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 brainstorm and strategy sessions. The Brainstorm Brief allows us to work smarter, not harder. (Word Document)
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)
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
Do you have lots to do, but don’t know what do first? Get yourself in order with the Idea Sandbox: Prioritizer. FREE web-based tool! [Go To Prioritizer →]
We also have a version scaled down for SmartPhones and the iPhone. [View SmartPhone Version →]
Hand-held fan-deck innovation tool – from SolutionPeople. Work through the series of cards to ask and answer probing questions.
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 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.”
Innovation Whack Pack serves as companion pack to the Creative Whack Pack (above) offers additional creative strategies.
Software
OmniGraffle
Drawing and diagramming application for the 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!