Lotus Blossom

Generate a lot of ideas or solutions.

The Lotus Blossom helps with generating additional ideas for areas associated with the problem. Select a theme related to the problem, think of eight associations of the theme, and write down solutions for those.

1-4 people

30-60 minutes

What you’ll need

Pens or markers
Sticky notes
Paper

Prerequisite Activities

Downloadable Materials

Instructions

step 1

Announce the challenge

Read aloud the challenge statement you and the team are solving. The How Might We question from the How Might We activity is a good starting point.

Tip

Write the statement down, post it somewhere visible, and make sure everyone in the group understands it.

step 2

Announce the requirements and constraints

Share the criteria that will need to considered when generating ideas. Write these down or post them somewhere visible. Reference from the MoSCoW activity.

step 3

Start in the center

Write a theme related to the problem or use your How Might We question. Place this in the center of your work area.

step 4

Identify eight associations

Write eight different associations related to the central theme. Put them around the central theme to form a 3×3 grid.

step 5

Generate solutions

For each of the eight associations, write eight solutions. These solutions should help solve a part of the problem. This will form eight 3×3 grids.

Tip

If you work in groups, switch papers or topics and let another person think of solutions.

step 6

Share your ideas

Discuss some of your favorite ideas with your team. What is exciting, interesting, or new? If you have new ideas to add, write it down and add them to the blossom.

step 7

Next steps

If you need more ideas, try other ideation activities such as Jam Session.

If you’re ready to select a few to move on, do Dot Voting and Prioritization Map activity.