What is Ideation?
The structured process of generating, developing, and communicating new ideas. In innovation and design contexts, ideation is typically a distinct phase that comes after problem framing and before prototyping, creating a space where quantity of ideas is prioritized over quality, with judgment deliberately suspended to allow unexpected connections to emerge.
My perspective
In practice
Effective ideation is not just brainstorming. It uses specific techniques (How Might We questions, SCAMPER, random word association, analogical thinking) to break habitual thinking patterns and explore the full solution space. The key discipline: separate divergent thinking (generating many ideas without filtering) from convergent thinking (selecting and developing the best ones). Mixing the two modes kills creative momentum.