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Brainstorming Techniques

Eight techniques for generating ideas from different angles. The agent selects the first technique automatically based on the topic, then offers alternatives after each round.

Technique Selection

Match the topic to the best initial technique:

Topic Pattern Start With Why
Improving something existing SCAMPER Systematic modification prompts
Solving a specific problem Reversal Breaks the assumptions causing the problem
Feeling stuck or blocked Random Stimulus Injects novelty to break patterns
Exploring unfamiliar territory Analogy Mining Borrows proven solutions
Need fresh perspectives Role Play Forces empathy with different stakeholders
Unclear what to ask Question Storming Reframes before solving
Risk-averse or perfectionist user Worst Idea First Lowers the creative bar
Time or resource constrained Constraint Injection Focuses on what's essential

The Techniques

Reversal

Flip assumptions upside down. Ask "what if the opposite were true?"

How to apply: Identify 3-5 assumptions about the topic. For each, ask: "What if we did the exact opposite?" Generate ideas from each reversal.

Example: Topic: "Improve customer support"

  • Assumption: "We respond to customers" → Reversal: "What if customers helped each other?"
  • Assumption: "Support is reactive" → Reversal: "What if we solved problems before they happened?"

Best for: Breaking out of conventional thinking, challenging "we've always done it this way."

Present to user as: "I flipped your assumptions upside down to see what new possibilities emerge."

Random Stimulus

Inject an unrelated concept to spark unexpected connections.

How to apply: Pick a random word, image, or concept completely unrelated to the topic. Force connections between it and the problem. The stranger the combination, the more novel the ideas.

Example: Topic: "Improve employee onboarding" + Random word: "Beehive"

  • Beehives have specialized roles → What if onboarding matched people to roles based on natural strengths?
  • Bees do a waggle dance to communicate → What if new hires had a visual way to signal what help they need?
  • Hives have scouts → What if veteran employees "scouted" opportunities for new hires?

Best for: Getting unstuck, generating unexpected ideas, breaking mental ruts.

Present to user as: "I used a random concept to spark unexpected connections."

Constraint Injection

Artificially limit resources to force creative solutions.

How to apply: Add extreme constraints one at a time: "What if you only had 24 hours?" "What if the budget was $0?" "What if you could only use one tool?" Generate ideas for each constraint.

Example: Topic: "Launch a new product"

  • Constraint: "What if you had only 1 week?" → Focus on existing customers only, simple landing page, direct outreach
  • Constraint: "What if the budget was $100?" → Leverage free channels, user-generated content, organic social
  • Constraint: "What if you couldn't use the internet?" → Local events, word of mouth, physical presence

Best for: Finding the essential core, discovering what really matters, practical creativity.

Present to user as: "I added artificial constraints to force us to find the essential solutions."

Analogy Mining

Borrow solutions from other industries or domains.

How to apply: Identify 3-5 industries or domains that have solved similar problems. For each, ask: "How do they handle this?" Then translate those solutions to the current context.

Example: Topic: "Reduce customer churn"

  • Streaming services → Personalized recommendations keep users engaged
  • Airlines → Loyalty programs with status tiers create switching costs
  • Video games → Achievement systems create emotional investment
  • Dating apps → "Matches" create moments of delight that bring people back

Best for: Cross-pollination, learning from proven solutions, avoiding reinventing the wheel.

Present to user as: "I looked at how other industries solve similar problems."

SCAMPER

Systematic prompts for modifying something existing: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, Reverse.

How to apply: Take the existing thing and run through each SCAMPER prompt:

  • Substitute: What components could be swapped?
  • Combine: What could be merged together?
  • Adapt: What could be borrowed from elsewhere?
  • Modify: What could be enlarged, shrunk, or changed?
  • Put to other uses: What else could this be used for?
  • Eliminate: What could be removed entirely?
  • Reverse: What if you did it backwards?

Example: Topic: "Improve our weekly team meeting"

  • Substitute: Replace verbal updates with async written updates
  • Combine: Merge with 1:1 check-ins
  • Adapt: Use stand-up format from agile teams
  • Modify: Shorten to 15 minutes, make it daily
  • Put to other uses: Use the time for team bonding instead
  • Eliminate: Remove status updates entirely, keep only decisions
  • Reverse: Let team members run it instead of manager

Best for: Improving existing products, processes, or services. Systematic exploration.

Present to user as: "I used SCAMPER to systematically explore modifications."

Worst Idea First

Generate deliberately bad ideas to lower the creative bar and reveal insights.

How to apply: Ask "What's the worst possible way to handle this?" Generate several terrible ideas. Then flip each one: "What's the opposite of this bad idea?" or "What kernel of insight is hidden here?"

Example: Topic: "Increase website conversions"

  • Worst idea: "Make the buy button invisible" → Insight: Maybe it's too hard to find; make it more prominent
  • Worst idea: "Add 50 more form fields" → Insight: Maybe we're asking for too much; reduce friction
  • Worst idea: "Play loud music on page load" → Insight: Maybe we need more engagement; but audio isn't the way

Best for: Overcoming perfectionism, unlocking creativity, having fun while ideating.

Present to user as: "I started with the worst ideas to lower the bar and find hidden insights."

Role Play

Generate ideas from different stakeholder perspectives.

How to apply: Identify 4-6 different stakeholders or personas. For each, ask: "What would they want? What would they try? What would frustrate them?" Generate ideas from each perspective.

Example: Topic: "Design a better checkout experience"

  • First-time buyer: Wants trust signals, clear pricing, easy returns
  • Repeat customer: Wants speed, saved preferences, one-click
  • Price-conscious shopper: Wants discounts, price matching, bundle deals
  • Impulse buyer: Wants urgency, limited offers, instant gratification
  • Gift buyer: Wants gift wrapping, custom messages, delivery scheduling

Best for: Ensuring diverse perspectives, building empathy, finding blind spots.

Present to user as: "I explored the problem from multiple stakeholder perspectives."

Question Storming

Generate questions instead of answers to reframe the problem.

How to apply: Instead of brainstorming solutions, brainstorm questions. Aim for 15-20 questions about the topic. Then identify which questions are most important or reveal new angles.

Example: Topic: "Grow our user base"

  • Why do current users stay?
  • Why did churned users leave?
  • Where do our best users come from?
  • What would make someone recommend us?
  • Who are we NOT reaching that we should be?
  • What would a competitor do that we wouldn't?
  • What if we focused on depth instead of breadth?
  • What's the smallest viable growth experiment?

Best for: Unclear problems, ensuring you're solving the right problem, early-stage exploration.

Present to user as: "I generated questions to make sure we're framing the problem right."

Technique Rotation

After each round, offer 2-3 techniques that provide the most contrast to what was just used:

Just Used Offer Next
Reversal Random Stimulus, Role Play, SCAMPER
Random Stimulus Constraint Injection, Analogy Mining, Question Storming
Constraint Injection Analogy Mining, Worst Idea First, Role Play
Analogy Mining Reversal, Constraint Injection, SCAMPER
SCAMPER Reversal, Random Stimulus, Role Play
Worst Idea First Reversal, Analogy Mining, Role Play
Role Play Question Storming, Reversal, Constraint Injection
Question Storming Reversal, SCAMPER, Analogy Mining

Presenting Techniques to Users

When offering techniques, use the brief user-friendly descriptions:

  • Reversal — flip your assumptions upside down
  • Random Stimulus — use an unrelated concept to spark ideas
  • Constraint Injection — "what if you only had 24 hours?"
  • Analogy Mining — how do other industries solve this?
  • SCAMPER — systematic prompts for modifying what exists
  • Worst Idea First — bad ideas to lower the bar
  • Role Play — different stakeholder perspectives
  • Question Storming — reframe by asking better questions