Rapid Idea Development, Translating Face-to-Face Interactions to Virtual Platforms

Abstract

Visually exploring ideas is at the core of the design process. Whether in team settings or individually designers of all shades investigate problem spaces by sketching and visualizing possible solutions. However, developing high quantities of broad concepts quickly can be a daunting task. Thinking through problems on paper can pose barriers especially for novices, but also when the problems are complex or in a new domain. Addressing the new normal of working in the virtual space a previously defined ideation framework that builds on clearly formulated design constraints, breaking down complexity into smaller tasks, was translated to virtual collaborative platforms such as miro.com and mural.co. This paper describes variations of this ideation process and shares applied templates and instructions for easy implementation and adaptation by designers and non-designers for individual and collaborative problem solving; for both, face-to-face and Online idea exploration.