sidebar. Each method provides a structured approach to help you generate, refine, and organize your thoughts and ideas.
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"Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein (attributed)
Brainwriting (6-3-5 Method)
How it works: 6 participants write down 3 ideas in 5 minutes. Simulate this by defining a problem and adding 'participant' sheets.
SCAMPER
A checklist of idea-spurring questions. Apply these to your product, service, or problem.
S - Substitute
C - Combine
A - Adapt
M - Modify/Magnify
P - Put to other uses
E - Eliminate/Minimize
R - Reverse/Rearrange
Reverse Brainstorming
Step 1: Identify the problem.
Step 2: Reverse it - brainstorm how to CAUSE this problem or make it worse.
Step 3: For each "cause" idea, brainstorm how to PREVENT or FIX it. These are your solutions.
Ideas to Cause/Worsen the Problem:
Solutions (Reversing the 'Cause' Ideas):
Starbursting
Place your central idea/challenge in the middle. Then, systematically ask questions starting with Who, What, When, Where, Why, How. The goal is to generate questions, not immediate answers.
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?
Analogy Thinking
Compare your problem or situation to something else entirely different to gain new perspectives and insights.
How is it similar? What can I learn from the analogy?
Assumption Busting
Identify the explicit and implicit assumptions about your problem or project. Then, challenge each one. What if it weren't true?
Assumptions & Challenges:
Lotus Blossom Technique
Start with a central theme. Surround it with 8 related concepts.
Enter your central theme, then related ideas in the surrounding petals.
Random Stimulus
Introduce a random word or image (you provide it) unrelated to your problem. Force connections to spark novel ideas.
Ideas Sparked by Connecting Stimulus to Problem:
Six Thinking Hats
Explore an issue from six distinct perspectives. Click a hat to focus your thinking, then record your thoughts.
Select a Hat to Begin
Summary of Thoughts:
Storyboarding
Visualize a process, user journey, or narrative by creating a sequence of frames.
Empathy Map
Gain a deeper understanding of your user/customer by mapping what they Say, Think, Do, and Feel. Also consider Pains & Gains.
SAYS
THINKS
DOES
FEELS
PAINS
GAINS
SWOT Analysis
Evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats related to a project, business, or situation.
Strengths
(Internal, Positive)
Weaknesses
(Internal, Negative)
Opportunities
(External, Positive)
Threats
(External, Negative)
Fishbone Diagram (Cause & Effect)
Identify potential causes for a specific problem (effect). List causes under common categories.
People
Process/Methods
Technology/Equipment
Environment/Place
Materials
Management/Measurement
Morphological Analysis
Break down a complex problem into its key parameters. Then, list variations for each parameter to discover novel combinations.