Mash-Up Innovation
Mash-Up Innovation is a collaborative ideation technique that sparks creativity by combining seemingly unrelated elements. It helps teams quickly generate a high volume of novel concepts by forcing unexpected connections.
Use this method when you need to generate a large number of innovative ideas quickly, especially when facing a creative block or exploring new possibilities.
Solves: Lack of creative ideas, Stale brainstorming sessions, Difficulty thinking outside the box
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Step 1: Individual Brainstorming (10 minutes): Ask participants to individually brainstorm ideas in different categories (e.g., technologies, human needs, existing services), writing one idea per sticky note.
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Step 2: Category Clustering (5 minutes): Have participants post their sticky notes on a wall or virtual board, creating clusters for each category.
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Step 3: Small Group Mash-Ups (15 minutes): Divide participants into small groups (3-5 people). Each group selects elements from different categories and combines them to create new concepts, giving each concept a catchy name and brief description.
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Step 4: Presentation (15 minutes): Each group presents their mash-up concepts to the larger group.
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Step 5: (Optional) Development (30 minutes): Have teams choose their favorite mash-up and develop it further, exploring functionality and business model.
- Adapt the brainstorming categories to suit the specific context of the workshop.
- Play upbeat music during the mash-up phase to encourage energy and fast-paced thinking.
- Emphasize the volume of ideas generated, not necessarily the quality, during the initial mash-up phase.
- Use a random word generator to provide elements for the mash-up.
- Have participants vote on their favorite mash-up concepts after the presentations.
- Integrate this method into a longer design thinking process.