Create Wicked-Good Ideas
Brainstorming & Idea Generation Tools
Some of the most effective tools to assist you with your entire problem-solving… from problem identification, through leading a project and implementation. We see these as innovation tools to help you create projects, programs, and products that are considered truly innovative!
- Great Reads – books related to innovation, creativity and problem-solving to explore.
- Compendium of Idea Generation Methods – huge collection of brainstorm techniques.
- Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Process – excellent overview of the process Idea Sandbox uses for problem-solving and innovation.
Idea Sandbox: Brainstorming Brief
We use a creative brief before we build artwork. We needed a similar tool for when we build brainstorming and strategy sessions. The Brainstorm Brief allows us to work smarter, not harder. (Word Document)
Idea Sandbox: Decision Making Tool
Our Excel-based decision making template helps you make the best quality decisions. Allows you to pose a question and offer several potential solutions. Then, you rank each potential solution against each other. Instructions and sample provided. (Excel Spreadsheet, 23kb)
Idea Sandbox: Big Dig
Our very own FREE web-based sandbox of ideas. It is chock-full of thought starters and brainstorming tools specifically crafted to help you uncover your needed solution.
Articles Featuring: Decision Making Tools
Idea Sandbox: Prioritizer
Do you have lots to do, but don’t know what to do first? Get yourself in order with the Idea Sandbox: Prioritizer. FREE web-based tool! [Go To Prioritizer →]
We also have a scaled-down version for SmartPhones and the iPhone. [View SmartPhone Version →]
SolutionPeople “KnowBrainer”
Hand-held fan-deck innovation tool – from SolutionPeople. Work through the series of cards to ask and answer probing questions.
Creative Whack Pack
64 Creative Strategies to provoke and inspire your thinking. Created by best-selling author Roger von Oech and adapted from his book A Whack on the Side of the Head.Now available as an awesome iPhone application. (Click to open in iTunes)
Free the Genie Cards
Free the Genie is a set of 55 creative thinking cards from Idea Champions. For “open-minded people committed to bringing something new and extraordinary into their lives, their businesses, and the world. Think of the deck, if you like, as a personal genie — a powerful, 24/7 assistant whose sole mission in life is to help you realize yours.”
Innovative Whack Pack
Innovation Whack Pack serves as a companion pack to the Creative Whack Pack (above), offering additional creative strategies.
Software
OmniGraffle
Drawing and diagramming application for macOS and iOS. OmniGraffle is the only tool I use to create diagrams for clients and on the Idea Sandbox site.
MindNode Pro
MindNode is my favorite mindmap tool – hands down. Available on the Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Simple. Clean. Fast. Easy. I use it as a writing tool for articles. It is super easy to see your structure and move ideas around. Love it!
In fact, I am such a fan and have been in contact with the author that he created and named an outline theme using the colors from Idea Sandbox!